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State Senate Endorsements

District 1

• Republican: No Endorsement
• Democrat: Doug Beck

District 3

• Elaine Gannon

District 5

• Republican: No Endorsement
• Democrat: Open

District 13

• Democrat: Open
• Libertarian No Endorsement

District 15

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: Deb Lavender

District 23

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: Richard Orr

Franklin County Endorsements

• District 2 Sheriff: Darren Walker
• Sheriff: Steve Pelton
• Treasurer: Debbie (Wilmington) Aholt

St. Francios County Endorsements

• Associate Commissioner: Gay Wilkinson
• County Sheriff: Dan Bullock

State House of Representatives Primary Endorsements

District 42

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: N/A

District 63

• Republican: Daile Schaper
• Democrat: N/A

District 64

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: Open

District 65

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: Bill Otto

District 66

• Republican: N/A
• Democrat: Troy Jefferson

District 67

• Republican: N/A
• Democrat: Aaron Craig

District 68

• Democrat: Jay Mosely

District 69

• Democrat: Gretchen Bangert

District 70

• Democrat: Paula Brown

District 71

• Democrat: Ladonna Applebaum

District 72

• Democrat: Doug Clemens

District 73

• Democrat: Rachel Proudie

District 74

• Democrat: Mike Person

District 75

• Democrat: Alan Gray

District 76

• Democrat: Chris Carter

District 77

• Democrat: Open

District 78

• Democrat: Rasheen Aldridge

District 79

• Democrat: Lakeysha Bosley

District 80

• Democrat: Peter Meridith

District 81

• Democrat: Steven Betz

District 82

• Democrat: Donna Baringer

District 83

• Democrat: Tyler Merkel

District 84

• Democrat: Wiley Price

District 85

• Democrat: Kevin Windham

District 86

• Democrat: Joe Adams

District 87

• Democrat: Ian Mackay

District 88

• Democrat: Tracy McCreary

District 89

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: No endorsement

District 90

• Republican: No endorsement
• Democrat: Barbara Phifer

District 91

• Democrat: Sarah Unsicker

District 92

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: No endorsement

District 93

• Democrat: Bridget Walsh Moore
• Republican: No Endorsement

District 94

• Democrat: Jean Pretto
• Republican: No endorsement

District 95

• Democrat: Ann Zimpher
• Republican: No endorsement

District 96

• Democrat: Erica Hoffman
• Republican: No endorsement

District 97

• Republican: No endorsement

District 99

• Democrat: Trish Gundy

District 101

• Republican: No endorsement

District 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: No endorsement

District 110

• Democrat: John Kiehne
• Republican: No endorsement

District 112

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: No endorsement

District 113

• Democrat: Terry Burgess

District 114

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: Becky Ruth

District 115

• Democrat: Cynthia Nugent
• Republican: Cyndy Buchheit-Courtway

District 116

• Democrat: N/A
• Republican: Dale Wright

District 117

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: Mike Henderson

District 118

• Republican: Mike McGirl

District 119

• Republican: Nate Tate

District 144

• Republican: Chris Dinkins

District 145

• Democrat: No endorsement
• Republican: No endorsement

The 2019 St. Louis Labor Day will be held on Monday, September 2nd in downtown St. Louis. Union members, family members, allies, community members are all welcome! If you are marching in the parade with your union, please see the below map and contact your local union hall with questions. Line-up will start at 7am at your designated location and the parade through downtown will kick off at 9am. We hope to see you there!

Brother and Sisters:

The St. Louis Cardinals are once again hosting a Union Appreciation Day game to honor union families for the contribution we make to the community and the support our members give to our great team.

The event features special ticket price, a special stocking cap with a unique “Cardinals Union Proud” logo on it and most importantly, a portion of the ticket sale goes to our $5 for the Fight fund to support our members in times of a family crisis.

It’s a great LABOR DAY outing for the family! 

Here is a link to the Cardinals special Union Appreciation Day site to order tickets for the  September 1 game against the Reds.

