Labor rejects a no-strike agreement (Demo National Con May Be Effected)

[Khephra]

Labor rejects a no-strike agreement
Patrolmen's picket begins; convention may be affected
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff | June 8, 2004

The Greater Boston Labor Council last night rejected a project labor agreement with organizers of the Democratic National Convention, meaning that convention construction will begin at the FleetCenter today without a no-strike guarantee from the influential consortium of local unions.

The vote could persuade more construction workers to honor the picket line planned for this morning at the FleetCenter, where more than 100 Boston police officers and their union allies are expected. The labor council's decision also represents a symbolic blow to the city's efforts to project a labor-friendly image during the convention, and it comes amid mounting pressure on Mayor Thomas M. Menino to quickly wrap up talks with city unions.

"This sends a very strong message that the mayor needs to be at the bargaining table to resolve this with the unions," said Richard M. Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council.

Last night's labor council meeting pitted the public-employee unions, which are angry over the fact that they are still working without contracts, against several of the largest private-sector building trade unions, which are eager for convention business. A project labor agreement would have guaranteed that trade unions would not strike, but in a sign of solidarity with the public unions the pact was defeated on a voice vote that Rogers described as "overwhelming."

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

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/06/08/labor_rejects_a_no_strike_agreement/

[papau]

1. The electrical work is stopped dead in its tracks - our Mayor needs to

get a contract for these police folks.

Problem is the rules are bent now so that the job is - via very effectively "required" private guard duty - a 100,000 per year pay job - hard to get folks on board at that pay level - plus even without the extra pay, the average with overtime is near the highest in the country.

But work rules are not basic pay - and here a good case can be made for a reasonable raise. Our Mayor needs to make a deal.

[sidpleasant]

2. It's a complex problem

The Boston police union is heavily Republican and like to think that their endorsement of Bush 1 over Mondale was the key to Bush's victory in '88. They're threatening to endorse Shrub this time. The cops want parity with a contract that the firefighters received back in 2001 when the city was in much better financial shape. They also want the Boston residency requirement for cops joining after 1994 to be scrapped.

A very good article on the Boston police contract dispute appeared in last week's Boston Phoenix here: http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/talking_politics/documents/03885811.asp

[wicket]

3. The Police are picketing the Fleetcenter as we speak

I saw them on my way to work this morning. Can we please get the cops some contracts, please?!

[demosincebirth]

4. As a union man, I remember

these are the very cops that crack picketers heads with their batons while we exercised out rights in support of strikers striking for better wages and working conditions. Sorry, no sympathy

[wicket]

5. good point

n/t