Lifeguard local an island unto itself

Seasonal workers kept from meetings, elections

When Franklyn “Bubba” Paige, the longtime president of District Council 37’s Lifeguards Local 461, was removed by its national union in 2020 for disenfranchising his members, rank and file lifeguards were hopeful that the local would become more democratic and certainly more transparent than it had been for decades.  

Paige was ousted by a panel from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees following hearings because he wouldn’t allow seasonal lifeguards, who make up the vast majority of the Local 461, to vote in union elections or attend union meetings. Paige had “disenfranchised” his members and “deprived the seasonal Lifeguards of the basic rights of union membership,” AFSCME Judicial Panel Member Steve Tully wrote in his decision.