Health-care union boss Dennis Rivera, announcing the endorsement of Fernando Ferrer, told his members yesterday that the Democratic hopeful has promised to help deliver better pay and benefits to thousands of low-paid health workers.
“He [Ferrer] has given a commitment to us to work with us to basically find a solution to upgrade the conditions of those workers and try to get them out of poverty,” Rivera said at a raucous press conference with Ferrer at the Midtown headquarters of Local 1199.
As first reported in The Post on Monday, Mayor Bloomberg rejected a $1 billion proposal from Rivera to put a whopping 25,000 home health-care aides on the city payroll as a condition for endorsement.
Bloomberg said on Monday that the city couldn’t afford it, and a source said he rejected Rivera’s deal.
Rivera did not deny that he recommended putting some of the 70,000 health aides – who work for private firms under city contract for less pay and benefits – on the city payroll.
“A majority of them live in poverty,” he said.
Rivera said he was “angry” with Bloomberg, accusing his campaign of leaking information to “dampen the enthusiasm” of his 200,000-member union’s endorsement of Ferrer.
“We don’t get mad. We get even,” Rivera said, vowing the union will work “very hard” to oust Bloomberg and elect Ferrer.
Both Ferrer and Rivera denied there was any “specific agreement” or quid pro quo for the endorsement.
“The only commitment I have made is based on an understanding of who these men and women – mostly women – are,” Ferrer said.
“And how hard they work. It’s to work every day to make their lives better.”
In his speech to the union members, Ferrer likened himself to David against a billionaire Goliath.
“Don’t depend on a $100 million campaign,” Ferrer continued. “Come on out and go mano a mano with me.”
Ferrer, in rolled-up shirt sleeves, said he felt right at home as he accepted the endorsement in the union’s auditorium, where pulsating salsa and hip-hop music boomed over the loudspeakers before he entered.
“I’m looking into all of your faces and I know you and me come from the same place,” he said, vowing to bring a “new covenant” between the city and its workers.
Meanwhile, 14 black ministers endorsed Bloomberg yesterday, including the leader of Mother Zion AME Church in Harlem, the oldest African-American church in the state.
The Rev. Gregory Smith said he was backing the mayor because he is a “compassionate” executive who has fulfilled his commitments to improve schools and housing.
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Here’s what Fernando Ferrer and Local 1199 boss Dennis Rivera might have been thinking at the union’s HQ in Midtown yesterday.
Fernando Ferrer: ‘Let’s see: $1 billion for 200,000 supporters – it’ll cost the city just $5,000 a vote. Sure hope my antiperspirant is working.’
Dennis River: ‘Ha! I’ll show that fool Bloomberg. Uh, wait a second . . . what happens to us if he wins? Sure hope my antiperspirant is working.
Dealing with Dennis Rivera
Gov.’s race, 2002
* Gov. Pataki uses $1 billion from a new state health fund toprovide raises to the workers in Rivera’s union.
* Local 1199 endorses Republican Pataki for re-election.
Mayor’s race, 2005
* Rivera wants 25,000 private home health-care aides added to the city payroll in return for the 1199 union endorsement,sources said.
* Bloomberg refused the deal, saying it could cost taxpayers as much as $1 billion. Union endorses Ferrer.