The Saratoga Springs firefighters’ union, I.A.F.F. Local 343, has endorsed, and is working closely with, the person whom they hope will be their future boss.
As a lifelong union man, it is disheartening to see any labor union leave the fold and endorse Republican/Conservative candidates. Perhaps the leadership of Local 343 has forgotten the long struggle for fair treatment of workers (read “New Deal”) headed up by progressive Democrats in the last century—labor reforms which, by the way, were bitterly opposed by Republicans and conservatives both then and now.
It is no secret that the firefighters’ union has serious concerns about the proposed East Side EMS station.
Going all-in with a Republican candidate for commissioner of public safety, whose position on the EMS station is to pull back and further study the issue, looks like an end-around to me.
The citizens of Saratoga Springs deserve a commissioner of public safety who will work to complete the task of building and staffing an East Side EMS station with no further delay.
Constructing this new EMS station, and equipping it with fair staffing, based on fair labor rules developed through years of collective bargaining, is possible right now.
The choice for commissioner of public safety is clear. Vote for Peter Martin. Thank You.
Jeff Partridge
Saratoga Springs
