Responses to American Federation of Government Employees questionnaire.

1. Why Are You Seeking Office?

Because I love this city — my hometown for 33 years — and its people. I want to bring them the services they deserve — better schools, safer and cleaner streets, employment opportunities and an improved quality of life. I have experience; I have remained responsive through all of my elected years; I can attract good people to government, people who want to serve; I have the leadership skills necessary to guide this city; I will bring optimism, born of challenge and tested in the arena, to the office of Mayor; I bring a history of standing up for the issues; I bring strong ethical principles; I bring open-mindedness; I bring seriousness, but also a much-needed sense of humor to the task at hand; a proven record of hard work and a long-term commitment to our city; and, I bring accessibility and straightforwardness.

2. Meaning of Labor's Endorsement To You?

It would mean a great deal to me to have labor’s endorsement because I have great respect for working people and the work that they do. All of my life I have worked for and supported working people and struggled to make life better for those who do the hard work of keeping our society running, especially public employees. In the past several years, labor has been mistreated during the fiscal crisis in the District and my record has always been one that supports those who have been mistreated. Furthermore since, I have always been a reform candidate and Councilmember, I cannot reform this government without full labor support and representation at the table of reform. Labor and especially AFGE, will sit with me as an equal partner to examine and reform the government to provide the best services to the public but do so with full respect and fairness to the employees who must provide those services — and that is you, the front-line workers. I would be deeply appreciative of labor's support and endorsement and would not renege on the trust and faith that you put into me if you endorse me.

3. If Labor Endorsed You, What Role Would Labor Have in the Campaign?

Labor would have a prominent role in my campaign. I would expect to have a representative of labor who would advise me on major policy decisions during the campaign and during the transition. During the campaign, labor would have a major role in setting strategy to identify and win over voters and get-out- the-vote in not only the labor community but in the general voting community.

4. Would You Advocate For Workers At The City Council?

Yes. In fact, I would hire a labor representative to sit on my Policy Council and this individual would be responsible for directly advising me on what legislation to support at the Council. I would also appoint a labor representative to work in my office of intergovernmental relations and advocate at the Council from that office as well.

5. Public Employees And The Right To Strike?

No. Under a Schwartz Administration conditions will not exist where workers would have to strike due to my philosophy of treating workers with respect, fairness and access. In addition, I would collectively bargain with employees and their unions and I would agree to binding arbitration in their contracts which would also preclude the necessity of striking. Furthermore, I would uphold the contract and not renege on it so that the need to strike would not be necessary.

6. Council Aborted Collective Bargaining By Annulling Pay Raises And Imposing Wage Settlements. Do You Support This Type Of Unilateral Action?

No. As Mayor, I would not abort the collective bargaining process or subvert it by going to the Council. I would go back to the table and engage labor as full partners to work out and negotiate whatever emergency fiscal crisis we might have. But, as Mayor, I would not go against the principle of collective bargaining.

7. Rent Control Eliminated?

No. The present law allows for additional rental housing. I have already explained that to interested Congressmen and will continue to do so.

8. Labor-Management Councils?

Yes. Labor-Management Councils at all levels of the work place are essential vehicles to make the work place more productive, respectful and efficient. I would start with my cabinet by directing them to establish a Labor-Management Council at the highest level of the department and then work down to the shop floor and worksite unit to also have the L-M Councils. There must be a full partnership in the workplace between employees and managers if we ever expect to reform the government to serve the best interests of our citizens.

9. Full Funding Of Collective Bargaining Contracts?

Yes, I already answered this question above. But, if I negotiate an agreement in full faith with you, I intend to keep that agreement fully. If not, what would I be worth as a person if I cannot keep my word to you?

10. Priorities As Mayor?

Quality education. Safe streets. Adequate housing supply. Good pay and training for our workers. Shelters and drug treatment centers for those who need them. Jails for those who prey upon our citizenry. Cooperation with the Council and with the communities to get what is needed. Retaining federal jobs in the city. Economic development, genuine shopping opportunities in our neighborhoods, not just liquor stores, but clothing stores, shoe stores and barbershops. Jobs and training for those jobs — real training for real jobs. We need fair taxes and I will work to reduce those taxes. I want to ensure that citizens and businesses alike feel they are getting their money's worth for the taxes they pay. I want a transportation system worthy of the nation's capital and that serves the city's residents and visitors well. I want to see the “City of Trees” regain the right to that title. Finally, I want to ensure that every resident visitor and worker can take pride in Washington, D.C.

