Has organized labor membership in Lynn shrunk to the point where it is no longer appropriate for elected officials with strong union ties to advocate for labor in the context of city business?
That is the question I posed to the local elected official with arguably the strongest labor ties: City Councilor at large Brian LaPierre. A popular vote-getter, LaPierre is the director of organization for the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts.
He walks his talk when it comes to supporting labor, including joining his wife and other Lynn teachers Wednesday morning to demonstrate solidarity with the Lynn Teachers Union’s collective bargaining team.
Let me offer a brief aside and perspective on this topic by noting my 13-year tenure as a newspaper union local president. When The Daily Item was sold seven-plus years ago, the local and my union involvement ended.
General Electric dominated Lynn’s economy for decades with union workers building jet engines in the River Works’ sprawling Western Avenue plant. Between GE and the city government, with its thousands of union jobs, labor spoke with a loud voice in Lynn; amplified by generations of politicians who spoke up for organized labor.
It is against this historical backdrop that LaPierre found himself standing alone among 11 councilors with his “no” vote on a request to provide tax incremental financing (TIF) for a research and development project proposed for 23 Farrar St.
LaPierre said his vote was premised on his desire for the developer to engage and have discussions with local labor unions. On Wednesday, he amended that statement by noting that he has been assured those conversations are underway.
“I want to be the last man standing to make sure labor is heard,” LaPierre said.
LaPierre’s defiant tone makes me wonder if he isn’t viewing his role as an elected official sworn to serve “at large” through too narrow a prism? LaPierre was quick to add on Wednesday that Lynn still has thousands of labor households, including trade workers.
But didn’t these people and the thousands of other Lynn residents with no labor affiliation vote LaPierre and other elected officials into office to ensure their city is safe and well-run with good schools and clean streets?
Candidates of yesteryear used to campaign on the slogan,”Vote (fill in name), vote labor.” I’m not sure that is the way voters size up candidates today.
The Farrar Street TIF is a perfect example of a proactive city effort to turn an underutilized corner of the city into a new business, with employees who will work and probably spend money in Lynn.
Isn’t that an objective superseding any and all opportunities to provide jobs or other opportunities for organized labor, and shouldn’t Farrar Street and similar projects be the “last stand” LaPierre makes not just for his union constituents but for every Lynn resident?
