Many of Miami-Dade’s much beleaguered labor unions started reaching hard-fought agreements with a compromising county 
administration. This came on the heels of their victory last week when they helped elect a newcomer and unseated an incumbent — only the the third time that’s happened since 1960.
Coincidence? Probably not. It’s more likely that labor — which has been less relevant lately in municipal elections than at the state level — is starting to flex its local political muscle.
Unions, public employees and labor leaders played a vital role in Tuesday’s victory for the one-time underdog, Miami-Dade Commissioner-elect Daniella Levine Cava, who beat incumbent Vice Chair Lynda Bell — seen as an anti-employee elected — 52 to 48 percent.
Levine’s somewhat grassroots campaign may not have been successful with the avid participation of the PBA, the Miami-Dade Firefighters Association, the AFSCME Local 199 that represents the largest number of county workers, the water and sewer union, the SEIU which represents nurses at Jackson Memorial Hospital and probably almost every other union in the county.
And she acknowledged them in her victory speech. “We’re here because of you,” she told them.
For Andy Madtes, president of the AFSCME Local 199, was practically in bliss when he finally heard the news that Levine had won.
“This was too important. We were heavily invested in this one,” Madtes told Ladra, adding that union members knocked on 7,000 doors in eight weeks and that the organization raised $80,000 for Levine. They also repeatedly called the 1,200 members who are registered to vote in that district to get them out.
Levine won by about half of that.
“It sent a very strong message that being united and staying strong is beneficial,” said Terry Murphy, a consultant who works with labor organizations on advocating their issues. He said the unions were also united on their front against the draconian cuts proposed by Gimenez, who once wanted a 10 percent salary decrease.
Murphy also said that by toppling Bell, they had weakened Gimenez and helped commissioners more simpatico with their cause.
“This is a paradigm shift. A sea change,” Murphy told Ladra. “The county commission lost a pivotal person when it comes to their hard right alignment.
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There is a lot of agree non-participating voting eligible individuals, pouring that evil out to the public. Give Peace A Chance, at least 100 days. To this new face at the BCC.
What I can’t understand is how does the removal of Lynda Bell benefits union employees at the bargining table ? Would somebody please answer that for me
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any one who wants to understand what the meaning and true nature of fire and police in our communities needs to look beyond their pre- and ill- conceived notions. would you leave home every day KNOWING you may hot return. how selfish and ignorant can a community be. are you doing a tour of duty for 2 hours, placing all personal comfort and safety saide for those who live in your community? how dare anyone attack, condemn, insult that which they know nothing but incorrect political rhetoric about?
Of course the unions targeted the weakest candidate of mayor’s veto block, they are not stupid. At best, given the overwhelming advantage of an incumbent, the union work is only a counterbalance to incumbency. they helped but Cava did the heavy lift.
You really think the ballot and anything to to with it? Yes lots of Democrats in south Dade went out over that hot Crist-Rich race? If anything the 26 house race may have attracted some rebublican voters.
BTW enjoy your labor day a day off brought to you by UNIONS, but your garbage got picked up, the parks are open and police and fire are working, and many are working for free today because of one of the concessions in their contract the mayor wasn’t giving back.
And while a lot has been made of the mayor’s 180 degree shift in labor relations since the election, he offered many of these givebacks in the weeks running up to the election when he saw his girl was sinking in the polls. Some say it was a naked attempt to blunt employees anger because it turns out, lot of the county workers live in district 8.
In fact some unions were happy with it and took his offer before the election proving sometimes just swinging a big stick will do the trick.
“Someone asked what the average salary of a county employee was. Moon said it was $65,000. Then they were asked how many people made more than $100,000. The answer was 660 but that is not out of the 25,000 or so employees countywide. That is just out of the employees not covered by a union.”
– See more at: https://politicalcortadito.com/2014/08/30/gimenez-small-crowd-town-hall-meeting/#sthash.5NN5Q7PW.dpuf
The non union employees are very much bringing home the bacon but lay low so that the unions take all of the vilification from the Mayor. Add up how much the 660 are compensated. How many union employees’ salaries add up to these 660? How many are appointees? How many were earned through an interview process?
Even county workers are tax payers we pay our own salary
“the push for recall is less than inspiring.”
It has yet begun.
So the employees win? Does that mean tax payers lost?
The Cava win only brings back the Katy influence back to the Commission. These seat has been left leaning and democrat for a long time. Bell’s win in 2010 was a factor of a republican down ballot push. This election should no republican issue for the base to come out.
The union went all in on the easiest seat for them to win. They didn’t play in Souto’s or Diaz’s. Zapata wants to reduce salaries and Suarez wants to cap them. The Cava win does make the commission battles more interesting, but make no mistake there still is a strong anti-tax, anti-government / employee and live within your means sentiment.
Xavier can speak for himself but I think you’ll see he wants to cap county salaries at $100 grand.. Not a problem with the unions since nobody here has a salary anywhere close to that.
He has other ideas which target management structure. Simply put, less chiefs more indians.
He’s proposing cutting overpaid and top heavy management. The foxes who guard the hen house, the ones who review commissioners’ proposal for feasibility. I wonder why his proposals have fallen on deaf ears for so long?
Feel really good. Lynda see you soon.
“Because Gimenez and others have been, in effect, put on notice: The employees will not be pushed around anymore. They will, instead, push back “………..and boy, does it feel good!
I’m not that impressed. First Bell’s win four years ago was nothing if not a fluke. Her husbands loss in her base portended something even worse to come. She was a flawed and weak candidate – thus the huge target on her back. That being said the unions went all in to take her out, every stop was pulled, nothing held back and the margin of victory was less than impressive. Go ahead and try that with Diaz or Souto…oh that’s right, they didn’t. The Mayor is probably just a bad a candidate as Bell if not worse – he lacks charisma and the common touch. That being said the push for recall is less than inspiring. An all out effort to get the mayor may not play as well countywide as it did in Pinecrest. I suppose his flaws could help bring him down but the fact taxes have held steady is going to play well vs. the unions.
Excellent article and observation.