Chicago Federation of Labor won't endorse Daley (Chicago Sun Times)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/212738,labor16.article

Chicago Federation of Labor won't endorse Daley

January 16, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
For the first time in the Chicago Federation of Labor’s modern history, the powerful organization will not endorse an incumbent Chicago mayor —even though his name is Richard Daley.

The CFL exacted its political revenge against Daley — by making no endorsement in the mayor’s race — four months after Daley used his first-ever veto to kill a big box-minimum wage ordinance that would have required retailing giants to pay their employees at least $13 an hour in wages and benefits by 2010.

The big box veto might have been forgiven if it had been organized labor’s only beef with Daley. But it was more like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“It’s not just big box-living wage or right-to-know . It’s not just about the city contract where we waited 28 months and retirees didn’t get back paychecks. It’s not just about charter schools for teachers, privatization of city services over the years or the layoffs we went through. It’s a combination of all of that,” Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon said.

FULL story at link.

[ikojo]

1. About time "labor" tells corporatist

Dems they can no longer count on their support!!!

[illinoisprogressive]

2. Yep. chicago politics are alive and well. so are the dead who vote

[LiberalFighter]

3. Don't forget privatizing the Skyway

[Robbien]

5. We still have no idea where the money went

And they want to raise our RE taxes by 30% because Cook Country is broke.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. Oh. Daley isn't a corporatist. he's an old style machine pol. Not a good guy

but, not like the repugs. He is like those old machine city bosses. He doesn't have loyalty to big biz. Just to himself and his buds in the machine.

[Robbien]

6. I beg to differ

Yes Daley is an old style machine politician, but he has also learned very well that there is money to be had in being a privatizer and corporatist.

The decisions being made by him in the last several years would make a seasoned corporatist proud.

[Fierce]

7. Good.

Labor gives, and Labor can take away. If they want.

[BayCityProgressive]

8. Labor should

not support any Dems who don't support their agenda. Supporting anyone with a D after their name isn't a good strategy for any of us. Look at Joe LIEberman.

[BayCityProgressive]

9. I limit my

monetary support to progressive caucus members. Too often unions endorse Dems and get nothing in return. Taft-Hartley should be repealed. If the Dems really supported unions they would at least try now that they have the Senate and Congress. I hope that Kucinich and Sanders try so that everyone is forced to take a stand.

[Fierce]

10. "Progressive" isn't always the way to go, either.

In fact, in my state, I run from progressives.