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"A collaborative political resource." |
Union representing Klobuchar's staff campaigns against her
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| Contributor | Eric |
| Last Edited | Eric Feb 19, 2006 10:03am |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Feb 19, 2006 10:00am |
| Description | MINNEAPOLIS - The local union representing the staff of Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is asking its parent group, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, not to endorse her in her bid for the U.S. Senate.
Jim Appleby, an assistant Hennepin County attorney and local union president, said in a letter to union leaders this month that Klobuchar had denigrated lawyers at her office publicly and privately, taken credit for their work and "created a hostile work environment."
The two-page letter said Klobuchar's management style had resulted in increased grievances and that she used successfully prosecuted cases to give the public the false impression that she was actively involved in those cases.
The local union represents more than 300 employees in the office, including investigators, paralegals and all 112 of its non-management attorneys.
"Has it made some people angry that I've done some things differently? Yes," said Klobuchar, who held the office since 1999. "My goal was to make the office more accountable to the community."
Pete Cahill, Klobuchar's chief deputy attorney, to whom Klobuchar initially deferred comment, said he was surprised by the letter.
"I've worked very closely with her (Klobuchar), and I think she's a very effective leader. She never overstates her role," Cahill said.
Klobuchar said the focus of the discontent seemed to be last year's contract negotiations and the charge that she did not support a wage increase for those employees. |
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