In the wake of natural disasters across the state, the Missouri AFL-CIO has created the Missouri Working Families Relief Fund to send a message of hope and solidarity to working people in need. Just this week, Missouri requested a second federal disaster declaration due to flooding and tornadoes. As always, union members are leading the relief efforts. First Responders, public employees, and working people across the state are on the front lines evacuating people to safety, tending to the injured, restoring power, and rebuilding. The Missouri Working Families Relief Fund provides union members with another avenue to be on the front lines and help working people who’ve had their lives turned upside down. The fund will provide some financial assistance to natural disaster victims to help them begin to rebuild their lives.

“As a labor movement, we know we’re strongest when we stand arm in arm. The Missouri Working Families Relief Fund creates an opportunity for union members to help other members during their time of need.” said Mike Louis, Missouri AFL-CIO President.

Members who have been affected by any of the recent flooding, tornadoes, or other catastrophes can contact their local Central Labor Council office to get assistance. 

Or, members may contact Vickie Beck at the Missouri AFL-CIO office at 573-634-2115 or vbeck@moaflcio.org. And here is the form that you will be required to fill out.

DONATE HERE.

This Monday, Labor Day September 4 will see the largest Labor Day parade in memory, Greater St. Louis Labor Council President Pat White announced today, inviting the public to bring their family, lawn chairs and sun visors to what will be an exciting, fun-filled two hours.

More than 5,000 marchers from 30 unions with miles of equipment, trucks, floats, marching bands, drill teams and other units will step off at 9 a.m. from 15th and Olive, go east to Tucker Blvd., south to Market and west on Market to the parade stand at 15th and Market where it will end. Following the parade numerous unions will have picnics in the park between Chestnut and Market.

Parade Marshalls are St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger. The parade’s theme, “Together We Win,” highlights and displays the skills and services union members in all walks of life provide as well as celebrating the importance of ALL working men and women who have indeed made, and continue to make, America great, White said.

Leading the parade will be several unions celebrating anniversaries, St. Louis Musicians Local 2-197 band and the Roosevelt High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC Color Guard. Also marching will be the United States Navy Great Lakes Band and six other St. Louis marching units from area high schools.

And there will be lots of candy for the kids being distributed from the many floats, trucks and cars and the thousands of union marchers. “Before it’s all over, there will be at least a ton of candy given out. The kids love it. It’s better than Halloween!” added White.

Spaced throughout the parade will be the electrifying Wichita Dynamic Steppers Drill Team and Drum Line from Wichita, Kansas, the Hazelwood Central Marching Band (sponsored by Electrical Workers Local 1), the McClure South High School Marching Band, the Spirits of New Northside Drill Team (from the Northside Family Life Center), the St. Louis Marching Cobras and Musicians Local 2-197.

PRIOR TO THE ST. LOUIS PARADE

Preceding the parade will be a three-stage “Save the Wage” Rally:

• 6 a.m. protest at the McDonald’s on 1119 N. Tucker to protest cutting back the current $10 an hour wage to $7.65 more than 30,000 workers;
• 7 a.m. – march from McDonalds to a public rally.
• 8 a.m.- rally at 18th and Olive to urge more St. Louis’ businesses to maintain the $10 an hour wage that been already agreed to by over 100 firms.

ILLINOIS EVENTS

Additionally, there will be Labor Day parades and festivities in:

• Granite City – Parade will begin at 10 a.m. downtown and proceed one mile north to Wilson Park for a picnic with live music, speeches, food, refreshments and kids’ activities.
• Belleville – Parade will step off at 10 a.m. in the fourth block of South 1st Street, ending at Hough Park with the annual picnic, where the first $500 worth of rides will be free. Music, drinks and food will be available.

Pat White, President of the Greater St. Louis Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO issued the following statement in response to executive orders issued by President Donald Trump last week.

Like so many of our brothers and sisters, we were horrified to watch over the last week as the President issued executive orders that threaten to criminalize immigrant communities, increase racial and ethnic profiling, erode due process, and in an affront to our most cherished values, use religion as a litmus test to turn away people seeking protection at our shores.  These orders threaten to tear apart the threads that bind our country and our labor movement.  Instead of uprooting and deporting our coworkers, neighbors, families and friends, we must bind together in solidarity and fight for policies that will promote real economic and racial justice in our country.

