When Louie Wright steps down Dec. 31 as head of Kansas Citys firefighters union, its the end of an era.Respect him or resent him and there are plenty of people in both camps nearly everyone agrees Wright has left an indelible behind-the-scenes mark on Kansas City politics and government.Due largely to Wright, the MAST ambulance service is now part of the Kansas City Fire Department, and firefighters are enjoying wage increases that almost no one else in the city is getting. And at a time when many other unions are fading, Wright has expanded the reach of his own union beyond Kansas City.Even Fire Chief Smokey Dyer, who once went to the emergency room with chest pains from the stress of negotiating with Wright, praises Wrights longtime role as president of Local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.He was one of the most well-educated and intelligent fire officers and/or union leaders that there was in the United States, Dyer said.Supporters say that Wright, who has a masters degree from Harvard and a law degree, was often the smartest guy in the room in his dealings with city and county officials. On the other hand, critics say he could be intimidating and ruthless, a rascal who sometimes cut deals for his members that cost taxpayers dearly.City Councilman Ed Ford, who fought Wright on the ambulance merger, points to the unions arm that works to elect City Council candidates. Its called Taxpayers Unlimited. Ford quips that the name means, You need unlimited taxpayers to pay for what Louie wants.Wright makes no apologies never has for standing up aggressively for his union.Nonetheless, at age 61, he says its time to yield his leadership post. He expects to retire next year from the Fire Department, where he holds the rank of fire captain, and then may practice labor law, although hes leaving his options open.Ive had two careers that I loved, he says. Ive seen places in the world and been exposed to educational opportunities that, but for the Fire Department and the union, never would have come my way. And theyve been life-changing.In a world where labors power has declined for years, Local 42 bucked the trend.Under his stewardship, the union grew to 1,700 members, including not just city firefighters but suburban fire shops, ambulance crews and the Jackson County assistant prosecutors.The reason they did was because of Louies leadership, said veteran political consultant Pat Gray.Councilwoman Cindy Circo, who has known Wright for years, says he rode a wave of good economic times and helped insulate firefighters from the worst of the citys budget woes. But those days may be over, given the lingering poor economy.Louie took them as far as they could go, she said. Theres always that season for change.Self-made manIts been quite a career for a guy who barely graduated from Ruskin High School. Wright was hired by the Fire Department in 1972 with a federal grant designed to help the hard-core unemployable.He was assigned to the busy fire station at 45th Street and Troost Avenue and discovered he loved the work and the people. He watched heroic rescues and assisted victims himself at the notorious 1978 Coates House fire that claimed 20 lives at 10th Street and Broadway. He helped resuscitate two non-breathing boys in a Northeast house fire, and partnered with Ewing Kauffman on a program to train 100,000 Kansas Citians in CPR. The fire station was a hotbed of labor activism, and Wright quickly got involved as the union fought with the city. The union struck for a few days in 1975 and again in 1980, giving firefighters a reputation as hooligans and thugs. Wright was jailed twice and jokes that hes the only Missouri Bar member who was twice pardoned by a Missouri governor. With his second pardon, he had to surrender his union office for six months. He used the time to go to a Harvard trade union program. He spent 16 weeks in Cambridge, Mass., with 22 other trade union leaders from all over the globe and was exposed to some of the finest professional and academic minds. He came away realizing that union leaders needed to educate themselves to be equals with the managers at the bargaining table.He followed up by getting his masters in public administration from Harvard in 1984 and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1991.He had served stints as Local 42 president from 1980 to 1988. He was again elected in 1995 and proceeded to win lucrative pay increases for his members that set the standard for what other city bargaining groups sought. Talks were still adversarial, and city negotiators found Wright often had more clout with the City Council than they did, because hed helped those politicians get elected.Wright says the taxpayers got their moneys worth.We tried to negotiate fair wages and benefits, of course, but we have also delivered great reward to the city, he said. Hes proud of championing labor peace with the city and helping to build a firefighting force that consistently gets the highest citizen satisfaction scores of any city service.Wright says the stars finally aligned for a truly cooperative relationship with the city when Dyer became fire chief in 2000. The two men respected each other and developed a labor/management agreement that Dyer said is now a national model used by other fire departments.That didnt mean Wright caved to management. While Local 42 accepted a two-year wage freeze in the recent recession, its members are now getting generous catch up raises, while other unions got less and most managers got no increase.Generally, people that are working with Louie on the other side of the table are playing checkers, while Louie is playing chess, Dyer says. Hes one of the most strategic thinkers Ive seen.Contentious battleOne big strategy for Wright has been to take over the MAST ambulance service and fold it into the Fire Department.Emergency rescues were already becoming a big part of firefighter duties as structure fires have diminished over time. It made sense, he says of fire-based ambulance services. Its also the most efficient and cost-effective for the community.But the move in 2009 to merge Kansas Citys private ambulance service with the Fire Department turned into a fight that continues, to some degree, today. Opponents, including some Local 42 members, complain the merger hurt Northland ambulance response times and may even jeopardize patient care. Wright vehemently denies that and insists the merger will save the city money while benefitting the community long-term.But the move intensified controversy surrounding Wright. That was apparent in blog postings and links to an anonymous video accusing Wright of corruption. Wright struck back in August with a defamation lawsuit against both local blogger Tony Botello and the John Doe anonymous tipsters, saying the postings were completely false. In his legal response, Botello denied the defamation allegations. A status conference in the case is scheduled in January.Some say fire unions are among the most fractious nationally, and its amazing Wright has lasted as long in the presidency as he has. Wright concurs.I had a dear friend from Seattle who said anyone who survives in union office more than 10 years is remarkable, because if youre doing your job, youre going to piss off 10 percent of the people every year, he said.Union members signaled they wanted a new direction with the latest election Nov. 30. Wrights heir apparent, Tim Dupin, lost to Mike Cambiano, a 17-year veteran firefighter. Cambiano declined to comment, except to say a top priority will be ensuring the ambulance consolidation continues to improve.Wright will be a hard act to follow, many say, like lawyer and civic leader Herb Kohn. Hes done an incredible job for his members, Kohn said. I cant imagine the membership being able to get the advantages it has received with any leader instead of Louie.

