New Haven Independent

Twice in his tenure as New Haven’s mayor, DeStefano has succeeded in mediating settlements in bitter disputes between Yale and its unions, the most recent of which was announced at City Hall in 2003.

Proto, who runs Yale’s blue-collar union as well as New Haven’s Central Labor Council, emceed a rally on City Hall’s steps Wednesday to announce that his parent union, Unite HERE, is joining other progressive, electoral campaign-oriented unions in supporting DeStefano’s bid for the Democratic nomination for governor. The New Haven event was one of 11 around the state.

Proto praised “John’s involvement in getting good contracts for workers,” as did fellow Yale union chief Laura Smith alluded to DeStefano’s support for local union drives over his 12 years in office. Yale’s unions, including the union trying to organize blue-collar workers at Yale-New Haven Hospitals, represent one of the most organized and hardest-working organizations in local campaigns.

Proto didn’t mention another rally he attended just this past October on the steps of City Hall to blast DeStefano’s administration for opposing labor’s choice for president of the Board of Aldermen. Some of the key Yale union organizers active in that aldermanic drive, who have been openly critical of DeStefano, were notably absent at Wednesday’s gubernatorial event.

But it was all DeStefano love among those present Wednesday. Without mentioning the hospital by name, speakers also alluded to DeStefano’s support for unions in the current dispute over Yale-New Haven’s plans to build a new $430 million cancer center. The stance has hurt DeStefano among anti-union business groups and the anti-union editorial page of the Hartford Courant. Wednesday reflected the labor support he has earned in return.

“The mayor fights for working people, not just the middle class or the upper-middle classes,” said Janitors for Justice organizer Kurt Westby (pictured below). He spoke of hospital workers needing to hold down two or three jobs, without health insurance, in order to feed their families.

DeStefano gave an old-fashioned air-punching union rallying-cry speech.

“Nothing is more important to the future of our state than work that pays a fair wage and benefits so people can live in decency and dignity,” he kind of thundered.