These are hard days for our movement and our members, locally and nationally.  Although we don’t often talk about it, the roots of our local movement were planted by Irish and German immigrants who endured persecution. They endured that violence to build the power to fight for work with dignity and demand just working conditions for us and for the sakes of our families. We found strength in our diverse membership in 1978 when we first had to fend off deceptively named Right to Work, as we do in this moment when we find ourselves fighting off the onslaught of Missouri Legislature hostile to the needs of our working families.

We commit ourselves to standing with our brothers and sisters in this moment.  Working people have endured worksite and community raids before.  We recognize these raids for what they are – an attempt to keep working people afraid and weaken their collective power to join together as labor unions.  As a labor movement, we represent thousands of refugee members, as well as the front line service providers who ensure that refugees are properly screened and have their basic human needs addressed. As our political climate grows more divisive, we must reach for each other to deepen solidarity and increase our strength.  We will continue to demand that our nation’s leaders take action to lift working people up, rather than making it even harder for us to get ahead.  Our country needs more bridges into the middle class, not walls to divide us.

Monday, September 5, 2016 is the Labor Day Parade festivities. Below is a letter from President Pat White with details of the event for participating unions.

Parade Info Letter

Lineup Map Info

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Arnold City Council Councilman

Ward 1                                                                        Jennifer Beutenmiller

Ward 2                                                                        Brian McArthur

Ward 3                                                                        Vernon Sullivan

Ward 4                                                                        Gary Plunk

City of Pevely

Ward 1                                                                        Erin Kasten

Ward 2                                                                        Edward Walters

School Boards

C-6 Fox School District                                              Dan Kroupa

R-VII                                                                              Todd Oetting

Public Water Supply District #4

Jason Fulbright

Ambulance Rock Township

Lynne Ruzicka

Carey Gay

Velle Ambulance District

Carey Manning (Incumbent)

Dustin M. Lowry (Incumbent)

ROCKWOOD

City of Wildwood

Mayer of Wildwood                                                   Jim Bowling

City of Pacific

Ward 2                                                                         Mike Butler

WARREN COUNTY

City of Warrenton

Ward 1                                                                        Mike Shilharvey

Ward 3                                                                        John Miller

Warren County R-III School Board                      Allen Dreyer

Warren County R-III School District

Virginia (Ginger) Schenck

FRANKLIN COUNTY

City of Pacific

Alderman Ward 2                                                               Mike Burtler

Boles Fire Department – Prop Safety                             Yes

Union Ambulance – Prop Fair Ambulance Funding   Yes

City of Washington

Councilman Ward 1                                                    Mark Hidritch

NORTH COUNTY

City of Overland

Council Member Ward 1                                             Jerry May

Council Member Ward 2                                             Lisa Ridolfli

Council Member Ward 3                                             Austin DeSain

Council Member Ward 3 (Unexpired Term)          Jared Shadley

Council Member Ward 4                                             Les Dills

City of Ferguson

Council Member Ward 1                                             Linda Lepka

Council Member Ward 2                                             Heather Robinett

Prop E                                                                             Yes

Prop P                                                                             Yes

Ferguson Florissant School District

Director                                                                       Leslie Suzanne Hogshead

Director                                                                       Connie Harge

City of Florissant

Prop B                                                                         Yes

Prop R                                                                         Yes

Prop A                                                                         Yes

City of Hazelwood

Councilman Ward 1                                                    Carol Stroker

Councilman Ward 3                                                    Don Ryan

Councilman Ward 4 (Unexpired Term)                 Bob Parkin

Councilman Ward 5                                                    Russell Todd

Councilman Ward 7                                                    Ro Hendon

Prop 1                                                                             Yes

Prop 2                                                                            Yes

Prop 3                                                                            Yes

Prop 4                                                                            Yes

Hazelwood School District

Director                                                                       Cheryl Latham

Director                                                                       Karlton Thorton

City of Jennings

Council Member Ward 1                                           Alan Stichnote

Council Member Ward 3                                           David Schmerber

Prop B                                                                            Yes

City of St. Ann

Alderman                                                                    Mathew Kyle Dirck

