OPINION: Commissions are about engagement. Abolishing them is a bad idea - 48 hills

Workers and union members are viewed as appropriate appointees to commissions that affect working people in both public and private sectors. Endorsement questionnaires ask whether union leaders will be appointed to serve on commissions. The same preference is applied to elected offices, with an emphasis on understanding how government, the economy, and labor affect working men and women. After initially refusing a commission role for years, a later opening on the Public Utilities Commission led both the mayor and union officers to push for the appointment. The mayor’s office wanted someone with more city government experience, resulting in acceptance despite earlier objections and signing a pre-resignation letter. The role was then treated as an honor through study, field trips, and interviews.

"“We need someone strong to represent us!” "Hell no," I told them. "I don't sit on commissions. I yell at them for you. That'spart of my job." Don't get me wrong. The Labor Council's position was that workers or union members should be appointed to all commissions that affect workers, in the public or private sector. One of the (many) questions on our endorsement questionnaires always reads: "Will you appoint union leaders to serve on commissions?""

"It's the same position we have with elected offices. We'd love for all elected representatives to come from a union background and to understand how government, the economy, and labor in general affects working men and women. And I don't mean: "Well, my daddy was a Teamster..." (Nationally, campaign trainings and recruitment of union members to run for office has been sporadic.)"

"Fast forward 20 years: A rare opening occurred on the Public Utilities Commission and the building and construction trades unions decided they wanted me to take that slot. Again, I said "hell, no" and insisted we send the mayor the name of other building trades leaders to promote for that opening. A couple days later, the Mayor's Office called and said that though they liked these guys they wanted someone with more experience in city government. They wanted me."

"So there was a hard push from both the mayor and my union officers. Kicking and screaming, I accepted the appointment. I even signed London Breed's stupid and illegal pre-resignation letter. (What the fuck...have fun firing me.) I took my role seriously. It is an honor to serve as commissioner, and I carved out time to become a good one. I went on field trips, read extensively, and interviewed departm"

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