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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tricia Thompson from the Communication Workers of America against jungle primaries
1:52:58
·
135 sec
Tricia Thompson, a member of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and a Verizon field technician, testifies in opposition to changing to a "jungle primary."
She worries that it would make it harder for unions like hers to fight for candidates who stand with working people.
She argues that the current system allows them to focus their energy during the Democratic primary, whereas a crowded, confusing single ballot would put the advantage back in the hands of wealthy candidates.
- Thompson fears a "jungle primary" would diminish the ability of unions to elect pro-worker candidates.
- She believes the current Democratic primary is where their voices can make a difference.
- She argues a single crowded ballot makes it harder for workers to cut through the noise and favors candidates with money and name recognition.
- She sees the proposal as removing one of the most important tools workers have to stand up for themselves.
Tricia Thomson
1:52:58
Yes.
1:52:59
Good evening, commissioners.
1:53:01
My name is Tricia Thompson, and I'm a member of the Communication Workers of America and a Verizon field technician here in New York City.
1:53:10
Myself and my coworkers were the ones who climb the telephone poles, go into the manholes, work out in the streets, go into people's homes to install the phone lines.
1:53:19
We also represent public sector workers here in the city, as well as graduate students, health care workers, and many others.
1:53:28
I'm here today because I'm worried about what changing to a jungle primary would mean for working people like me, my coworkers, and my community.
1:53:40
Right now, unions like mine have a real way to fight for candidates who stand with working people.
1:53:45
We talk to our members.
1:53:47
We knock on doors.
1:53:49
We have conversations about which candidates will fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and good jobs in our city.
1:53:56
We're able to focus that energy during the Democratic primary where our voices can actually make a difference.
1:54:03
If you move to a jungle primary that changes, instead of one clear primary where working people can come together and have a say, we'd have a crowded, confusing ballot with everyone running at once.
1:54:16
That makes it much harder for workers to cut through the noise and for candidates who come from our neighborhoods to have a fair shot.
1:54:24
It puts the advantage back into the hands of people with big money and big name recognition, not the candidates who are out there talking with working people.
1:54:33
Unions have spent years helping regular New Yorkers have a voice in our elections.
1:54:38
We've been able to win better wages, safer conditions, and policies that help working families because we've been able to organize and vote together.
1:54:48
Taking away the primary process, which this essentially does, removes one of the most important tools that we have as workers to stand up for ourselves.
1:54:59
Elections should be a place where workers still have a voice.
1:55:03
I'm asking you to keep New York City elections fair for working people and reject the proposal to adopt jungle primaries.
1:55:11
Thank you for your time.