KansasCity.com

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Firefighters union boss Louie Wright leaves with no regrets

By LYNN HORSLEY

The Kansas City Star

More News

When Louie Wright steps down Dec. 31 as head of Kansas City’s firefighters’ union, it’s the end of an era.

Respect him or resent him — and there are plenty of people in both camps — nearly everyone agrees Wright has left an indelible behind-the-scenes mark on Kansas City politics and government.

Due largely to Wright, the MAST ambulance service is now part of the Kansas City Fire Department, and firefighters are enjoying wage increases that almost no one else in the city is getting. And at a time when many other unions are fading, Wright has expanded the reach of his own union beyond Kansas City.

Even Fire Chief Smokey Dyer, who once went to the emergency room with chest pains from the stress of negotiating with Wright, praises Wright’s longtime role as president of Local 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

“He was one of the most well-educated and intelligent fire officers and/or union leaders that there was in the United States,” Dyer said.

Supporters say that Wright, who has a master’s degree from Harvard and a law degree, was often the smartest guy in the room in his dealings with city and county officials.

On the other hand, critics say he could be intimidating and ruthless, a rascal who sometimes cut deals for his members that cost taxpayers dearly.

City Councilman Ed Ford, who fought Wright on the ambulance merger, points to the union’s arm that works to elect City Council candidates. It’s called Taxpayers Unlimited. Ford quips that the name means, “You need unlimited taxpayers to pay for what Louie wants.”

Wright makes no apologies — never has — for standing up aggressively for his union.

Nonetheless, at age 61, he says it’s time to yield his leadership post. He expects to retire next year from the Fire Department, where he holds the rank of fire captain, and then may practice labor law, although he’s leaving his options open.

“I’ve had two careers that I loved,” he says. “I’ve seen places in the world and been exposed to educational opportunities that, but for the Fire Department and the union, never would have come my way. And they’ve been life-changing.”

In a world where labor’s power has declined for years, Local 42 bucked the trend.

Under his stewardship, the union grew to 1,700 members, including not just city firefighters but suburban fire shops, ambulance crews and the Jackson County assistant prosecutors.

“The reason they did was because of Louie’s leadership,” said veteran political consultant Pat Gray.

Councilwoman Cindy Circo, who has known Wright for years, says he rode a wave of good economic times and helped insulate firefighters from the worst of the city’s budget woes. But those days may be over, given the lingering poor economy.

