As Rod Blagojevich sought a job that would provide for his financial security and maintain his political viability, his former chief of staff thought that the ex-governor’s future lied with organized labor.
John Harris testified that after conversations about a potential cabinet job in the administration, or with a non-profit foundation, he floated the idea that Blagojevich try to seek a job with the Service Employees International Union.
Harris said he was concerned about Blagojevich taking a job in the private sector, leaving the state in “its existing current condition,” but thought that SEIU President Andy Stern, and SEIU Illinois President Tom Balanoff might be able to keep a job warm for Blagojevich that he would be able to take right when his term as governor expired. Harris wasn’t as confident such an opportunity would exist for a job at a foundation.
Blagojevich wondered whether Patti Blagojevich might be able to take an SEIU job in the interim, but Harris dissuaded him from that idea, referring to it as “too cute.”
Harris pondered whether the job Rod Blagojevich might ultimately land would be the head of Change to Win Federation, a coalition of labor unions that does political advocacy.