Getting Political — and Getting Result

SUFFERN, NEW YORK

Republican Mayor James Giannettino refused to recognize the efforts of some 50 municipal employees here to organize. After they succeeded, he changed their work rules and then ignored the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) when it ordered him to restore the original rules. Now the mayor is gone — thanks to the efforts of those same workers, members of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 who set out to replace the mayor himself.

It all began about a year and a half ago, when a majority of the workers turned in union-authorization cards. The administration, led by the mayor, refused to recognize CSEA as a bargaining agent. So the employees got PERB's endorsement.

That's when Giannettino imposed new rules, disregarding CSEA's request (and the law) to hold off until they could conduct negotiations. The workers went to the labor board again, and won. The mayor appealed, but lost. By now, it was clear that Giannettino had to go.

As the Nov. 8 election drew near, the fired-up CSEA members took up arms in the form of political action. They leafleted, worked phone banks and put up campaign signs. On Election Day, voters tossed out the mayor (by a nearly 2-1 margin) and his two running mates.

The new mayor, Democrat John Keegan, has agreed to recognize and cooperate with CSEA to improve the working conditions. Scott Brown, who drives a refuse truck in Suffern and has worked there almost 25 years, credits Bill Riccaldo, president of the local, with turning his co-workers into a cohesive political force.

Asked about the importance of getting rid of Giannettino, Brown says, "Are you kidding me? It's great! It's like a thousand pounds taken off our backs. It's a whole new ball game here."