Union Boss "Angry" Over Endorsement Claim

American Federation of Teachers boss Ross Moore is pretty upset over an alleged claim of an endorsement coming out of the Fenenbock camp. The incident is alleged to have happened at an event featuring the Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party when he made a recent trip to El Paso. 

At issue is a claim alleged to have been made by Anna Dominguez that Fenenbock had received the endorsement of various locals of the American Federation of Teachers. 

It is unclear if Dominguez works for the Fenenbock campaign in an official capacity or is just a strong supporter of the Fenenbock campaign so its hard to say if this is a claim being made by the Fenenbock campaign or by someone who is just a supporter of the campaign.

It is also unclear if the claim was, as Moore describes it, "intentionally or inadvertently disingenuous". In order to dispel the rumor, Moore fired off an email to a group of leaders and to members of his local to clarify that the endorsement process of the AFL-CIO affiliated organization has not yet even begun. Below you will find the content of the email sent out. Moore doesn't mince words and makes the point very clearly that any claims that Fenenbock's camp has about having the endorsement of the local are inaccurate.

You might be wondering why Moore is so upset about the alleged claim by the Fenenbock camp. Well its likely because the claim of having the endorsement before an endorsement process has even taken place undermines the memberships faith in the process. The email Moore sent to membership is essential the same as the one below but does have a couple of lines in it to membership reassuring them that the endorsement process is up to them as members and not some pre-ordained conclusion. 

Membership is likely going to be pretty pissed that someone is saying their endorsement is in the bag if it isn't. So the ramifications of this situation are pretty serious. Its not so much that Fenenbock must have the AFT endorsement so much as she really can't afford for Escobar to end up with the endorsement. 

Why? Because it would be a really bad message for the Fenenbock campaign to not secure the endorsement of the teachers of the district she is a trustee for. It would be a pretty sizable rebuke. 

Also, for those of you still claiming that Fenenbock didn't use the bond to launch her congressional bid, take a look at this photo I stumbled upon when I was working on this post. Look at the language Fenenbock uses in the caption.

She talks about being proud to have the endorsement of several unions. The endorsement was for the bond as you can clearly see in the image, but her language makes it sound like she was personally receiving an endorsement from labor, when the reality is it was an endorsement for the bond. 

Here is Moore's email:

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One and All,

I need to dispel a rumor/false statement made by the Fenenbock Campaign, last night.

I have been advised that last night, at the meet and greet with Gilbert Hinojoso, a worker for the Fenenbock campaign (Anna Dominguez) told a Texas AFL-CIO VP, a person I consider quite reliable, that AFT had publicly endorsed Dori’s candidacy.  The person who that advised me of that followed up with questions, but Ms. Dominguez was adamant the American Federation of Teachers had endorsed her. 

This is false.

I have been in consultation last night and today with my state and national AFT leadership as well as AFL-CIO leadership on this matter.  As I advised both Ms. Fenenbock and Ms. Escobar Wednesday, the EP AFT/TX AFT/AFT endorsement process has not begun, let alone a decision made.  Ms. Dominguez’s remarks in that meeting were inappropriate and inaccurate, and may have created a false impression that EP AFT/TX AFT/AFT has endorsed her.  Whether her remarks were intentionally or inadvertently disingenuous is unimportant, they were made.

As we both know, the only thing that travels faster than the speed of light are ill-founded rumors.  I must nip this ill-founded rumor in the bud.  In that light:

1. I ask that Ms. Fenenbock’s campaign to immediately cease inaccurately portraying the EP AFT/TX AFT/AFT position on her candidacy.  It doesn’t exist, yet, and as Randi Weingarten stressed to me this AM, “you at a local and state level make this decision”.
2. I will be advising my membership, my Local’s elected officers, the El Paso State Delegation, Mr. Hinojoso and my fellow AFL-CIO and AFT Local Presidents of this incident and the inaccuracy of claiming an AFT endorsement.  
3. The endorsement decision will be made by the members of my Local, and my sister Local in Socorro through our COPE process, as previously described.

Respectfully,

Ross

p.s.  I am exceptionally angry about this action.  Those of you who know me, know I don’t like someone putting words in my mouth or my Local’s.