Page lauded for openness in decision-making

Willing to meet with Labor to find solutions to workers’ issues

By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher

The positive relationship between St. Louis County government and the Labor Movement that exists to support working families was highlighted in a meeting last week between the parties.

“When the leaders of Organized Labor have an issue, it’s usually one that affects all workers in the county, not exclusively their members,” County Executive Sam Page said. “My experience working with Labor is that they certainly are fighting for their members’ issues, but they are always concerned how those issues will be good for the entire county.”

Page was invited to speak with a group of Labor leaders about county issues.

A POSITIVE FORCE
“Sam Page has done a lot for working families, and that’s really positive for everyone,” St. Louis Labor Council President Pat White said. “We can sit down and talk, have a positive conversation, and while we don’t always agree, we’re able to come to an understanding that works for everyone. We appreciate that Sam is willing to listen and understand workers’ concerns and then tries to act in a positive way.”

That sentiment was echoed by John Stiffler, executive secretary-treasurer of the St. Louis Building Trades Council. “He’s upfront on every decision, and you can’t ask for more than that.”

HARD DECISIONS
It’s an interesting time in history, Page noted, adding that difficult decisions have to be made with all county residents in mind, but even then not everyone is going to be happy with some of those decisions.

He pointed out the COVID pandemic and the early hard decisions made to stem the tide of infections and deaths in the county. “Today, as a result, the county is better off than many places in the nation that were unwilling to make similar hard decisions,” he said.

He noted, too, that with the federal stimulus funding, a lot of unmet county needs, like extensive infrastructure improvements, can now be done, and that will create jobs and have a positive impact on St. Louis’ overall viability and attractiveness, at the center of America, to expand existing businesses and create new ones.

Noting the anti-Labor, anti-worker attitudes that exists in Jefferson City, White said it was great to have a leader who listens to all sides in order to make positive decisions.