Cutting Ties?

Some members of the largest city labor union want to cut ties with the national union organization, and the campaign has prompted a takeover by higher ranking union leaders.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 3999, which represents City of Santa Fe employees with jobs ranging from secretaries to trash collectors, is currently in "receivership," meaning that its parent AFSCME branches have taken temporary control over the local's administrative business because of the threat of decertification.

Typically, union members will go on decertification campaigns to break with their union to join another union or leave their union altogether. It's unclear which members of the Local 3999 are leading the charge, or how many  members are involved. Calls to Local 3999 President Nick Lovato weren't immediately returned Tuesday.

Miles Conway, a spokesman with AFSCME Council 18, the umbrella organization for various AFSCME locals across the state, wouldn't delve into many details, calling the situation a "very internal union matter."

But Conway adds that the Santa Fe decertification campaign "does not have legs." He says that the current campaign isn't following proper desertification protocols, partly because Local 3999 and the City of Santa Fe recently began a new collective bargaining contract after it was certified by both sides earlier this year.

He says that his office is still unsure what the proponents of decertification are upset about, pointing to provisions in the new contract that gave them raises for the first time in years. He adds that many of the current officers could be reinstated once the situation is resolved.

"It's not that all the officers are in trouble," Conway says. "I know some of these officers and expect them to be back."

An AFSCME Local 3999 meeting to discuss the situation is scheduled Saturday.

Santa Fe Reporter