Prob B                                                                         Yes

Ferguson/Florissant School District

Proposition 1                                                              Yes

City of St. John

Prop B                                                                         Yes

City of Black Jack

Prop R                                                                         Yes

Ritinour School District

Director                                                                      Robert M. Eaton

City of Bellefontaine Neighbors

Alderman Ward 2                                                        Don Merz

Alderman Ward 4                                                        Anthony Smith

Alderman Ward 4 (Unexpired Term)                      Andrew Fields

Prob B                                                                             Yes

St. Louis County

Prop B                                                                         Yes

MSD

Prop S                                                                         Yes

Mid County

Prop P                                                                         Yes

Prop E                                                                         Yes

SOUTH COUNTY

Afton School District

Afton School District                                                  Michael McNeil (Incumbant)

Afton School District                                                  Jordan Levinson

Lindbergh School District

Lindberg School District                                             Jennifer Miller

Mehlville School District

Mehlville School District                                            Larry Felton (Incumbent)

Mehlville School District                                            Kevin Schartner

Webster School District

Webster School District                                              Joel Oliver (Incumbent)

Webster School District                                              Arnold Stricker

St. CHARLES COUNTY

Fort Zumwalt School Board

Mike Swaringim

Francis Howell School Board

Michelle Walker

Cynthia Bice

Orchard Farm School Board

Kenny Biermann

Wentzville School Board

3 yr. Term – Jackson Thompson

Still working on 2^nd pick

City of Dardenne Prairie

Ward 2 – Brad Turvey

City of O’Fallon

Ward 1 – Rick Lucas

Ward 2 – Tom ‘Duke’ Herweck

Ward 4 – Jeff Schwentker

Ward 5 – Debbie Cook

City of St. Charles

Ward 8 – Rod Herrmann

Ward 10 – Ronnie Lloyd

Judge – Joseph McCulloch

City of St. Peters

Mayor – Open

City of Wentzville

Mayor – Nicholas (Nick) Guccione

Ward 2 – Sonya Shryock

Ward 3 – Linda L. Wright

Ward 3 – Matt Swanson

Judge – Vincent Johnson

City of Weldon Springs

Ward 2 – Janet Kolb

City of Foley

Mayor – Keith Vertrees

St. Charles School District

Marita Malone

Donna Towers

St. Charles Community College

Trustee – Rose Mack

Trustee – Mary Schnare Stodden

Cottleville Fire District

Seat 1 – Kenneth Brooks

O’Fallon Fire District

William “Bill” Laughlin

Lake St. Louis Fire District

5 yr. Term – Michael J. Crowell

2 yr. Term – Richard E. Thurwachter

Public Water Supply Dist. 2

Sub district 3 – John Cook

St. Charles Area Ambulance

Board Director – Raymond (Bud) Bauer

Tri-County Additions submitted by IAFF 2665:

Central County Fire District – $15 Million Bond Renewal- Prop “S”—-vote “yes”

Lincoln County Ambulance-    Board of Director————————— Diane Mueller

Lincoln County Ambulance-    Board of Director————————— Angie Collins

LINCOLN COUNTY

Lincoln County Ambulance District

District 3 – Melissa Squires

District 6 – Tammie Taubig

FRANKLIN COUNTY

St. Clair County

R-XIII School Board                                                  Dawn Tedrick

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

Prop E                                                                         Yes

Prop 1                                                                         Yes

Prop F                                                                         Yes

Prop Y                                                                        Yes

Prop S                                                                         Yes

CB/opeiu#13

02/19/16

In the 1970’s, HUD demolished the Pruit-Igoe Housing Project in North St. Louis. Since then, North St. Louis and North St. Louis County have experienced continuous deterioration and disinvestment. Residents of North St. Louis and North St. Louis County have suffered through these steadily worsening conditions for more than forty years, resulting in the tragedy of Ferguson, viewed by millions. Now, the National Geospatial Agency (NGA) in South St. Louis needs a new headquarters and must choose between North St. Louis and a site 35 miles outside of the city. Executive Order 12072 requires that we give priority to urban areas when we move federal facilities. North St. Louis and North St. Louis County are in the Promise Zone. Locating NGA in the urban core will spur unprecedented private and public investment. We have created a new petition on “We the People”, a feature on President Obama’s website, WhiteHouse.gov: Enforce Presidential Executive Order 12072, and select North St. Louis City as the home of the new NGA West Headquarters. You can help by adding your name to this petition. If this petition gets 99,999 signatures by February 07, 2016, the White House will review it and respond!

