Union vs. Union on Iowa Campaign Battleground

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=68&ncid=716&e=18&u=/nyt/20031213/ts_nyt/unionvsuniononiowacampaignbattleground

DES MOINES, Dec. 12 — It was 9 degrees and the shivering, stomping union members were pressing political fliers into the gloved hands of scores of steelworkers outside the Firestone plant here. "Support Dick Gephardt (news - web sites)!" shouted John Campbell, 47, this week as he mingled with the men starting their shift.


But across the state, in the snowy town of Glenwood, workers from a government employees union were promoting a different presidential candidate and a different message. "Howard Dean (news - web sites) is for working families," said Jenny Mitchell, 39, as she distributed leaflets to her colleagues during lunch.


In ordinary times, these two groups would be allies, but these days they stand on opposite sides of the political divide. Ms. Mitchell's union is battling to send Howard Dean to the White House; Mr. Campbell's union is trying to stop him from snaring an electoral victory here that might start his steady march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.


A coalition of unions, including steelworkers, machinists and others, has already broadcast two television advertisements and started mobilizing its 95,000 members to try to slow Dr. Dean's momentum. And with unions on both sides vowing to flood the state with volunteers, Iowa has become the epicenter of one of the fiercest labor battles in more than a decade.


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[jenk]

1. it's a battle, go go gephardt

[Sugarbleus]

2. I must admit...

I've had my eye on Gep since 9/11. I know how he voted but it doesn't matter to me anymore because nothing would have stopped bush from doing what he did anyway. The whole world was trying to send a message and that didn't matter to him either.
Anyway, I kinda like Kucinich also. I worry that Gep has been in politics for so long and yet liberal, social policy has never been advanced past what FDR did. I can only hope it is different this time or at least a start. In other words I am PRO Labour--those making below $35,000. Not just middle class yuppies with phd's--making upwards from $50,000+. I'm looking for some one who is AGAINST NAFTA and the rest and who is willing to fight like a dog for U.Healthcare. Gep is the only one that speaks to issues important to me (a boomer). Now, if he can only deliver on his 'promises'............... Gawd, I'm tired.
In the end, however, it's about ANYBODY BUT BUSH. So, whomever wins the Prez from the liberal side needs to know that I will be on them like a tick on a dog to get them to address the issues that effect ALLLLLLLLLL the people in this society.

[davsand]

3. There is always a difference between certain unions.

Typically, the Unions split out between the manual trades and the "cerebral" trades all the time. AFSCME and SEIU (to name a couple) usually do not vote the same way that the Laborers and Steel Workers (again--just to name a couple) do. If you watch it even at a local level you will see it time after time. A lot of times, the manual trades tend to be more conservative...

One thing that is different this year, however, is ALL the unions will probably get behind whoever comes out of the primary. I can't think of any union person I know of who is happy with shrub and his labor policies. They seem universal in the feeling it needs to be anybody but Bush.

Laura