By Steve Peoples
Journal State House Bureau

Rhode Island's labor unions have long played an active role in Ocean State politics. It's easy to forget that the labor leaders are elected officials themselves.

The president of the largest state employees union is up for re-election. Votes will be cast Saturday morning. J. Michael Downey has led Council 94, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees and its 10,000-plus members, for the last four years and seven months (he finished the term of his predecessor before being elected to his first four-year term).

In that time, he has been a central figure in public disputes with Governor Carcieri over a host of cost-cutting proposals affecting the state retirement system, layoffs, funding for cities and towns, and services for citizens.

It has been a difficult road for Downey, a long-time plumber at the University of Rhode Island.

During his tenure, Council 94 (which is actually an umbrella organization made up of 65 local unions) and other labor groups have unsuccessfully fought pension changes, more than 140 layoffs, a series of unpaid work days, and retiree health care changes that prompted a mass exodus of state workers.

"It's been very tough ... I've been called every name in the book, and that's just my members," Downey said in an interview Wednesday. "I've made some strides, but I want to work on getting our members more dignity in the workplace."

It's unclear whether Downey will face a challenger in the election, set for the organization's annual convention Saturday morning at the Rhode Island College Donovan Dining Center. A previous plan to hold a gubernatorial candidates forum has been canceled. And the convention is not open to the public.

Council 94's constitution allows candidates to wait until the day of the election to announce their intentions. As of now, Downey says he's the only candidate he's aware of.

"I really don't know... Nominations and elections are on the same day," he said. "I haven't heard anything or seen anything" about a challenge.

The presidency pay an annual stipend of $30,000.