Gubernatorial rivals court carpenters union

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20100718_Gubernatorial_rivals_court_carpenters_union.html

Hannemann and Abercrombie try to offer the key group a choice

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 18, 2010

Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, auditioning yesterday for an important endorsement, gave the Hawaii Carpenters Union a choice between a consistent fighter for labor and a chief executive who has bridged the gap between management and workers.

Abercrombie offered carpenters gathered at their biennial convention at the Sheraton Waikiki a scorching reminder of his loyalty to labor, from his days as a University of Hawaii-Manoa lecturer to his two decades in Congress. He said he is the only candidate for governor who has reliably stood with labor, and portrayed Hannemann as an opportunist more attuned to management.

"Anybody can come down here and tell you that they want your vote and that they take up your cause," Abercrombie thundered. "The only person that's running for governor today is standing in front of you, who's been with you, who's been out there and organized a labor union, negotiated for a labor union, and (has) always been on the side of labor when it came to management. The other guys have always been on the side of management.

"That's the situation that you're facing."

Hannemann said he has the leadership and collaboration skills for the job and suggested that Abercrombie's experience in Congress would not translate to Washington Place.

"This is not a congressional job," Hannemann said. "You are not one of 435 where you vote 'yes' or 'no' and you can hide behind 434 other members when you don't want your vote to be noticed, or to be called upon.

FULL story & photo at link.