Longtime treasurer Nee elected AFL-CIO president
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The largest labor organization in Rhode Island has elected a new leader. Longtime Rhode Island labor leader George Nee earned 75 percent of the vote in Wednesday night's contest at the Rhode Island Convention Center, surviving the Rhode Island AFL-CIO's first contested presidential election in more than three decades. The silver-haired, 60-year-old Boston native will hold office for the next four years, taking over for former president Frank Montanaro, who decided not to seek election after 19 years in the top office. 
Journal file photoGeorge Nee Nee becomes the fourth president in the group's history, assuming control of political, lobbying and negotiating efforts for the labor union umbrella organization that claims more than 80,000 members and 250 local unions, teachers, public employees, laborers and health-care workers among them. No president has been elected under more challenging circumstances. Governor Carcieri last week threatened to cut 1,000 state jobs -- most of them unionized -- pending the outcome of a court battle with public employee unions now before the Supreme Court. Many teachers and municipal employee unions face intense pressure from cash-strapped school committees and local councils. Several union officials last night complained of constant demonization from local talk radio. "I think we need to do a much better job improving the public image of labor," Nee said before the vote, continuing later in a speech to the crowded convention hall: "I do believe we have some tremendous challenges. I believe we can do some things differently and we can do some things to make the labor movement stronger." Specifically, he called on organized labor to build a stronger network in each of Rhode Island's cities and towns. Nee is already a familiar face in the labor movement, having served at the AFL-CIO since 1983, most recently as the group's secretary-treasurer. He was heavily influenced by the teaching's of Cesar Chavez, having joined the United Farm Workers of America founder on a 40-day pilgrimage across southern California in the mid 1970s. Nee was a pall bearer at Chavez' funeral. Montanaro backed Nee during Wednesday night's vote, which took place during the organization's bi-annual convention. Delegates from among the AFL-CIO's local unions overwhelmingly endorsed Nee, who was being challenged by Bill McGowan, a former Warwick state representative and business manager for Local 2323 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The AFL-CIO's last contested election for the presidency was in 1977. McGowan ran on an unofficial ticket with secretary-treasurer hopeful Jim Cenerini, lobbyist and political coordinator for Council 94, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. In a closer vote -- 62 percent to 37 percent -- Cenerini was defeated by Maureen Martin, of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, who becomes the AFL-CIO's first female secretary-treasurer. While the debate preceding the vote was largely civil, the contest exposed a division within the organization that largely pitted the public employee faction of the AFL-CIO against the others. The president of Council 94, the largest state employee union, J. Michael Downey, backed Nee's opponents, drawing some sneers during a brief nomination speech endorsing Cenerini. "I think it's time for a little change. Some of the ideas we're using are old," he said before the vote. "But when it's over, I'll support whoever." A handful of elected officials attended the convention, including voting members Rep. Anastasia Williams, D-Providence, and Sen. John J. Tassoni, Jr. D-Smithfield, who acknowledged the challenges the next president will face. "The unions are under seige," Tassoni said. "The economy is driving everything. Union members need to change their thinking." 
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The infighting has begun. Unions are crumbling under the weight of public anger towards them.
Fighting amongst themselves now. The end of unions is near!!
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Dream on bucko, Its called democracy. Problem for those who dont understand it is that when all is said and done we, in the union stand together!!
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Congraduations George...............
Charlie Arinello
Smithfield, VA
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