Tom Barrett
While AFSCME's Wisconsin locals have
made no bones about their opposition to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Scott Walker in the upcoming recall election, unions are not unanimous in preferring former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. Barrett has just gotten the endorsements of
three unions:
Backing Barrett are the Amalgamated Transit Union, Operating Engineers Local 317 and the Iron Workers District Council of North Central States.
“Not only is Tom Barrett a friend and strong advocate for working families and worker rights and protections, he without question gives Wisconsin our best chance to defeat Scott Walker,” said a statement by Colin Millard, president of the ironworkers.
The ATU endorsement may be particularly significant, since the union does represent public transit workers who would have been affected by Walker's attacks on public employees.