Re-checking the union label

Joe Carlson is a labor leader taking the union message to a new, progressive level, and Worcester politicians are listening

by Joe O'Brien

Worcester's state delegation has been called to the frontlines: to Centro Las Americas, in the heart of Main South, where advocates have been working to overcome the devastating effects of poverty. On this recent morning, the local state legislators have been brought together by Neighbor to Neighbor, a grassroots coalition that's appealing for support of a new four-point spending initiative called "the working families agenda." The advocates want Worcester's state representatives and senators to champion a series of underfunded family-friendly programs, ranging from daycare to affordable housing. It's certainly not an unusual request to be made of a lawmaker, and one that would more likely than not call for a legislative aide to be dispatched. But on this particular February morning, lawmakers are in-check -- they have come because Joe Carlson will be there.

For Carlson, the head of the local Steelworkers Union and vice president of the local labor council, has joined with Neighbor to Neighbor to push this broad social agenda.

And it's an alliance that's given these advocates powerful political muscle that, one observer noted, became apparent when newly elected state senator Guy Glodis arrived. Glodis, as meeting attendees described it, started off by throwing his support behind three of the group's four issues. But as far as extending time limits on welfare benefits (for recipients enrolled in job training or school), Glodis said he'd have to pass.

Advocates appealed, explaining the importance of education to escape poverty's grip. Glodis was unmoved. And then, Carlson weighed in.

"It's the right thing to do," he told Glodis, as one meeting attendee described, eloquently explaining why Guy should support the measure.

When Glodis exited the meeting he was onboard with the whole agenda, leaving the group's organizer Harris Wofford in awe of Carlson. Wofford, who has been organizing such forums around the state for the past several years, says that it was one of the few times he had ever seen a politician turned around in just one meeting.

It's a telling example of the charismatic leadership of the machinist turned union leader Carlson. In a city where labor has had little political clout, Carlson is taking union power to a new level by getting more pro-union candidates elected and by broadening the union agenda to represents all working people.

"Those who think labor has come and gone as a political force have not met Joe Carlson," says city councilor Tim Murray.

The burly, bearded Carlson looks every part like the quintessential union tough guy. He's an intimidating large man who wears open shirts, drives a big American car, and even has a pinkie ring. Yet, when Carlson begins talking about his progressive vision for unions, it's obvious that he is far from your ordinary leader. During a recent interview at the Steelworkers headquarters in Auburn, he discusses a range of social and political issues with a level of insight that puts most politicians to shame. While he is quick to credit others for the success of the union's political efforts as of late, he is uncomfortable to be told that he is the focus of the story. It's a sense of humility that seems out of proportion with the power he yields.

Carlson's ascent from machinist to union leader to political powerbroker is a story about success brought on by hard work and patience. He grew up in Great Brook Valley, was the middle child out of seven kids raised by his homemaker mother, Helen. At a young age, he learned about politics from his father Bill, who worked behind the counter at Jerry's Diner on Mechanics Street, in the center of downtown and then a hangout for local politicos.

Carlson credits his parents for instilling in him a sense of social justice and compassion for the poor. Carlson recalls that his father, along with then Father Harrington (who later became the Bishop of Worcester), helped found the thrift store at Saint Vincent DePaul, a Catholic aid society that serves the needy. Though far from wealthy, the Carlson family shared what they had with people less fortunate -- it is these lessons of solidarity that have since been at the heart of Carlson's work.

After Carlson was graduated from Boys' Trade, he went to work at as a machinist at a local manufacturing plant, Holbrook Drop Forge (later renamed KomTek). It was at Drop Forge his interest sparked in union work and he soon became involved with the Steelworkers union, first as a grievance officer and then as a steward. When his plant's union president Charlie McLaughlin left for a full-time union position at the Steelworkers office, Carlson took over as president, a post he held for more than 10 years. In 1995, Carlson finally left the plant and went to work with his old friend McLaughlin.

Today, Carlson, who represents almost 3000 workers in 26 bargaining units from New Hampshire to Rhode Island, works with union elected officers and negotiates contracts with the units.

Carlson enjoys his work even though it often takes him away from his grown children, Hilary and Jennifer, and his wife, Candice Carlson. The two met on the job while she worked retraining steelworkers during the 1980s when manufacturing jobs were being slashed and companies moving overseas.

