AFL-CIO may ask Dems to move convention

[TechBear_Seattle]

AFL-CIO may ask Dems to move convention

DENVER - Stung by Gov. Bill Ritter's veto of a bill that would make it easier for unions to organize, the AFL-CIO threatened to recommend the Democratic Party move its 2008 convention from Denver.

In an unsigned letter Thursday, the AFL-CIO's executive council said it planned to seek reintroduction of a bill that would make it easier to set up all-union workplaces and seek a commitment from Ritter that he would sign it.

"Union members and working people will make up more than a quarter of the delegates to the Denver convention," a statement from the union said. "Unless we can be assured that the governor will support our values and priorities, we will strongly urge the Democratic Party to relocate the convention."

The full story can be read at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070309/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail

[librechik]

1. I knew it--Ritter's a DINO

union busting bastard!

[INdemo]

2. It appears that a Democratic governor has bowed to Republican

business and granted their wishes..Move the convention..

[theHandpuppet]

3. I agree with the AFL-CIO

SHAME on Ritter!!!!! :mad:

[BlueManDude]

4. yeah but another NYC convention is a bad idea.

[PhilipShore]

5. Colorado is to big of a swing state to move it

Tactically, its better to keep it in Colorado, in the long run for Democrats.

The AFL-CIO -- can wait until the next campaign cycle, to vote out of office the Republican/Democrats.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. No they need to move it

and teach a DINO a lesson. We always hear "not now, wait till the next election". that is the strategy that has sold women, gays, and union workers down the river time and time again. US union membership now stands at only 10%....the time to act was yesterday..

[originalpckelly]

8. One man should cause our entire state to be punished?

:shrug:

Collective punishment anyone?

[paulk]

19. when you live here in Colorado

then you'll have the right to make the sort of comments you've been making about Ritter and Colorado.

until then you don't know fuck all about what's going on here in regards to this situation.

[AnneD]

7. Keep up that line of thought

and you'll loose your base. DEM's have not shown enough support-that's why union membership is down and jobs are being exported overseas. Need to get tougher on these union busters.

[PhilipShore]

9. What Democratic base?

...you'll loose your base. DEM's have not shown enough support-that's why union membership is down and jobs are being exported overseas. Need to get tougher on these union busters.

What about all of the other Dems in Colorado, that will feel rejected? Colorado is turning blue, and it has a powerful grassroots liberal base - that could keep Colorado blue for the next 100 years.

I don't belong to the Union, nor do I know anyone that does - but it seems to me, that before the unions can start power games with the Democrats they should wait till they (the Democratic politicians) have some power first, and solid power.

I think most of the jobs went overseas because of the Reagan revolution, that deregulated industry, which basically gave the powers that be (both Democratic and Republican politicians - a license to steal), but like it or not: they are the majority with like 90% of the Dem politicians being Republican/Democrats, things will not change overnight, the only way to win is to vote them out of office.

If this was the early 1960s when Democrats were Democrats - and not Republican Democrats, and the liberal Democrats like in the early 1960s were organized, then yes -- it would be possible to make that sort of strategic move, but it is not the early 1960s.

[AnneD]

10. Clinton did not do

any favors for us with NAFTA, changing the FCC, and the National Labor Relations Board has come out with some ruling that gut the right to organize (from Clinton's time on). They have rewritten the labour laws so that folks that use to be covered by overtime laws are now straight time and too many DEMs sided with the GOP on this. We work tirelessly for the DEM and we are tired of getting crumbs. I am glad that Co is finally starting to turn but we are fighting for better working conditions and decent pay. We need to take a harder line-some of these folks have forgotten who brought them to the party.
If I seem a little hard line-maybe that is what being a card carrying union DEM in Texas will do for you. My patience ran out a long time ago. I am tired of playing footsie with DINO's. DEM's need to be DEMs again.

[Kixel]

16. Yes!

I don't care that he's a DINO. Anyone who has a D behind their name needs to be supporting the labor movement. People with R's should too if they want people to be able to afford their products in a few years.

[Vidar]

11. We need to support the unions on this. They were the backbone

of this party & we are sorely in need of backbone.

[Judi Lynn]

12. AFL-CIO threatens action on Democratic convention

AFL-CIO threatens action on Democratic convention

The Denver Business Journal - 7:57 AM MST Friday, March 9, 2007
by Amy Fletcher
Denver Business Journal

The national AFL-CIO says it will urge Democrats to move the planned 2008 Democratic National Convention from Denver if Gov. Bill Ritter fails to make good on what the union says was a campaign promise to ease state rules governing in union elections.

In a statement issued by AFL-CIO's executive council late Thursday, the union called Ritter's veto of legislation that would have changed union elections "sobering and unacceptable."

"Gov. Bill Ritter turned his back on workers and the values of his own party by vetoing this long-sought reform," the statement said.

"His veto at the behest of moneyed interests is a betrayal of the working men and women who devoted countless hours to help elect him."
(snip/...)

http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/03/05/daily46.html?jst=b_ln_hl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Democratic governor should not bend to the will of the business community at the great expense of the working community. Not debatable.

[The Sushi Bandit]

13. move it to HONOLULU!!

the best Dem and union state in the nation!!!!

[mitchtv]

14. Yeah, HI has been great for Gays

Move it to SF. HI is on Gay Boycott

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. Haven't you heard?

The Democratic Party only gives a snake's fart about us when it is time to vote. Any other time, we are to shut up, walk along side the bus, be gladd that the Dems don't want to kill us yet and sing songs of our great love for The Party. :eyes:

[Hawkowl]

17. Bar Ritter from speaking

Don't move the convention. Just prohibit the governor from getting any podium time at the convention. This would send a more focused, and pointed signal. In fact, slate Union reps in the Governors time slots.

[iamjoy]

18. Good Idea

Why punish the whole state and force the convention into a Liberal town like Boston, which does nothing to reach swing voters?

Bar Ritter from speaking. Furthermore, demand that all labor be union labor. If they can't find sufficient union labor, then move the convention.

See, it's a compromise.

Oh, and start stocking ammo now, be ready to fire back when Repubs start with their Dems caving to special interest bullcrap.