A resolution granting all Lockport city employees Juneteenth as a paid holiday beginning in 2025 is on the Common Council’s Wednesday meeting agenda.
The two aldermen who voted “no” on CSEA’s request for Juneteenth as an additional paid day off two weeks ago said Monday that they’ll vote for the grant to all employees.
2nd Ward Alderman Anita Mullane said she’s assured that the holiday will be “budgeted correctly” and granted to all city employees, not just CSEA members.
Regarding the resolution for CSEA only, which failed on a 2-2 vote due to the need for four affirmative votes and the absence of two of six council members, Mullane said its appearance on the council’s June 12 agenda, after multiple instances of it failing to get a second sponsor, is a case of “dirty politics.”
“The resolution was withdrawn a few times and once couldn’t find a second to bring to the floor, and no one made a noise,” Mullane said.
Following the June 12 vote, CSEA Western Region No. 6 issued a statement sharply criticizing Mullane and 5th Ward Alderman Margaret Lupo, who also voted against granting the holiday. CSEA region spokesperson Sydney Thomas’s statement invoked quotes from local leaders of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and NAACP and insinuated Mullane and Lupo had voted against the Juneteenth holiday itself.
Lupo said she voted “no” on the CSEA-only resolution because city administration did not appear to have a firm grasp on the cost of the grant. She added that her vote had caused her to be painted as a bigot, which she is not.
“At budget time last year, I brought up Juneteenth, but nobody seemed willing to do anything,” she said. “Next year we’ll know how much it costs, and when the next holiday comes around, we’ll be smarter.”
Council president Kathryn Fogle, 4th Ward alderman, is listed as the sponsor of the city-wide holiday resolution. She declined to comment on her sponsorship Monday.