“Louie took them as far as they could go,” she said. “There’s always that season for change.”

Self-made man

It’s been quite a career for a guy who barely graduated from Ruskin High School. Wright was hired by the Fire Department in 1972 with a federal grant designed to help the “hard-core unemployable.”

He was assigned to the busy fire station at 45th Street and Troost Avenue and discovered he loved the work and the people. He watched heroic rescues and assisted victims himself at the notorious 1978 Coates House fire that claimed 20 lives at 10th Street and Broadway. He helped resuscitate two non-breathing boys in a Northeast house fire, and partnered with Ewing Kauffman on a program to train 100,000 Kansas Citians in CPR.

The fire station was a hotbed of labor activism, and Wright quickly got involved as the union fought with the city. The union struck for a few days in 1975 and again in 1980, giving firefighters a reputation as hooligans and thugs. Wright was jailed twice and jokes that he’s the only Missouri Bar member who was twice pardoned by a Missouri governor.

With his second pardon, he had to surrender his union office for six months. He used the time to go to a Harvard trade union program.

He spent 16 weeks in Cambridge, Mass., with 22 other trade union leaders from all over the globe and was exposed to some of the finest professional and academic minds. He came away realizing that union leaders needed to educate themselves to be equals with the managers at the bargaining table.

He followed up by getting his master’s in public administration from Harvard in 1984 and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1991.

He had served stints as Local 42 president from 1980 to 1988. He was again elected in 1995 and proceeded to win lucrative pay increases for his members that set the standard for what other city bargaining groups sought. Talks were still adversarial, and city negotiators found Wright often had more clout with the City Council than they did, because he’d helped those politicians get elected.

Wright says the taxpayers got their money’s worth.

“We tried to negotiate fair wages and benefits, of course, but we have also delivered great reward to the city,” he said. He’s proud of championing labor peace with the city and helping to build a firefighting force that consistently gets the highest citizen satisfaction scores of any city service.

Wright says the stars finally aligned for a truly cooperative relationship with the city when Dyer became fire chief in 2000. The two men respected each other and developed a labor/management agreement that Dyer said is now a national model used by other fire departments.

That didn’t mean Wright caved to management. While Local 42 accepted a two-year wage freeze in the recent recession, its members are now getting generous “catch up” raises, while other unions got less and most managers got no increase.

“Generally, people that are working with Louie on the other side of the table are playing checkers, while Louie is playing chess,” Dyer says. “He’s one of the most strategic thinkers I’ve seen.”

Contentious battle

One big strategy for Wright has been to take over the MAST ambulance service and fold it into the Fire Department.

Emergency rescues were already becoming a big part of firefighter duties as structure fires have diminished over time.

“It made sense,” he says of fire-based ambulance services. “It’s also the most efficient and cost-effective for the community.”

But the move in 2009 to merge Kansas City’s private ambulance service with the Fire Department turned into a fight that continues, to some degree, today.

Opponents, including some Local 42 members, complain the merger hurt Northland ambulance response times and may even jeopardize patient care.

Wright vehemently denies that and insists the merger will save the city money while benefitting the community long-term.

But the move intensified controversy surrounding Wright. That was apparent in blog postings and links to an anonymous video accusing Wright of corruption.

Wright struck back in August with a defamation lawsuit against both local blogger Tony Botello and the “John Doe” anonymous tipsters, saying the postings were completely false. In his legal response, Botello denied the defamation allegations. A status conference in the case is scheduled in January.

Some say fire unions are among the most fractious nationally, and it’s amazing Wright has lasted as long in the presidency as he has. Wright concurs.

“I had a dear friend from Seattle who said anyone who survives in union office more than 10 years is remarkable, because if you’re doing your job, you’re going to piss off 10 percent of the people every year,” he said.

Union members signaled they wanted a new direction with the latest election Nov. 30. Wright’s heir apparent, Tim Dupin, lost to Mike Cambiano, a 17-year veteran firefighter.

Cambiano declined to comment, except to say a top priority will be ensuring the ambulance consolidation continues to improve.

Wright will be a hard act to follow, many say, like lawyer and civic leader Herb Kohn.

“He’s done an incredible job for his members,” Kohn said. “I can’t imagine the membership being able to get the advantages it has received with any leader instead of Louie.”