LANSING - The debacle over how much of an increase in benefits Michigan's unemployed workers should receive (see related story) was the ideal exclamation point to illustrate how much workers need a change in leadership in state government.

That was the major message at the 44th Michigan Building Trades Council Legislative Conference held March 5-6. The building trades and the rest of organized labor are seeking some balance in state government, which has been dominated over the last 12 years by the administration of Republican Gov. John Engler.

"From Day One John Engler has tried to dilute the power of organized labor in Michigan," said MBTC Secretary-Treasurer Tom Boensch. "He would not appoint labor reps to state boards and commissions. He led the attack on prevailing wage and workers comp. He used his bully pulpit to take care of his friends, and he does not place any value on the contributions of working men and women."

The race for governor tops the list of key statewide elections that will take place in the August primary and November general election. Also up for grabs are one U.S. Senate seat (Carl Levin's), 15 U.S. House of Representatives seats, Secretary of State, Attorney General, two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court, 38 Michigan state Senate positions and two Michigan State Board of Education spots.

The building trades and affiliated local unions will continue with efforts to get members registered to vote and out to the polls this year. The trades will be building on the lessons and successes of the 2000 presidential campaign, which saw a record number of union household members go to the polls.

Speakers at the conference included leading gubernatorial candidates David Bonior, Alma Wheeler-Smith, and Jennifer Granholm. Jim Blanchard had a previous commitment and could not attend. Also speaking was Melvin Hollowell, democratic candidate for Michigan secretary of state.

In the past, the building trades have primarily supported Democratic candidates, because they usually support issues of importance to organized labor. But the reality is that Republicans have had nearly a stranglehold on the Michigan House and Senate over the past several years. Rather than continuing to fight them, the building trades are at the forefront of organized labor in Michigan in trying to find common ground with GOP lawmakers.

"You should be proud of your leadership's efforts to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans," said Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney. "Republicans think better of the building trades, and they listen to you, because of the relationships you have built."

One of those Republican lawmakers who was asked to speak to delegates at the conference was State Rep. Gene DeRossett (R-Washtenaw Co.). He said his 55th District was re-shaped into an odd L-shape during the re-apportionment process last year, which he said is punishment by the Republican Party for his independent voting record. DeRossett, the owner of a construction company, said his re-shaped district now has 73.4 percent new constituents.

"When you become a lawmaker, there are challenges, and when you step up to the plate to do what's right, there are consequences," he said. "You and I won't always agree on every issue. But I've knocked on a lot of doors to get where I am, and I know about workers comp and unemployment insurance and the importance of having good workers around me."

There were internal building trades politics on the agenda, also. Patrick Devlin, secretary-treasurer of The Greater Detroit Building Trades Council, addressed the issue of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters' separation from the AFL-CIO Building Trades Department, and Carpenters President Doug McCarron's demand that the current building trades leadership resign before his union would re-affiliate.

"Our parent organization, quite frankly, is in turmoil," Devlin told delegates. "At this point in time, my position with the Carpenters is that we wait a while longer for a final resolution of what's going on in Washington."