But it is Carlson's work outside of his role as a Steelworkers union man for which he has become best-known. He serves on the Worcester Housing Authority, currently as chairman. He is also a founding member of the Central Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, a new public/private venture to promote manufacturing in Central Massachusetts. And it is his work with the Framingham-Worcester Labor Council that Carlson has proven to have the most influence.

Today, he serves as the vice president of the group, which is made up of representatives from the AFL-CIO unions in the Worcester and Framingham areas. Most agree, that Carlson will someday serve as president, most likely after Frank Farell retires at the end of the year.

According to Eddie Pietrewicz of the Worcester firefighter union, which is represented on the council, Carlson has risen through the council's ranks because he's a "diligent hard worker who studies the issues and always knows his facts."

Carlson also has earned a reputation as a leader who stands with the rank and file -- often the first person to hold a sign for a candidate or to walk a picket line.

He's credited with taking the once low-profile council and improving its stature by building consensus among the diverse unions who are represented under the AFL-CIO.

Perhaps one of the best examples of his leadership skills was played out last fall, when Worcester's fire and police unions wanted to draw attention to a contract dispute by picketing the Centrum during the state Democratic Convention. Although Carlson now says he had reservations about the strategy, he still rallied his unions to support the cops and firefighters. The threat of such a spectacle at a time when the media spotlight was focused here forced city officials to capitulate. The picket was called off.

Carlson also says he recognizes that unions have allowed their power to decline because they have not been out searching for new groups of workers to represent. So he's convinced council members to throw support behind those brave few who do attempt to organize, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who were succesful at UMass last year.

If there is a place where Carlson has shown vision, it is in his efforts to broaden labor's agenda. Carlson argues that by fighting for the basic rights of all workers and unions will return to their roots where they were most effective. Carlson points to programs like Social Security and Medicare as well as workplace-safety laws, which came from the unions' efforts to fight for all workers.

Now Carlson believes that unions must take up the cause of the growing number of workers who are employed in the service sector, which pays low wages and offers few benefits. These convictions brought Carlson to support Neighbor to Neighbor, a grassroots effort to help poor and working families. This group is working with unions and community groups in several Massachusetts cities, Worcester included. Carlson believes that unions must build allies like these if they are going succeed in their fight for daycare, affordable housing, and the minimum wage.

And that leads to the political trail, where Carlson has quickly become a heavyweight. He played a major role in the elections of Congressman Jim McGovern and State Senator Guy Glodis, as well as supporting other local officials like rising political star councilor Murray. These victories have increased the union's clout, creating a perception that new candidates need union support to win office.

It was his role in 1996, supporting McGovern in a stunning upset over Peter Blute, that thrust Carlson in the role of kingmaker. While these days it seems that everyone involved in Democratic politics wants to take credit for this victory, the congressman is clear about who is responsible by saying "without organized labor I would not be in Congress." And according to campaign insiders, Carlson was the main reason that McGovern was able to mobilize local labor leaders. Murray, who was one of the campaign's organizers, credits Carlson with convincing the state AFL- CIO that McGovern could win; and Carlson pushed them to play a major role at the end of the race. Carlson went so far as to go out to the streets, holding signs and mobilizing campaign workers.

Since then, Carlson's rallied union support for Glodis, who won what was considered an upset victory over Karyn Polito to fill the vacant seat left by Matt Amorello. Though many expressed concern about the youthful and sometimes brash Glodis, Carlson supported him from the start. This support was key for Glodis who first had to survive a tough Democratic Primary against political newcomer Jennifer Callahan (who also had considerable union support) before he faced Polito. Glodis, obviously, hasn't forgotten the favor. He's "the Babe Ruth of the local labor movement," he says of Carlson.

How important is Carlson's support? According to Murray, "Joe Carlson's word gives a candidate credibility and weighs heavily in your favor with the rest of the labor community."

While most union endorsements mean a small donations and token support, Carlson is one of the few who backs up his organization's nod by mobilizing workers and also getting others within labor to back his candidate.

Looking to the future, Carlson promises to be even more active in the political process because it is key to the union's survival. He believes that the area labor council will work to elect candidates who support workers' agenda and, more important, will fight against those with poor labor records.

While many people laugh when union leaders started saying that "labor is back," Joe Carlson has many believing that it really is and maybe it will mean good things for working people.