New York Newsday April 27, 2005 Bypassing the city's Democratic primary, a construction union coalition yesterday lunged straight to the main event and endorsed Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg for a second term...

Construction unions endorse Bloomberg

BY DAN JANISON
STAFF WRITER

April 26, 2005, 7:58 PM EDT

Bypassing the city's Democratic primary, a construction union coalition yesterday lunged straight to the main event and endorsed Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg for a second term.

"The only thing I've heard from other candidates is that they're opposed to the West Side stadium," said Edward Malloy, president of the New York Building Trades Council representing 60 unions. "I haven't heard much else than that."

The trade unions, of course, support the proposed West Side stadium and convention center, saying it will bring steady jobs to the city. In 2001, they backed Mark Green, Bloomberg's Democratic opponent.

Tuesday, in a sidewalk ceremony in Downtown Brooklyn where a new law-school dormitory is rising, Bloomberg's campaign arranged to have their man surrounded with helmeted workers chanting "four more years."

One supporter from Iron Workers Local 580 wore a small sticker on his hardhat that said: "Speak English Or Get the F--- Out."

Stu Loeser, campaign spokesman, declined to comment on the helmet sticker, saying only that he'd noticed it and the worker "had other union stickers on his helmet as well."

Nobody at the news conference mentioned the increase in recent years of non-union construction work by undocumented immigrants. Bloomberg hailed the role of the professional skilled trades and the building boom.

"You guys really deserve the credit. You should be standing up here," Bloomberg said. "I should be endorsing you." Bloomberg touted the city's issuance last year of a record 99,000 building permits.

With the mayor taking no press questions, reporters asked Bloomberg's supporters how this display fared against the mayor's friction with some municipal unions over a contract.

Bill Ferraro, who was front-and-center behind the Bloomberg banner at the event, said the city's income will grow with the economy and help all boats rise.

"Everybody will get their contracts and everybody will get a raise because the tax revenue that's coming in will be able to support these people," Ferraro said. "They all well deserve to get a raise."

A key municipal labor leader, United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, offered a different take. "The mayor has demonstrated, with the Jets' stadium, his ability to make a deal and to find the money to pay for it," she said. "The building trades are very grateful to him for that. Now, we want him to do that for teachers and other municipal employees."

Bloomberg made a later stop that wasn't on his schedule -- a closed-door meeting with Gov. George Pataki where the stadium was due to be discussed.