Denver labor splits over Democrats plan to use non-union convention center (2008 convention)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/5115

Denver labor splits over Democrats plan to use non-union convention center

There is tension in the air between Democrats and organized labor in Denver. The city will be the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention and the party plans to host the convention at the non-union Pepsi Center. Another major issue for organized labor is that the convention center is also owned by Stan Kroenke - husband of Wal-Mart heir Ann Walton. While the Colorado AFL-CIO has expressed support for the Democrats using the non-union space and the Pepsi Center has expressed it would allow current workers managed by Rhino Staging be replaced with union workers. When the McNichols Center was replaced by the Pepsi Center in 1999, it cost nearly 300 union members their jobs. The major opposition comes from Jim Taylor, President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees local 7. While Taylor has yet to make any public positions - reportedly not returning calls from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar and Denver City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth - he has so far not signed a pledge not to strike during the convention. When it was first learned that Denver was in consideration, Taylor has expressed he saw it as an opportunity to put leverage on the facility to organize its current workers. Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean is optimistic that an agreement will be reached.

[BayCityProgressive]

1. they had better

unionize this place. Could the Dems shit on their base any more blatantly? "Oh unions please organize for us and give us money...pay no attention while we party with union bashers and pass free trade laws!"

[Jackpine Radical]

2. WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH THE DEMS!!???!

I seldom if ever have resorted to a shouting subject line, but this insanity cries out for it.

This is a bad, bad move any way you look at it. Morally, we should be doing everything we can to support & build the unions. Practically, we stand to piss off the entire union movement. We're DEMOCRATS! We can't afford to do that. It's like a Republican going into a southern Baptist church & pissing in the baptismal water.

The only thing I'm undecided about here is whether it is due to idiocy or lunacy. I'm opting for both.

[madfloridian]

4. Read my post, it is an excellent move.

Read the DLC website, and see that Hillary and other DLCers did not want it in NY...they had their own convention there in Denver.

They are working out details. Dean has meant it to be there for a long time. It shows the new spirit of moving the party out west.

[madfloridian]

3. "current workers managed by Rhino Staging be replaced with union workers"

That sounds to me like progress is being made. I know Dean is working with the national unions. Remember, the DLC had its convention there last summer. They started the push then. So therefore Hillary and the NY Dems did not really press for the convention.. they wanted Denver as well. And Bloomberg put the kabosh on it by saying he did not want it, couldn't afford it. Betcha he could have afforded a GOP one.

I think many union leaders are working with Dean and working together. That one guy is making some others angry. It will be a boon to Denver, really.

So see, concessions are already being made. And since the move of the party is westward, you can not always go to NYC.

[YankeyMCC]

5. This ought to be a no brainer

for the party. If they can't get that right it doesn't bode well at all. And I don't just mean the 08 election but with keeping in touch with the core values of the party and the desires of the majority of Americans.

[madfloridian]

7. Ok, so you say back to NYC? This may help to build unions in Denver.

It is a very symbolic gesture. I have been reading up on this a lot, suggest you do some searching. Many things are being worked up.

This is way overreacting.

[YankeyMCC]

8. How is it over reacting?

I didn't say go back to NYC I said support unions. Yes they are making consessions but there better be a lot and a lot of coverage of that and a lot of noise by the dems about what they are doing to promote unionization.

[madfloridian]

9. It was NY or Denver.

There were others in the beginning, but like in one Florida city it was believed the GOP put pressure on not to have it...to back off negotiating. New Orleans was considered briefly, but they said no they could not afford it.

Another city was in play, but the GOP grabbed it...and the city said they would not host two.

Actually, Dean is one of the strongest Dems on labor unions, he has been from day one. He says they built the middle class in our country. So it is not fair to put blame on the DNC in this case.

The national unions heads are meeting and Dean is meeting with them, or talking with them.

But think as you like. Whatever. The goal of the DNC is to win in 08 with mostly the western bloc of states, without having to include the Florida electoral votes. They are working the west as they rebuild in the South. So this move signifies that.

[YankeyMCC]

10. Yeah whatever

talk about over reacting :eyes:

[madfloridian]

11. You don't see it do you?

The significance. I have been following it, and I think you are over-reacting. It stands for the new push to the west.

There were two cities in play...NY and Denver.

[aquart]

15. We're negotiating for a union venue?

[ohio2007]

6. Is this another Boston legal union settlement in the works ?

Union contracts will be negotiated and signed and settled in the 11th hour.

[msn]

12. I agree - last minute settlement and no picket line

Taylor will hold out as long as possible, because he gets the greatest leverage that way, but I just can't see him putting up a picket line outside the convention. I'll be following this and all other convention stories on my blog http://demconwatch.blogspot.com">2008 Democratic Convention Watch.

[Peace Patriot]

16. Thanks for keeping track of this, MSN! Greatly appreciated!

My first thought was: FOR CHRISSAKES THEY CAN'T EVEN GET THE LABOR SITUATION RIGHT AT OUR OWN CONVENTION!

