Unions May Picket Democratic Convention

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- Boston unions that have been without contracts for nearly two years are threatening to disrupt the Democratic National Convention in Boston this summer.

And the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association is withholding its endorsement of Democrat John Kerry -- who is expected to claim the party's nomination for president in his hometown -- until its contract is settled.

Police union president Thomas J. Nee said Thursday that he is already getting commitments of support from other unions around the country, including New York City police. The union cannot strike but can take other action, such as picketing.

"We are willing to put a line up and have the Democrats have to walk across the line," said Nee, adding that other police organizations and the AFL-CIO will join them. "If (convention-goers) arrive in July, and the contract is not done, our intention is to put a line up and ask that it be honored."

more......................

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-convention-union-pickets,0,520174.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[corporatewhore]

1. hopefully Mr.Fascist john timoney wont bust their heads or arrest them for

bs reasons like he did in miami

[corporatewhore]

2. The Americans Friends Service Comittee will be there too and

a local offshoot of the world social forum

[fearnobush]

3. OK, but what about the million + protesters set to take over

the GOP convention in NYC. I believe the Rove satan is planning a Chicago style blood bath for the Dems convention in July.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Oh joy, Whoopee.

A nice round of Democratic convention disruption is a sure way to advance the interests of the unions in America.

And you wonder why unionism is going extinct.

They make me so proud to be in AFSCME.

[mn9driver]

6. Picketing is a legitimate Union tool.

There's nothing wrong with this fundamental labor right.

The problem is that the whore media will blow it way out of proportion. Luckily, the massive picketing and protests that occur during the Repig convention will totally eclipse it.

(on edit) This is just a negotiating tactic. Crossing a police picket line to participate in the Democratic convention is not indicative of a lack of Union support--there's no correlation (not like crossing a hotel workers' picket line to stay in the hotel).

Tommy is talking big, but I expect that this won't even happen.

[atreides1]

12. You're Right

Picketing is a legitimate tool, but what does picketing the Democratic National Convention have to do with what comes down to a
city government issue?

The current mayor is serving in his third term, but his bio online does not say whether he's a Democrat or a Republican.

And wouldn't the Boston Police Union be doing better if they picketed
the Republican Convention, I mean so far Bush has yet to provide the
promised funding for "First Reactors", that and the fact that it's the Republicans in Congress that want to cut back on the policing fund that Clinton signed into law.

I can't help but agree that some Repig is behind this and this union rep is taking his orders from one Rove's many puppets. This was the same union that endorsed Jr's daddy.

[MaineDem]

13. The mayor is a Democrat (nt)

[nodehopper]

16. yes, except for the part

where GOP-related protests and strikes and picketing lines won't be covered in the media.

[leesa]

5. This is really stupid. Are they being paid by the GOP?

[corporatewhore]

7. The American Friends Service Comittee is going and they sureas hell aint

so your logic aint logical

[truthspeaker]

8. municipal employees are being screwed all over the country

Rising health care costs and trickle down from the Bush spending cuts have left city and state governments too broke to give employees the contracts they deserve. I'm glad Boston city employees plan to bring attention to it and remind our party that labor support is not unconditional.

[Sugarbleus]

9. that explains it a little better. I was wondering why there would be

protests/picketing at our own dem convention?

I DO agree that if we get Kerry in the WH, we should hold his feet to the fire on all our liberal issues. no let up.

[Jackpine Radical]

19. The point is, we have to GET him there first...

"if we get Kerry in the WH"

and this union action isn't exactly likely to advance that interest. Perhaps they think another 4 years of Bush will provide a better environment for their contract negotiations.

[Sugarbleus]

20. Yes, I see what you mean. Why didn't the Unions do all that

DURING the primaries?? Hopefully, they will decide to do something like this at another time. It seems a wee bit bassakwards.

[Judi Lynn]

11. That sure went through my mind. n/t

[MaineDem]

10. I've been there to experience this before

The Massachusetts Democratic Convention about 10 or 12 years ago in Springfield. We broke for lunch and when we returned to the Civic Center the police had set up a picket line around the building. No one would cross - well, very few people would cross.

The Police union had endorsed George HW Bush. This disruption was organized by none other than Andrew Card and Ron Kaufman (I think that was his name.)

I expect nothing less from the current members of the BFEE. They play dirty and, as Georgie's numbers tank, they will only get worse.

I sympathize for the union members without contracts but I will always have doubts about who's orchestrating this sort of thing.

[leodem]

18. Endorsing a Republican...

Republican view on police are exactly like their view on the military. Use them as pawns and when it comes time to give them money for equipment, salary, benefits... say no.

If a Union isn't going to endorse a Democrat, then just don't endorse anyone. A Republican is the last person that is going to help a union, especially a municipal related union.

Only way Republicans benefit police are installing judges that will give harsher punishments and less of a second chance to offenders. While some cops like that, it still doesn't pay the bills or put food on the table.

[SoCalDem]

14. Wouldn't it be funny if the cops joined the picket lines

:)

[MaineDem]

15. Actually...no

And they would.

[PATRICK]

17. Regardless

of whether this is a Bush union or not I expect, as any rational Democrat would, that it be dealt with. If it is a rather sordid bargaining ploy or not, resolve it. Then the only steam that the GOP has gotten out of this new circular firing squad will evaporate.

If the membership sees this is a deliberate ploy by its leadership to embarass the Democrats(suicidal for unionism) this could work against the possibility of picketing too, but get to bargaining quickly.

This is something, as cash strapped as all cities are, that Democrats can work with and that the GOP simply will not.