SIGN THE PETITION TO KEEP THE NGA IN ST. LOUIS

Stay connected with the NGA St. Louis site at Let’s Stay Together, NGA

Let’s Stay Together, NGA Facebook

Let’s Stay Together, NGA Twitter

Congressman Lacy Clay’s statement of support

By Mark Esters and Pat White

Originally seen on St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The labor movement has been fighting for decades to maintain the recognition of all working families by advocating for all who seek a better life. It is the principle under which we have been advocating for real improvements like an increase in the minimum wage, paid sick days and other ways that enable families to prosper. We fight for the rights of working people, civil rights, voting rights, and laws and policies that protect our nation and all its people.

The labor movement today finds itself facing concerted attacks by the far right, attacks funded by billionaires who have a narrow and greed-driven agenda that would roll back many of the life-improving achievements that working people have won in years gone by. These include attacks on collective bargaining rights like a so-called “right to work” law, a repeal of prevailing wage laws, and the elimination of worker protections that safeguard our health, our dignity and our ability to sustain a family. Working people are standing up and fighting these attacks, and here in America, the power and dignity of working people will always win — as long as we stay united.

The question of unity brings up a hard subject: the subject of race in America and what that means for our communities, our movement and our nation. We must face this subject with courage and with a genuine willingness to listen to each other. In doing so, we can get about the business of addressing some of the economic and social problems that underlie the very real issue of inequality in America.

Acknowledging the staggering racial disparity that exists in our society is an important first step in this undertaking. Minority unemployment is twice that of whites in the St. Louis region. Minorities are likely to earn significantly less than their white counterparts. Huge disparities exist in health care, education and the quality of our neighborhoods. The labor movement was made to address problems such as these and can and will do so in the years and decades to come. But it will be anything but easy.

The labor movement can use its collective voice and organizing capability to help reduce the employment gap. Incorporating the voices of low-wage workers and young people will be an essential part of this work to bring about tangible results in the lives of all who work for a living. In our fight for education equality, the working men and women of our movement have sought to preserve a strong system of public education as our number one tool to provide all people with a pathway toward a better life.

There are very recent examples of how this can and should be conducted. Indeed, this August, a minimum wage increase was approved in the city of St. Louis — a very important improvement in the lives of countless working people who deserve to be paid for the work they do. The labor movement has been a driving force behind this and a number of other wage-raising initiatives in Missouri and around the country. Organizing more minority and low-wage workers will empower working people and further enable our efforts to combat inequality across the board.

Some may question what the appropriate role for labor should be as we, as a nation, grapple with the complex and important struggles with regard to race relations today. When National AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka came to Missouri last year to deliver a powerful and inspirational speech on the subject, he asked “How can we not be involved?” While discussing the Michael Brown tragedy, he said: “Union members’ lives have been profoundly damaged in ways that cannot be fixed. Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown’s mother who works in a grocery store, is our sister, an AFL-CIO union member. And Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Michael Brown, is a union member too and he is our brother,” he said. “Our brother killed our sister’s son, and we do not have to wait for the judgment of prosecutors or courts to tell us how terrible this is.”

President Trumka hit the nail on the head. We find ourselves at a critical juncture on very important matters of inequality that impact us all. Issues of civil rights and workers’ rights can and will be addressed by a unified movement of working men and women, white and black, union and nonunion. This pursuit necessitates that our movement be as inclusive as possible, founded on the principles of fairness, justice and family that will guide our way toward economic stability for all. Joined together as a movement, working people are empowered to fight back against well-funded and concerted attacks from the far right. We can only do so if we stand tall, stand proud and stand together in speaking up for each other as we continue this long, united journey.

Mark Esters is president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unions St. Louis Metro Region. Pat White is president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO.