If West Virginian’s seem confused on who to support for their next governor, they can thank the union bosses for that confusion. Here’s why:
This was then [then being just a few months ago]
West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue says he wants to set the record straight on gubernatorial candidate Earl Ray Tomblin‘s statements that he’s a friend of labor.
In a statement today, Perdue called the Senate president/acting governor the “most anti-working family” member of the Senate today.
“This acting governor is no friend of working families or labor unions as he claims,” Perdue said.
The AFL-CIO is supporting House Speaker Rick Thompson in the governor’s race.
Perdue said that over Tomblin’s legislative career, Tomblin has voted against 70 out of 106 labor-backed bills.
This is now:
Teamsters Local 175 is endorsing state Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin for West Virginia governor, Local 175 President Ken Hall announced today.
Tomblin, who is serving as acting governor of West Virginia, has extensive legislative and leadership experience, serving in the state Legislature for 36 years. Additionally, he has chaired the Senate Finance Committee and has been elected 18 straight years as president of the Senate. He is serving as acting governor with the election of former Gov. Joe Manchin to the U.S. Senate. As Senate president, he helped shape policy that led to a fiscally responsible state. West Virginia is one of the few states to operate in the black during the recent recession.
“While Tomblin has not always agreed with the Teamsters on every issue, he has always given us a fair hearing and has committed to continue to do so as governor,” Hall said. “Tomblin is committed to helping our middle class in West Virginia. He is clearly the best choice for workers in this upcoming election.”
Back in July, West Virginia’s State Building and Construction Trades Council also flip-flopped on the “anti-union” Tomblin.
It wasn’t so long ago that the state AFL-CIO called Earl Ray Tomblin “the most anti-working family” senator in West Virginia.
But now, the Senate president/acting governor has won the endorsement of the West Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council, an AFL-CIO affiliate with 20,000 members. The union made the decision yesterday after informal meetings with Democrat Tomblin and Republican candidate Bill Maloney, who are running in the October special election for governor.
West Virginia’s union bosses seem to be holding to their values flip-flopping so much on their political proclivities that by the time the election rolls around, they may end up endorsing Captain Kangaroo.
