Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Steve Peoples
Journal State House bureau

The president of what is believed to be the second-largest state employees union was ousted by her members this week in a closely contested election.

Lucie Burdick, largely considered a rising star in Rhode Island's organized labor movement, led Local 580, the social workers union, for just one two-year term before losing by 27 votes in Monday's regularly scheduled election.

President-elect Phil Keefe will take over the 900-member union on Jan. 1.

"I was shocked," Burdick said when reached today. "I think I paid for doing the right thing. I endorsed and advocated the contract this summer and it was a little controversial with some people. Even though it passed overwhelmingly, the people who opposed me used it against me."

She continued: "It was pretty much the campaign issue. People have to put their frustrations somewhere."

At her urging, Local 580 this summer endorsed a four-year contract brokered between union leaders and the governor's office that would have saved the state millions of dollars through increased health care co-shares, among other changes.

Members of the largest state employees union, Council 94, voted against the deal soon afterward, although they subsequently approved a similar deal at the urging of the state Supreme Court.

"I'm so proud of our contract. People have security through 2012," Burdick said. "We tried to cooperate. I think we put a different face on labor."

Also ousted in this week's election was Local 580 second vice president Kathy McElroy, the daughter of recently retired American Federation of Teachers leader, Edward McElroy.

Burdick said she was disappointed, but that she would support the new president.

"You don't hurt your union because your own feelings are hurt," she said. "I wish him well. He's got a lot of work ahead of him."

Burdick is the second top labor official to lose her union job in recent weeks. Council 94's executive director, Dennis Grilli, was placed on paid adminstrative leave earlier in the month "to move Council 94 in a new direction," according to president Michael Downey.

 Tags  American Federation of Teachers Counci 94 Dennis Grilli Local 580 Lucie Burdick Michael Downey organized labor Phil Keefe

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