The president of the largest AFSCME local in Baltimore says he has not been informed of a do-over election that his opponent, a union official, engineered and announced on social media.

“No one from AFSCME has given me any official notice of any new election,” says Stancil McNair who, although sworn in as president of Local 44 representing sanitation and other municipal workers last August 30, has been unable to exercise the powers of his office – or even appear unannounced at the union hall.

Instead, Trevor Taylor, who describes himself as Local 44’s chief shop steward, has been running the union while pursuing a formal protest to overturn the election he lost to McNair.

A union judicial panel recently ordered a new election within 45 days without setting a specific date. Neither Local 44 nor the AFSCME Maryland Council 3 have announced a date for the new election on their websites.

But over the weekend, Taylor said in an Instagram post that an in-person vote will take place on December 6 at the union hall at 1410 Bush Street.

“Mark your calendars,” Taylor wrote. “This is your chance to help shape the future of our union. Spread the word, bring your coworkers, and let’s make history together,” displaying headshots himself and a slate of officers under the heading of “Action Team!!!!!”

• UPDATE: Local 44 has sent out an email blast confirming the December 6 election date.

McNair says Taylor is trying to take credit for better working conditions and pay that followed the gruesome on-the-job deaths of two sanitation workers and critical reports of safety conditions by Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming.

“Trevor Taylor has claimed to have been here for 20 years, and not once has he stepped up for the members like me. And that’s because I’m not no puppet,” McNair wrote today on social media.

“And to be very clear, the credit definitely goes to [IG Cumming] for exposing everything publicly and DPW for acknowledging the situation we was facing. None of the representatives of Local 44 stepped up!”

Last Wednesday, Taylor appeared before the Board of Estimates to accept praise by Mayor Brandon Scott and others for crafting a new contract that boosts pay for sanitation workers by nearly 19% over three years.

“I’m proud to say we made incredible progress with this new contract,” Taylor told the board before circling his arm around Labor Commissioner Deborah Moore-Carter and vigorously shaking hands with Deputy Mayor Khalil Zaied.

McNair says he was not invited to the meeting.

Election Protest

After losing the vote, Taylor accused McNair of maintaining “an unusually close relationship” with IG Cumming and alleged that Cumming issuing an endorsement of McNair on social media before the election. McNair in turn accused Taylor of misusing union resources and email lists while campaigning.

A judicial panel composed of union officials ruled that messages by Cumming, such as “The elections are tomorrow. Power to the People,” constituted employer interference in the election.

“AFSCME is committed to ensuring AFSCME local union elections are free from interference from employers and expects employers to refrain from inserting themselves into internal union procedures,” the panel said.

The Baltimore Board of Ethics came to the opposite conclusion. It cleared Cumming of any ethical lapses and affirmed her right of free speech, saying, “The social media accounts in question clearly belong to you as a natural person, public figure and engaged citizen, not the City of Baltimore or the OIG. As such they are considered protected speech.”

Thiru Vignarajah, who represented McNair and his election slate before the judicial panel, today said that he was not aware of a new election date. He said he has been waiting for instructions on how to appeal the panel’s decision, but has been ghosted by the union.

15 Day Notice

According to the AFSCME Local Union Election Manual, notice of an election must be mailed to the known addresses of each union member “at least 15 days before the election date.”

The notice should state the date, time and place of the voting, indicate which offices are to be voted on “and, if possible, list the candidates.”

The manual also notes that a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote, so that in cases where more than two candidates are running, “it is wise to include in this notice the date, time and place for any run-off election that might be necessary.”

McNair defeated Taylor by a 55-45% margin at the August 23 election and was sworn into office on September 30.

In addition to running again for president, Taylor is promoting his slate for vice president, treasurer, executive board and trustees. McNair says he is sticking with his original slate of candidates, most of whom won in the August vote.

Clarence Thomas, an independent, says he is campaigning for vice president.

He told The Brew that complaints he made to the inspector general were instrumental to the investigations that Cumming conducted that concluded that vindictive supervisors, ramshackle facilities, minimal safety training and dismissive managers made for a toxic work environment in the Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division.

A recent followup report by Cumming cited improved conditions, including the issuance of bottled cold water to work crews and the use of toilet paper without the permission of a supervisor.

Last week Mayor Scott and City Administrator Faith Leach heaped praise on city sanitation workers before the board ratified the new labor contract

“You show up and do the things that no one else will do it. You take all the trash, literally and figuratively,” the mayor said, while Leach added, “I hope you know we love you.”