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23rd District State Representative Sherry Appleton’s (D-Poulsbo) adamant stand against the proposed NASCAR project may cost her the support of some of the unions which have been an integral part of her political power base for much of her career. Appleton says she’s not worried. Virgil Hamilton, president of the Olympic Peninsula Building and Construction Trades Council says she should be.
“We worked hard to help put Sherry in office, and we’ll work just as hard to get her out of there if we have to,” said Hamilton. When asked if that included supporting a Republican against Appleton, he answered, “If it was the right one, someone who understood our issues, absolutely.”
Appleton has a long history with the unions. Before being elected to the legislature, she served as a contract lobbyist for the Amalgamated Transit Unions Legislative Council for ten years. She also lobbied for the Master, Mates and Pilots union for about five years and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for three.
“I have been a friend of labor for many years and on many issues,” stated Appleton. “So far the labor community as a whole have told me they support me and I will take their word for it, including the building trades. One person does not speak for all.”
Hamilton disagrees with her assessment of the level of support she enjoys, saying that polling local union membership about the proposed NASCAR project shows something else entirely. “I’ve talked to lots of members and other union leaders about this, Said Hamilton. “Approximately 90 percent of the building trades people and 70 percent of the non-building trades people are in favor of NASCAR.”
At issue, is Appleton’s staunch refusal to even consider supporting the project. “I have heard from many, many people supporting the track, but hardly anyone from the 23rd district which I represent,” said Appleton. “Canned e-mails” don’t show passion for a topic.”
Hamilton counters her argument by saying the reason the building trades support the NASCAR proposal is because in addition to many local union members being NASCAR fans, International Speedway Corporation (ISC) which will build the track, has pledged to construct it with 100 percent union labor. It has also pledged to build it without a special project agreement — just as it has built other tracks it owns and operates that way.
Project agreements are specific contracts between owners, builders and the unions that only cover only one particular construction project, and usually are not as stringent as the standard union working agreement in terms of work rules, job conditions, hours, overtime, premium pay requirements, or crew and supervision structure. The Bangor Submarine Base for example, was built under a project agreement covering all the numerous general and sub contractors working on all the different buildings inside the base.
Atlanta-based Turner Construction, one of the largest construction firms in the world, and the one that has built other ISC tracks, has been mentioned as the probable general contractor if the speedway is built. Construction is expected to create hundreds of high paying local union construction jobs for a period of almost four years. It’s Appleton’s seemingly blasé attitude about just kissing off those kinds of jobs for his members that has raised Hamilton’s ire.
Appleton simply feels the proposal just isn’t a good deal for the state or the citizens of Kitsap or Mason Counties. “I’ve done my homework on this. Trust me when I tell you it just isn’t a good deal,” she insists. When asked what it would take for her to support the proposal, she answers, “If they paid for the entire thing. Or if they want Kitsap and Mason County to own it, they give them half the gate.”
After learning about the local unions reaction to her position, Appleton says she’s not worried. “I have spoken with almost every union about this and have gotten back nothing but 100 percent support. I am sure there are those in the building trades who personally might feel this way, but the fact that the State Labor Council has not taken any position on NASCAR, and neither have the other four largest unions, tells me my position isn’t a problem for them.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton says unless Appleton rethinks her position, his union people won’t be turning out to help re-elect her in November. “Our people are the ones who worked the phones, walked the streets, knocked on doors, put up signs and handed out flyers to get Sherry elected,” he said. “We can just as easily do that for someone else — or we can just stay home.”. | 
