(AMHERST) - Representatives from more than 25 area Labor Unions have begun to chart an agreed-to course of action when it comes to endorsing candidates who seek elected office, as well to address what approach they will ultimately take when dealing with what some across the Labor Community have described as a "dysfunctional" Democratic Party in Erie County.

"We want to believe in someone, but we're having trouble believing some of them, and if we have trouble believing them, our members may have trouble believing them to," said one local Labor Leader who attended the meeting, but spoke to WNYLaborToday.com on the condition he not be identified.  The unidentified Labor Leader pointed to positions some in the region's elected community have taken on a number of issues important to Labor, such as reform of the state's Industrial Development Agencies.

In addition, WNYLaborToday.com has learned there is talk circulating across the Western New York Labor Community about potentially staying neutral in any primary election when it comes to making specific candidate endorsements.  "There have been some general discussions about sitting out the primaries," said another Labor Leader - who also requested anonymity - where one Labor-endorsed candidate faces another Labor-endorsed candidate, and in races where both Labor-supportive candidates seek the endorsement and monetary support of Organized Labor - which, in the end, pits Labor against Labor. 

There is also concern about what is being described as "dysfunction" in the Erie County Democratic Party and the many frayed relationships that have been reported on by local media between the party's chairman and other power-brokers/office-holders within the party. 

While a number of Labor Leaders WNYLaborToday.com has spoken to over the past several weeks have voiced their concern, many have declined the opportunity to discuss the current situation on-the-record at this time, explaining further discussions still need to be held with local Labor Leaders and Unions in order to formulate a plan of action when it comes to addressing this perceived problem.

The February 18th strategic planning turnout included 45 individual representatives from more than 25 area Labor Organizations.  The large gathering was pleasing to Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) Vice President Richard Lipsitz, who also serves as Business Agent and Labor Movement Liaison with Buffalo-headquartered Teamsters Local 264. 

"There was a huge turnout for this strategic planning meeting, where we are now looking to push forward several key issues, including a Jobs Stimulus Program, Fair Trade provisions and reform of Health Care.  We selected a number of key issues in order to move forward as a 'united' Labor Movement.  All who took part agreed to meet again (as a group) in the next few weeks," Lipsitz told WNYLaborToday.com.

Lipsitz, however, declined to address or comment regarding the talk of Labor Unions possibly staying neutral in the primary elections this fall or to address what some have called a "dysfunctional" Democratic Party in Erie County. 

While admitting there was a "high level of concern," Lipsitz told WNYLaborToday.com the specific issues the Labor representatives pinpointed to support and move forward on at the WNYALF-sponsored meeting were much more important at this time, and provided Local Labor with a "much bigger picture" as to what needs to be done in the coming months in order to move Labor's agenda forward. 

"We will get into other things, but this meeting set the stage and the approach that will be taken when it comes to local politics, economics and the entire culture," Lipsitz said.

IUPAT (International Union of Painters & Allied Trades) Business Manager Dan Boody, who attended the WNYALF Strategic Planning Meeting told WNYLaborToday.com those who took part "spoke candidly" as to what Labor currently faces. 

"Opinions were shared and it was agreed we all have to work harder to better educate our individual members on the issues we face as a Labor Movement.  It was a good 'think tank' session as far as I am concerned," Boody said.