Chenoweth Criticized For Ups Strike Role Labor Leaders Say It’s Improper To Seek Clinton’s Intervention

Idaho AFL-CIO leaders say U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth had no business calling on President Clinton to intervene in the United Parcel Service labor dispute.

They vow to try again to topple the Republican incumbent.

Chenoweth urged Clinton to prod Teamster leaders to let their members vote on the company’s latest offer four days before the parties agreed on a contract.

“We don’t feel the federal government should intervene in any collective bargaining,” Idaho AFL-CIO President Dave Whaley said at a weekend Lewiston-Clarkston labor picnic.

“Maybe Helen would like the president to intervene on her next deal in buying a car if she doesn’t agree with a salesman,” he said. “I’m not sure we need a congressional representative to provide that type of representation in the 1st Congressional District or the state of Idaho.”

In contrast, Idaho’s other three Republican congressmen opted not to push Clinton to intervene. Chenoweth said she had hundreds of UPS workers call her offices because they wanted the strike over and to return to work.

Many expressed satisfaction they were working part-time, she said. That is why she asked Clinton to intervene in what appeared to be a deadlock in negotiations, she said.

Chenoweth said her request to the president was not related to the national AFL-CIO targeting her for defeat in last year’s election. It spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising against her before she defeated Democrat Dan Williams.

“For the state, we have made the decision that we’ll go after the 1st Congressional District race,” Whaley said. “Sometimes in Idaho you have to do it twice before you win.

Whaley said he is pleased Chenoweth has Coeur d’Alene high-tech businessman Tony Paquin challenging her in the GOP primary.

“It is not a personal attack against Helen,” he added. “But we need a congressional person in there that will represent the working families in the state of Idaho on all issues, not just on single-item hot button issues.”