Police union's picket line halts work on convention

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Democrats move to end labor dispute


Democratic National Convention organizers were forced to shut down the start of FleetCenter construction yesterday after some construction workers and delivery trucks refused to cross a picket line led by Boston police officers outside the arena. More construction problems were expected today, as city and convention officials scrambled to cope with the unanticipated disruptions.

Several nationally prominent Democrats spoke by phone with local convention officials yesterday, plotting strategies for ending the labor problems. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Terry McAuliffe, spoke with Mayor Thomas M. Menino, while John Sasso, Senator John F. Kerry's primary liaison to the DNC, called Jack Corrigan, Kerry's main convention planner. They spoke about making a push to settle the city's contracts with firefighters and the Service Employees International Union, according to Democratic Party officials. Such a move is seen as isolating the police union and blunting the impact of its picket line.

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Good or bad? From a personal viewpoint: 20 years 100% pro-union, I.A.F.F. (International Association of Firefighters). My local is tossing around the idea of going down there and picketing for our own contract (2 years and waiting).

I also have conflicting emotions about this; I think the cops are being way too demanding in their negotiations (with overtime and educational incentives: a 3-5 year "veteran" cop can easily make $80,000-$100,000 a year. OTOH, I am absolutely furious at "Mumbles" Menino for bringing the convention to Boston. What pisses me off even more, is the attitude from city hall and convention organizers that "we can weather it", "Showcase Boston as World Class City"...LOL!, "Looking towards the future", "plan on taking a vacation" etc.... get real!

With that in mind... I support my local police; anything that will contribute to putting "Mumbles" on the unemployment line.

(longing for the days of a real mayor like Ray Flynn).

[LiberalFighter]

1. Not entirely sure but looks like a 3 way blame

The police union
The mayor
and the DNC

Primarily the DNC for not ensuring that there would not be any union disputes.

[nosmokes]

2. $80k per year?

is that actual gross or do you mean pay and bennies?

and i'm thinking that would be a fair amount of OT involved, no?

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3. Gross...

with benefits and incentives. MA has what's called the "Quinn Bill". It provides for certain pay incentives depending on the "Criminal Justice" degree the person has. It's debatable whether or not it's an asset as many LEOS get their degrees from second rate community colleges ("Clay for an A type of stuff").

and i'm thinking that would be a fair amount of OT involved, no?

That's where the real money kicks in. Overtime is always there. MA is the only state that requires a uniformed police officer overseeing a work detail. That means; anytime a manhole cover is removed, a hole dug,
a traffic problem, utility work, etc. A police officer (or officers) has to be there... no civilian flagman. Sure, it means less time off and time away from your family, but it's common and easily done.

[Sporadicus]

6. Boston's Cost of Living

must be considered also.

[flaminbats]

4. Does Boston even want this Convention?

It looks like the union people don't want it, the residents don't want it, and the local businesses don't even want it! Then who the hell does want it?

Our mission shouldn't be to lose votes in Boston, or to screw rank and file union members. If these people don't want our convention or business let's find a better location!

[silverpatronus]

5. actually...

i could get behind significant pay raises for police officers and firefighters. they work in dangerous jobs. they at least deserve some hazard pay for running TOWARD danger rather than AWAY from it. and as far as i can see, they're paid kinda shittily, which can be construed as the reason there are also so many dirty cops and cops taking kickbacks. may not be the case, but you have to admit that cops and firefighters deserve decent compensation for what they do.

[iamjoy]

7. Nightmare!

Not to be insensitive to labor, especially police but this really worries me.

1) If the construction workers can't get to the site to set up, it won't be ready for the convention

2) If police are still striking during the convention, how can Democrats of good conscious attend without crossing the picket line?

3) Will there be more displays of civil unrest during the Democratic National Convention (a la Chicago 1968)?

This makes me wonder if it is somehow a kind of Republican plot. I mean, the Unions must realize Kerry is a far better man for labor causes than Bush. Yet, it seems as if their actions will have the (unintended?) effect of hurting Kerry and helping Bush.

[Leilani]

8. Boston was a dumb choice for the convention.

It is stereotypically the most liberal city.

Dems should have chosen a battleground state with a Dem gov, like Arizona.

Tell the Repubs we are challenging you in the Sunbelt.

[AndyTiedye]

9. They Need to Delay it Anyway

Or Bush* will raise several hundred million dollars more than us.