BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Despite acknowledging Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy’s status as the sole voice at the bargaining table, City Councilors said they stand ready to voice views about ongoing city labor union negotiations.
Seven out of 11 councilors are active or retired union members and last November’s city elections sent two active union members — City Councilor at large Brian LaPierre and Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh — to the council.
Along with ward councilors Wayne Lozzi, Darren Cyr and Peter Capano; and Councilors at large Hong Net and Buzzy Barton, they form a council majority voice for organized labor. But councilors differ on how loud they will raise their voices when it comes to offering opinions on city bargaining.
“It is well-settled through the (city) charter that the mayor has sole discretion over contract negotiations. At the end of the day, the decision is made by the mayor,” said Council President Dan Cahill.
Kennedy and Lynn Police Association and International Association of Firefighters Local 739 members have exchanged bargaining proposals and Kennedy said she and Cahill have discussed the importance of her voice being the only one heard during bargaining.
“I told him how difficult it would be to have 12 voices at the table,” she said.
Capano and Walsh said the council has taken a consistent pro-labor stance, passing resolutions in support of billboard painters, caregivers and Logan Airport workers.
“The council has always sided with working people,” Capano said.
The two are top union officers representing International Union of Electrical Workers Local 201 at the General Electric River Works plant. Net, Cyr and Lozzi are state union members. Barton is a former Local 739 union officer and LaPierre is an American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts organizer.
Councilor Richard Colucci acknowledged strong union support on the council but said it does not equate to council interference in city bargaining. But Colucci said councilors monitor bargaining progress and pay increased attention when negotiations become protracted.
“We want her to get a contract as soon as she can,” he said.
LaPierre agreed.
“We have to get employees under agreement and not languishing. This will be under the microscope as we go forward,” he said.
Without interfering in bargaining, Lozzi said councilors can urge speedy resolution to negotiations. Ultimately, councilors will vote on a budget that will provide money to pay costs associated with city bargaining.
“It’s up to the mayor to negotiate contracts. I don’t know how loud a voice we can have. The only time we do is when it comes time for the budget,” Cyr said.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].
