Labor-backed Emanuel sorry he hired non-union workers

Former Clinton adviser Rahm Emanuel nailed the Democratic primary in the 5th Congressional District in March with a big assist from organized labor, but two years ago when he needed $70,000 worth of home remodeling, he gave the job to a non-union firm.

Union backers said they still support Emanuel in the November election, but called his decision to use a non-union firm to add an extra bedroom and bathroom to his Lake View home "disappointing.''

His Republican rival called it hypocritical. And Emanuel himself described his failure to ask the west suburban contractor if he used union workers a "mistake."

"In hindsight, I should have asked," Emanuel said. "I didn't. So, it's a mistake."

The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a copy of an invoice from M.J.S. Construction, the St. Charles firm Emanuel hired in 2000. An official at the company refused to discuss the work or his workers, referring all questions to Emanuel. Emanuel confirmed the company is non-union and said the document likely came from his personal papers.

It describes the $70,000 project as a third-floor renovation that included carpentry, electrical work and installing a "steam shower."

Emanuel said he hired M.J.S. on a friend's recommendation when he and his wife, Amy Rule, needed more space for their new baby. They moved their two other children into the old master bedroom, gave the baby a separate room and took the newly constructed master bedroom and adjoining bath in the attic for themselves.

"It's not like I have a philosophy against it," Emanuel said. "We had a new member of the family coming. . . . We needed to get something done and get it done quickly."

It is the second such embarrassment for a Chicago Democrat this year. In the primary, gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich apologized for using some non-union workers on a $200,000 remodeling project at his Ravenswood Manor home in 1999. The Northwest Side congressman, who also had strong labor backing, said he mistakenly thought the workers were all union, but did not bother to check.

Emanuel, who touts the support of more than a dozen labor groups on his campaign Web site, said he would call labor officials to alert them the Sun-Times was writing a story about the non-union work.

The Illinois AFL-CIO endorsed Emanuel in the primary over seven other Democrats and gave him the nod again last week over Republican Mark Augusti and Libertarian Frank Gonzalez.

Margaret Blackshere, state AFL-CIO president, spoke with Emanuel on Monday about his remodeling project but has no plans to revoke the endorsement, which was granted based on Emanuel's views and achievements as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, Blackshere's spokesman Bill Looby said.

"She is satisfied that he didn't know they were non-union workers," Looby said. "Obviously, we're disappointed that there weren't union workers used, but in terms of the endorsement, we're going to stick with the endorsement."

Mike Fitzgerald, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 134, said Emanuel told him about the situation during the primary when Blagojevich's non-union slip was showing.

"You know, I'm disappointed, but I also understand how difficult it is at times--especially two years ago when work was so good--to find union workers or contractors to do that kind of work," Fitzgerald said. "I don't condone it, but I still support him and, hopefully, I can educate him on how to get union help."

Augusti, the Lake View investment management firm executive who won the GOP primary in the Northwest Side and north suburban 5th District, criticized "the hypocrisy of it."

"Wow," Augusti said. "To take money from the unions . . . and then to turn around and use a non-union shop? If you're going to be a champion of union issues, vote with your wallet."

Emanuel rejected that argument, saying his "mistake" should not overshadow his work in the Clinton administration pushing to double the earned income tax credit, which benefits low-income taxpayers, his efforts to expand medical insurance for children whose parents lack coverage and other measures he supports to help working families.

"I'm committed to the issues I laid out in the primary and general election," Emanuel said. "And I think that's why I received the support of the AFL-CIO, of the electrical workers, the carpenters, the plumbers, the teachers--they all know they will have a person who will fight for working families."

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