11. Mayoral Powers Inconsequential?

The powers of the Mayor currently are not inconsequential at all. In fact, the Mayor still retains the appointments of cabinet members and of senior staff and the responsibility of creating policy and proposing legislation. The Mayor currently has great powers to affect reform and respect employees and I intend to fully exercise those powers. In addition, I will work closely with the Control Board to assure that workers are treated with respect during the remaining two control years and I know that Alice Rivlin is committed to working with labor as well. Lastly, in two years, the Control Board should go out of existence and the Mayor will have full powers back; therefore, the position of Mayor will continue to exert great authority and should be a position that one would be proud to hold even during these times of transition.

12. Downsizing; Re-engineering; Contracting-out; & Privatizing?

There need not be a lengthy discussion on these issues because I maintain one simple philosophical position that incorporates all of them: Labor will be a full partner with my administration to negotiate, analyze, debate and collaborate on each of these issues. I do not believe in contracting-out just for the sake of contracting-out. Where there is a need to look at contracting-out, I will fully engage labor in the process to look at this issue from the beginning of the question, not at the end, after a decision has been made. This goes for downsizing, privatizing, etc., as well. None of these issues can be discussed without labor fully at the table as equal partners with me in my administration. If re-engineering is necessary, then labor will be there with me to make it work with labor's interests protected. Lastly, I would refer to AFGE's “Service Excellence: A Union Vision for the District of Columbia” as a guide in tackling these issues.

13. Right To Organize All Workers

Yes. It’s simply a matter of democracy and workers right to choose who to represent them. If we profess to live in a democracy, then let democracy flourish. I am not afraid of workers who organize because I treat workers with dignity, respect and fairness and I offer them full access to my administration.

14. Legislation To Bar Tax Breaks To Labor Violators?

I would want to meet with labor to discuss and potentially craft this legislation and would, in all fairness, meet with the business community to work on a joint commission and joint legislation that would protect both parties on this issue.

15. Changes In Workers’ Comp And Disability Insurance And A Compromise?

Yes. I believe that we created a compromise legislative package at the Council many years ago and I would be in favor of establishing a commission with labor and business and government together to work out a compromise on this very complicated and complex issue. It is important for the District to be competitive with Maryland and Virginia, but we must also appreciate that the standard of living and the expense of living in the District is higher than in Maryland and Virginia, therefore we must come to a mutually beneficial formula with all parties concerned. This will not be easy to do, but I provide direction and create compromise on the tough issues. That is what Mayor Schwartz will offer — leadership and inclusiveness on tough issues.

16. Workers Comp and Ul As Reasons For Business Not Locating In DC?

It is a factor, but not the whole truth. I answered part of this question above. The greatest disincentives for a business to locate in DC are: 1. high taxes; 2. high crime; 3. poor schools and lack of a skillful labor pool; and, 4. business regulations that are too costly and cumbersome. I would tackle these issues first. However, I do believe we must be more competitive with Maryland and Virginia as I stated in # 15 above.

17. Retain Federal Jobs in DC?

This would become one of my top priorities when I become Mayor. First, many AFGE union members are federal employees. That means that when I make a commitment to support AFGE because the union has endorsed me, then I will go all out to work on behalf of all AFGE members, which includes federal employees too. Secondly, my relationships with the Republican-led Congress will give me a leg up on the other Mayoral candidates because I can negotiate with them immediately and I will assure you that I will ask Congress to stop the flight of federal jobs from DC. Thirdly, I will work with my friends in the White House and with the President himself to appeal to them to keep federal jobs in DC. Lastly, as an active member of the Council of Governments and a regional leader, I will work directly with the region’s members of Congress and its local leaders to demand that they respect our right to maintain our jobs.

18. How Many Workers Does DC Need?

Let me reverse the question and ask you. I would sit down with you and ask you to tell me how many you need to get the job done right, where we can trim the fat, where we can streamline without riffing employees and where we need to increase. I cannot answer this question without full dialogue with the workers who perform these jobs.

19. Improve Education?

I would start by emphasizing the importance of the professional educator and de-emphasizing the need for bureaucrats. Teachers and students alike need every opportunity in order to succeed, and that means the teachers need the training and motivation to excel and the students need the teachers, books and technology to excel. I want teachers' salaries to be competitive. Both teachers and students need safe schools. Our public school system needs to provide DC families with a variety of services, including, day care for working parents, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, after-class supervision of students and opportunities for parents as well. Parents are a critical ingredient of public education and, accordingly, I would enter into a pact with each parent of a DCPS student that he/she will encourage and help each student with one hour of homework per evening.

