DEMOCRATIC POLITICS TAKE CENTER STAGE AT AFSCME CONVENTION

Washington, D.C.--  In a news item that was posted today on thehill.com, writer Kevin Bogardus reports that a debate over Democratic politics is an issue that AFSCME members need to consider when they cast their votes at convention next week.  The official running for the second-ranking position of the national public employees union wants to increase the number of primary challengers for Democrats moving against labor’s agenda.

“I hope it would happen more, because unfortunately over the last year we have seen a darker side of our friends who have not stood up for principles that labor has espoused for years,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue in an interview with The Hill.

Donohue is running for secretary-treasurer at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME members next week will elect a new secretary-treasurer at their national convention in Boston.

Donohue now serves as president of AFSCME’s largest affiliate union, the 265,000 member-strong New York State Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).

Donohue’s candidacy is backed by the current AFSCME No. 2, Bill Lucy. His competition is Lee Saunders, the executive assistant to AFSCME President Gerry McEntee. Saunders has his mentor's full support.  Right now, it's anyone's guess who will win the post. 

The election has huge implications for the future of the union and labor’s ongoing political strategy.

To read the entire article, you can go here.

(Pictured above is CSEA President Danny Donohue.  Photo by Ove Overmyer)