Letter To The Editor: Three Unions Issue Letter About Alton Mayor's Race

LETTER TO EDITOR:

From: Alton Laborers’ Local Union 218, Teamsters 525 and the Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades

Alton Laborers’ Local Union 218, Teamsters 525 and the Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades are appalled by Mayor Walker’s continual claims. To go so low as to imply Organized Labor is buying the Alton Mayor’s race is insulting to the working men and women of Alton.

Labor is supporting Goins for Mayor because he will stand by the working men and women of Alton and he represents the highest ethical standards and integrity. And we believe David Goins will keep his promises to the hardworking families of Alton, unlike Brant Walker. In 2014, Mayor Walker met with the Building Trades and other local labor unions and was asked to sign a PLA for the City of Alton and to this day has not done so even though he claims we have.

In 2017, Mayor Walker promised Teamsters Local 525 that he would not outsource and privatize Alton jobs, but once he was re-elected, he broke his promise. In 2021, Brant Walker reached out for our endorsements, but we refused to support him because he cannot be trusted.

Now again, Walker continues, claiming we are partners in the Sunnybrook Development. No, we are not partners. In fact, the Laborers Home Development Corporation (LHDC), an affiliate of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) is one of the partners and will operate the Community of Sunnybrook Development.

It is our understanding LHDC will target the entry level Madison County workforce such as teachers, firemen, police officers, and those workers earning between $12 and $20 an hour, all while creating local Union jobs, benefiting the working families in the Alton Community.

It is shameful that a person in such a critical leadership position of trust would stoop to such disgraceful tactics. As Organized Labor, we are committed to protecting and supporting the working men and women of Alton and we will continue this commitment by supporting David Goins for Mayor.

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