20. DC Government Workers’ Compensation? Adequate?

Undercompensated. Let us just look at the regional salary levels and the federal government salary levels and we will see that DC workers are undercompensated by as much as $10,000.00. As we continue to rope in our fiscal crisis and we begin to stabilize our finances and increase our economic expansion and experience surpluses, I will negotiate in good faith with labor to correct these undercompensated employees.

21. Seniority Rules And Congress?

I am unilaterally opposed to Congress dictating to us on what to do with our employees and our governmental systems. I oppose Congress changing our rules. I will work with Congress to demand respect for our local elected body to make what changes are necessary. Seniority is a good thing. It respects tenure, and experience wisdom and maturity. But, where seniority has been a block to reform, I would want to analyze it with labor to see how we could both compromise to create a better system for all.

I hope you will also agree that seniority, tenure, experience, wisdom and maturity are good things. If you do, there will be no question that you will endorse me.

22. Improve Health Care?

The Council and the Mayor and the Authority have already taken significant steps to make changes in health care with the creation of the PBC and the new Department of Health. However, one area that we have not done enough in is to ask the employees who deliver healthcare what they would do to improve health care in DC. I would start here and engage in a serious dialogue with the employees first.

23. Post 1987 Employees/Retirement Benefits?

This is a serious problem. It affects employee morale and stability. We cannot keep good employees if we offer them poor benefits. I will work with you and the Council to examine this issue and find ways to correct the problem.

24. Relations With Congress?

The first step that the voters should take to improve relations with Congress is to elect me. I am a Republican and my party affiliation should help on the Hill. I have already begun meeting with Congress in my capacity as Chair of the Committee on Local, Regional and Federal Affairs. I truly believe that Congress would respect home rule and support us fully if I were the Mayor. Certainly, labor has a significant impact in Congress with all of its lobbyists on the Hill. One of my first meetings on Congressional relations would be to ask you to help convene a meeting with union presidents at the AFL-CIO and ask for their support and expertise. I would want to address the AFL-CIO Executive Council, your Executive Council and begin to roll up our sleeves and go to the Hill together where appropriate.

25. Key Players In Congress?

Similar to my answer above, I consider each member in Congress a key player because each member in Congress could help or hurt DC. However, I have good relations with the Republicans who control Congress, and I would start with the leadership of the DC committees and then go to the top leadership. But, I would also begin relationships with the national parties since they, many times, are the key to the Congressional members’ re-election.

26. Quality and Number of DC Employees?

The quality is good. What is missing is the opportunity to receive better training, equipment, pay raises, respect and fairness. With such opportunities we will see their morale and their performance increase significantly. As for their numbers, I answered this question before and I would want to hear from you on this question.

27. Quality and Number of DC Government Managers And Supervisors?

Same as # 26. Let's be clear, many supervisors used to be union employees. Just because you are a supervisor does not mean you are the enemy. Supervisors need what employees need: respect, training, fairness, opportunity and a Mayor who cares about them and who demands that they work closely with labor.

28. Treating Employees With Fairness And Respect?

My cabinet and managers will treat employees the way that I do — with fairness and respect — or they will be fired.

29. What Actions To See That DC Workers Have Tools And Training?

As I stated previously, jobs and training go hand-in-hand. It is incumbent upon senior managers and supervisors in any department to be on the lookout for the needs of their people. Inadequate tools, insufficient supplies and outdated training are among the most assured ways to erode the confidence and professionalism of any work force or unit. I will require that maintenance of training and equipment standards become part of a manager’s job description and performance evaluation and will hold supervisors accountable for meeting those standards. A supervisor’s first duty is to his people and providing the necessary tools training and supplies is part of that principal duty. Planning and budgeting for needed training and equipment will become priorities in my departments.

30. Upward Mobility?

This is an area of collective bargaining. I would want the union to bring to the table the best practices available throughout the world that guarantee that upward mobility is only accomplished by a fair and open process and not by favoritism or political considerations.

31. Relations With Congress?

I answered some of this question above, but let me reiterate that I have already started improving relations with Congress and will not wait for the Control Board to end. Congress would appreciate me as Mayor and Hill-City relations would improve significantly. All we need is for you to endorse me and to help me win on November 3, 1998 and the rest will be history — good history — for you and our city.

I very much would appreciate your support and endorsement and, after I win, you will have a friend in Mayor Carol Schwartz. Thank you.