Union Leader Urges Fight Against Bush

[Judi Lynn]

Union Leader Urges Fight Against Bush
The Associated Press
Published: Sep 24, 2003




JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - AFL-CIO President John Sweeney urged Florida union representatives to work harder to defend themselves from the "Bush war on working families."

"The Bush Administration has a generator powered by corporate greed that never lets up in its drive to tear down everything we've built up for working families over the past 50 years," Sweeney told 150 members attending the Florida AFL-CIO convention. "Medicare, Social Security, workplace health and safety, union rights and workers' rights, wage and hour standards, they are all under relentless and continuing assault."

One of those attacks is the proposed regulations from the Department of Labor "that will destroy overtime pay for as many as 8 million workers and their families."

"The second giant attack we are facing right now is the attempt by all of our enemies and even some of our friends to extend NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) by creating a Free Trade Area of the Americas," Sweeney said. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGABWV0ZZKD.html

[jamesinca]

1. Good for the AFL-CIO

Bush can raise $170 -$200 million for election. If he directs it all at one Dem candidate, he will be unstoppable. If he has to continue to put out fires like this, or ones from the Sierra Club, or all the Dems that are currently attacking him, that $200 million will evaporate much quicker. When he has to address such things as the Ads being run by George Soros in some major metropolitan areas, that will make his campaign monies dry up too. If he has to divert half of his money to putting out all of these other fires, that leaves him with $85 to $100 million. Dean, Clark and Kerry will all be sitting on that kind of money when the primaries are over and the Dem party is putting all of its weight behind one candidate. Matching him dollar for dollar and we only have to focus on Bush that is a lot easier than having to spend campaing money on stopping attacks from all over when the finaces are equal.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Note of importance

Rove was claiming they were on track for 200 m
Well now they are only on track for 170 m, not
small potatoes, but... also look at the numbers
reported by the end of the quarter... I can bet that
this will be dropping, as more and more people figure
out who these fanatics are.

[MarianJack]

3. Good Point About the Money!

To further your argument, remember when the bush jr. campaign was crying "broke" because they had to spend sooo much $ attacking John McCain in South Carolina after the chimp got his ass kicked in New Hampshire. Some in the rethuglican party were even starting to call bush jr. a "mama's boy". Little did they know how right they were. Of course, they are so unaccostomed to being right they probably didn't know what it felt like!

[saigon68]

4. He's a Chimpanzee

and not a very bright one either. His handers have all they can do to keep him in line.

[MarianJack]

7. Yes!

Remember the week before the election CBS offered chimp & Gore air time every night. Gore accepted & whistle ass's handlers had him do a taped statement on Monday. Just think, knowing that your candidate is such a moron that you turn down offered news time a week before the election!

[FlashHarry]

5. I thought it was the Manchester Union-Leader!

A historically RW paper in NH!

[MaineDem]

6. Wow, that was my thought too.

I was floored.

[Atlant]

9. Me three. For a moment there, I thought it was all over! :-( (NT)

[Nottingham]

8. Ya if the Workers don't do anything this guy will have everybody

UNEMPLOYED Soon except for the people in INDIA

[davsand]

10. It is different for labor this time.

Labor has been good to the Dems in the past, and I have no doubt that relationship will continue, however THIS TIME it is personal. Bush has been systematic in his attacks on labor and on workers' rights. I've been struck by the number of folks I've talked to--who are orinarily not all that political--who are pissed off at shrub over his labor policies.

I'm not out to bash Gore, but he was hurt seriously with labor last time on two issues: He was viewed as being a huge proponent of NAFTA when it went thru, and his stance on guns. The NAFTA issue was huge for all the unions, and the gun thing was especially bad in the building trades. The unions gave Gore money, and there were a lot of rank and file out working for Gore, I have no reason to be critical of either side.

This time around, I think it is a matter of survival. If the Dems put up anybody who is even remotely labor friendly, they'll get the support and volunteers they need. Labor is not gonna mess around with this one. They can't afford to, and they know that.

I said earlier this year that for labor the slogan would be "anybody but Bush" and time has made that even more evident. Labor is in this to get him out of the Whitehouse and the coffers will open up as much as they can legally.

I was shocked at the last labor picnic at the number of Dem stickers on the cars in the parking lot. I know it isn't viewed as authoritative, but when I see THAT much activity for the Dem party concentrated in one spot, I get excited.

Laura

[BiggJawn]

11. Will the Carpenters fall in line?

Remember how they "came out' for the Chimp last time? I wonder how many of their Bros are still swingin' hammers and not pushing carts areound a WallMart warehouse?

I'd like to see Labour re-grow those big, hairy balls they had in the 30' and 40's....

It's past time to put Capital in their place. If the Owners are allowed to continue to run rough-shod over us Workers, there's nothing in our futures but Serfdom, and that's true for both Union and non-Union.

[davsand]

12. Carpenters' International has been in a big mess.

I feel for those guys--at least the rank and file, anyway. I'm not associated with the Carpenters' but everything I've heard about that International has been just awful at least in the last couple years. The open embrace of shrub is just a part of it.

They had what amounted to a civil war and they've had locals that dropped the International because of it. I have no idea what the current status is, but I will say that I know several carpenters who hate Bush with a passion. I know one guy who has a beater truck that he drives to job sites and it is plastered with anti-Bush stickers...

What the International will do is not anything I've heard much about. We may have some Carpenters on here who can illuminate this a bit more, and I'd like to hear what they have to say about it.

I agree, Big Jawn. Labor needs to get out front and active. What makes me very sad, however, is that I still hear people bash unions when they have benfitted from collective bagaining and the efforts of labor unions over the years. Labor does keep fighting on issues, but a lot of time they get little thanks for it.

Right now, labor is one of our best chances at regaining some of what we've lost under this regime. I wish more people would realize that and support them a bit more--ya know? I get frustrated when I hear people making jokes about lazy labor unions or corrupt union bosses. I've even seen it here on DU and it is profoundly disturbing.

As a party, we Dems have always looked to labor for money and support for our candidates. We need them terribly right now, and I've busted butt locally to bring the Dems around to that fact. I'm hoping that is taking place on a national level as well. I have no idea where the DNC is at with this issue...

Labor will be there when they are needed this time. I'm just hoping the Dems appreciate that.

Laura

[BiggJawn]

14. People who bash Unions don't have a Clue, do they?

The 40-hour work week, instead of a 6-day, 72 hour week? Thank the Unions (you IT folks and other modern "superworkers" doin' the 72-hour thing to look "valuable" need to reassess your lives)

Paid vacations, sick days, employer contributions to pension funds and health insurance? Unions again.

Capital does not give these things out of the goodness of their hearts. they give them because Union Members fought (and bled and DIED) for them.

Never could understand why the Carpenter's International would hop into bed with their ancient enemy, the ReTHUGlican party. guess they liked the fact that Chimpy "Talks TOUGH!"

[bvar22]

13. Note to Democratic Party.....

What have you done for UNIONS and LABOR lately??