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Clinton, Obama carve out backing of local unions

BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com

7:20 PM EST, February 2, 2008

Little more than an hour after the 3 p.m. school bell rang, nearly two dozen teacher volunteers began to show up at their union's Suffolk headquarters in Hauppauge to stuff envelopes and make phone calls for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"We have to have a change," said Sayville retiree June Smith, a three-decade primary veteran who helped mobilize the recent effort. "She's been 100 percent on our issues. You can't do better than that."

In much the same way that Clinton has lined up most of the state's elected Democrats, she also has amassed an impressive array of union backing across the state. Nearly two dozen unions have formally endorsed Clinton. Others, like the state AFL-CIO, have passed "favorite daughter" resolutions, even though their national unions have yet to take a stand.

Nonetheless, rival Barack Obama has his own union supporters and his backers say that many top union officials are backing Clinton only out of fear -- and that many of their grassroots members are with Obama.

On the Republican side, Edward Cox, chairman of John McCain's New York campaign, said the senator has two key law enforcement endorsements -- from the unions of NYPD sergeants and captains.

On Long Island alone, Clinton has a delegate slate studded with statewide union powers such as Gary LaBarbera, head of Teamsters Local 242 and head of the 1.4-million-member New York City Central Labor Council; Richard C. Iannuzzi, president of the 590,000-member New York State United Teachers; and John Durso, head of the Long Island Federation of Labor, a coalition of AFL-CIO groups.

Iannuzzi said his union phone banks will call all 80,000 Long Island members twice on Clinton's behalf before Tuesday's primary vote. "I think we have to make a strong statement in her own state and make sure we lock up every delegate we can," said Iannuzzi, of Smithtown.

Obama does have the backing of the politically potent 9,000-member New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association. He also is supported by UNITE HERE, which represents 120,000 garment, hotel, casino, laundry and restaurant workers in the state.

But even if Clinton has a union edge, Obama's New York campaign aides downplay its importance.

"For all the big names," said Richard Fife, Obama's New York spokesman, "all that matters most is the passion of the supporters and Obama's campaign has thousands of volunteers and the number is growing by the day."

Suffolk Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), a delegate candidate for Obama who heads his Long Island campaign, said many union leaders are less worried about who would make the best president than about crossing Clinton.

"I think some have a fear of retribution," Cooper said.

Stuart Appelbaum -- head of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers Union -- said he is backing Clinton because of what she's already done.

"She's the sort of candidate who shows up not only before the election but long after the election is over," said Appelbaum, whose membership totals more than 22,000 on Long Island.

But Cooper also said an "absolute disconnect" exists between union leadership and many union members who support the Illinois senator. Cooper also said he expects a record New York turnout, which could dilute union impact.

Others also expect huge numbers, but say it is the unions that will them bring out. "It's union volunteers who generate enthusiasm and boost the campaign's morale," said Robert Zimmerman, a national Democratic committeeman and a Clinton fundraiser.