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By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer

Barbara Bass earned a ringing endorsement from members of the IUE-CWA Local 86782 labor union on Thursday.

The union represents employees at TRANE, a manufacturer of heating and air conditioning units. Members invited her to address the Shop Stewards of Tyler’s largest labor union about why she would be the best choice for mayor.

“I have built my platform on quality jobs, transportation and quality of life. Quality jobs to me means good-paying jobs with benefits,” she told them Thursday afternoon. “If we have good-paying jobs, then those jobs can pay for the streets, the roads, the airport improvements, and then also pay for what we like to do in our fun time. They pay for our quality of life.”

Union leaders threw their full support behind the candidate, saying they hope their endorsements will draw in more votes for Ms. Bass.

“We’re going to be doing everything we can to get everybody here at this plant to give her our support,” said George Elmore, chairman of the union’s Committee on Political Education.

Union President Tony Hayes said Ms. Bass earned his support because of her proactive stance on keeping high-paying manufacturing jobs in Tyler.

“Barbara has the vision to bring some more of these good-paying jobs to Tyler, Texas. You know, that’s important. The full effects of losing Goodyear haven’t been felt yet. And it was a hard, hard fight. I’m thoroughly convinced that the local and the state governments could have done more to keep that here,” he said. “We have to put some things in place right now so these good-paying jobs can be saved.”

Ms. Bass outlined her plan to protect jobs like those at TRANE from moving out of the city. She said she didn’t want to see another Goodyear situation — which she said cost the local economy about $1 billion — happen in Tyler.

“When we have the situation where we can use the tax abatement that’s already there, we can put the skills training that Tyler Junior College can bring together, and we can put all of the pieces together and we can keep the a plant like Goodyear, or we can keep great companies like Carrier and TRANE, we have got to do it,” she said. “The best way you can do economic development — the first way you do economic development — is by keeping the jobs you already have.

Ms. Bass said the city needs to be prepared to keep high-paying jobs in the area and to attract similar jobs in the future. She said the city has some tools at its disposal, such as tax abatements and skills training through the area colleges. But, she said, the city needs added incentives, such as land and money, to bring the good jobs around.

She explained her plan in detail with the Tyler Paper editorial board in an interview two-and-a-half weeks ago. She proposes using some of the extra revenue the city already has set aside and putting it in a fund specifically for retaining or attracting high-quality jobs. She said the council would establish parameters to decide how and when the money would be spent. She estimated between $500,000 and $750,000 of city funds could be set aside for that purpose.

Jim Wansley, a former union president, said jobs like those at TRANE are too precious to the community to be allowed to leave.

“Barbara has committed to being proactive in not only trying to attract new businesses, but in trying to retain the good-paying jobs we have here, which is where you guys are at,” he said. “You are a tremendous asset to this community, and you deserve and need a mayor who will be proactive. You need somebody who can get the support and gather people up and mobilize the community to keep this plant here. And I’ve become convinced that Barbara Bass is that person.”