Next thought: It's not MY convention. It belongs to the corporations and the super-rich, and will be a coronation of Hillary or some other pro-Iraq War, war profiteering, NAFTA-shilling dud.

Queasy stomach: Boring, dull, dead convention. Is she going to salute and say, "Reporting for duty"? To whom? The Corporate Rulers? Like the boring, dull, dead corporate monopoly newspaper I glance at every day and think of using as toilet paper. Like the boring, dull, dead corporate TV news and blab shows.

I know Dean's a good guy, and will work to get the labor situation straightened out. But I just, you know, had this sickening feeling of more of the same, of the final death throes of our democracy.

I am heartened by many things happening in our country--by grass roots democracy, and new word-of-mouth (and internet) communication among people--by the good instincts and progressive values of the American people, despite their having to endure 24/7 rightwing propaganda from the corporate news monopolies. When I look at where we were two years ago on issues like election fraud/election reform, and the Iraq War, I see that democracy is, in fact, working--and in the best way, from the bottom up. The American people tried their best to change the direction of the country in the '06 elections, against overwhelming handicaps, including rightwing Bushite corporations "counting" all the votes using TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code. But when I look at the dismal prospects for good presidential leadership of the Democratic Party--when I think of someone like Hillary Clinton seizing control of our party, or Christopher Dodd, for goddsakes, or Bill Richardson, both of them bastards and betrayers of the people on electronic voting--I just feel dead inside. Clark, Edwards and Obama are all not so bad, but then, on the other hand, they don't seem to have the...what is it? ...the heft, the gravitas, to address the multiple HUGE crises that this nation is facing. We need an FDR. We need someone of great stature. And the only potential FDR that I see is Al Gore, and he seems not to be interested.

I do believe that the people should lead, and are trying to lead--and that great leaders arise to meet the expectations and needs and demands of the people. That is what democracy is all about. I see a great people trying to emerge from a fascist coup--to get their country back--but I don't see the leadership that they deserve coming forward, at least in these early polls and presidential announcements. I found the 2004 Democratic convention utterly sickening--with Kerry providing no leadership on the war, on torture, on electronic voting, and on many vital issues--with protesters in caged areas, cleansing that disgusting group of delegates of any real discussion or anti-Bush fire, and the whole thing was like bland, inedible, canned soup.

Is that what we're looking at? The Corporate Rulers triumph again, turning our democracy into a sideshow to sell more SUVs and legal drugs?

Well, I smell rebellion. There is vibrancy in the land. I do feel that. But the Democratic Party can so easily turn into a mush-brained, lifeless sham. And what is our other choice--brutal fascism?

What I hope is that somebody comes out of nowhere, with no money, and seizes this prize--the Democratic Party nomination--for the people! I hope that American democracy is reborn at that convention, that sparks fly, that real debate ignites the country, that the unexpected happens, and that the people are able to launch a real champion, someone who truly represents us, and who has the integrity and grit and vision to see to our interests in this troubled era. Is that too much to hope for?

[w4rma]

13. Good. "… leverage on the facility to organize its current workers." (nt)

[aquart]

14. PLEASE tell me we're doing no such thing.

If Denver doesn't have a unionized convention center, let's find another city.

[ohio2007]

17. Cleveland Ohio is in a Union state

Cleveland was one of the top three choices of the other party. Hotel space in north east Ohio remains a problem.

[Az_lefty]

19. Ohio should have been the obvious choice...

what the hell are these guys thinking?
:shrug:

[DuaneBidoux]

20. Hell yes! And Ohio has a lot more electoral votes than Colorado

And is much more in play than Colorado

[Clinton_Co_Regulator]

18. I agree.

The ABC (scab) contractors get enough love from dirtbag republicans. They don't need any more help from the Dems.

[eridani]

21. The Good Doctor at DNC needs to hear about this

Promptly!

[MaineDem]

24. I would assume he's already on top if it

He's been involved in the negotiations.

[DoYouEverWonder]

22. Obviously many people on this thread have never done a trade show

Unionized convention centers and venues are the biggest pain in the butt.

You are not even allowed to carry in your own boxes, for your own booth in most of them. And forget about bringing in a hand cart to carry them on. Then of course they charge you hundreds of dollars for the privalege.

Try standing up on a chair to hang something on the curtain wall around your booth, oh no can't have that now can we. You have to hire the union guys to do it for you.

I got stuck at a show one time, when it was over, because the union folks all went on break right when the show closed and none of us could get our boxes until they came back from break. Excuse me, it's not like it was a secret what time the show closed, they couldn't take their break a half hour earlier that day?

I'm sorry, unionS did a lot of good things for workers back in the 1900's, it's too bad that at convention centers at least, they've gotten so ridiculous about what people can and can not do for themselves.

[Infinite Hope]

23. It's one convention, big deal. Labor still stands and isn't weakened because of it ...

...any damage to labor is psychological. They can pressure them to unionize if they must as a way of compromising.

I think people need to get over this one event. Look at what it IS doing for labor...it's aiding Democrats' efforts to take/maintain the West and thereby the Presidency and Congress. The convention center is not at all the most important issue here in terms of labor.