While organized labor is largely fo...

While organized labor is largely focused forward the upcoming November elections, locally individual labor union has also made the February 2007 Chicago aldermanic elections a top priority on uniquely focusing on attracting and training potential candidates.

In late weeks, the Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council training sessions have attracted more than 250 participants.

The sessions, believed to be the first held according to a union and open to the public at large for aldermanic candidates in Chicago, included workshops upon campaign planning, fund-raising, communications and campaign strategy.

Whether participants supported pro-labor positions wasn't a factor in who could access the training, said Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU council.

The training came in the wake of an increase in union membership in the city, which stands at 78000 said local SEIU spokeswoman Marrianne McMullen Union representatives note 253000 family live in SEIU households in the city.

"There are wards where we have more members than the last alderman won from in the last election, in like manner if we can mobilize our folk the implications are tremendous," she said.

Balanoff said the union has many times heard members complain they don't have choices in their wards.

"Giving our members a choice and enhancing the democratic proces is sole good, and it hopefully will create more independent aldermen in such a manner we'll have more debate through the whole extent of real issues," he said.

Denise Dixon, who is looking to move on in the 15th Ward, was among participants. Among the instructions she got out of the experience was related to scheduling activities during the various stages of a campaign, she said.

"I was really happy that the union was providing these services for unrestrained . . . empowering the community with knowledge," she said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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