I stand with labor.

[Robb]

American Federation of Teachers President http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/aft-presidents-bold-jobs-plan-will-revive-economy-and-rebuild-nation">Randi Weingarten:

"President Obama’s bold plan is the right antidote to help solve our persistent economic problems ... President Obama is leading on this issue, and we hope Congress steps up and passes the jobs package swiftly."

AFL-CIO chief http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/09/08/trumka-in-speech-obama-goes-to-the-mat-to-create-new-jobs/">Richard Trumka:

"(President Obama) showed working people that he is willing to go to the mat to create new jobs on a substantial scale. Tonight's speech should energize the nation to come together, work hard and get serious about jobs."

Teamsters President http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-urge-support-jobs-plan/">Jim Hoffa:

"(President Obama's) plan will immediately increase economic activity and generate more tax revenue. That’s how you fix the deficit. Good jobs are good for the economy ... I’m especially pleased that President Obama wants to invest in infrastructure improvements and in jobs for our military veterans. I’m also pleased he recognizes the need to put money in the pockets of working people.'

United Steelworkers president http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usw-statement-on-president-obamas-jobs-address-to-congress-2011-09-08">Leo Gerard:

"Calling Congress into a joint session signals that this isn't business as usual. Quick and decisive action is necessary to begin to restore our economy by rebuilding our manufacturing capacity through important investments in our country and our people as proposed by the President. The billions of infrastructure investments announced by the President will drive new jobs in manufacturing."

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union President http://www.marketwatch.com/story/statement-by-united-food-and-commercial-workers-international-union-president-joseph-hansen-in-support-of-president-obamas-plan-to-put-americans-back-to-work-2011-09-08">Joseph Hansen:

"President Obama's plan for job creation, including a private fund to rebuild our roads and schools, a tax cut for companies that hire workers and help for the long-term unemployed, is a good start. The nation's job crisis demands leadership from President Obama, but he cannot revive the economy alone. Bold leadership is also needed from Republicans in Congress and the business community in order to create jobs that can support a family and rebuild the middle class."

[FLAprogressive]

1. The problem is is that they're yet again buying stuff peddled by someone who says one thing and does

another.

Shame on you if you fool me once.....shame on me if you fool me twice.....

[dionysus]

2. yes, we get it, that mean 'ol lyin; obama again.

:eyes:

[LooseWilly]

56. If Obama passes anything of the sort... it'll be a friggin' miracle.

Not so much because "the Republicans won't join him"... but because he has shown no capacity to pass anything that they don't approve of, their own majorities be damned... in advance.... hence, why agree?

Whatever Obama says is "lyin' ... " simply because he seems to have given up on the notion of getting anything done on this score... doesn't mean that the no-shows hold more political leverage... just the opposite.

Weee.... ;)

[demoblemocratic]

69. obama

should make like a lame duck and try to actually get a liberal agenda in action--because he will be a lame duck if he keeps rolling over for gop shills.

[DevonRex]

4. Yawn. Nt

[Avalux]

9. Too bad replies can't be unrec'd. n/t

[DevonRex]

3. As do I. BTW

I love these threads. :hug: oops. I hugged a Mod. :evilgrin:

[mopinko]

5. flattery will get you nowhere, you know.

ha

[DevonRex]

11. Heh heh.

And my, don't you look mahvelous today?

I'm so bad but I kinda like it. :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Oh, noes! Cooties! LOL.

:pals: :evilgrin:

[DevonRex]

34. Nah.

You're all just too huggable and cool. :grouphug:

[Rhiannon12866]

55. Well, that makes one out of 175,040!!!

So I guess we're making progress... Thank you! :woohoo: :rofl: :hug:

[NYC_SKP]

46. Speaking of Cooties...

...When is the last time anyone cleaned out the Mod Hot Tub???

It's lookin' a bit green!

[Rhiannon12866]

54. I'm not naming names, but I think a certain person filled it with green tea...

;) :hi:

[pinto]

6. Kick

:kick:

[SidDithers]

7. K&R...nt

Sid

[sufrommich]

8. So do I. nt

[Claudia Jones]

10. conditionally

Implicit in your post is that you stand with Labor conditionally and that you place partisan political loyalty above your support of organized Labor. That makes the title of your post misleading.

[LoZoccolo]

13. I don't see how you can imply that when it's pretty much quotes and their sources. n/t

[Claudia Jones]

15. yes you do

I think you do.

[LoZoccolo]

18. Not really, because I saw this about two weeks ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1814056

[Robb]

19. More stood with Labor before Labor stood with the jobs bill.

Hm.

[Claudia Jones]

22. so clever

The truth is that many here will only stand with Labor when and if Labor stands with the Democratic party. Clever how you have turned that inside out and backward. Hmmmm.

[tgal]

23. Thank you Claudia

Not sure I think it is clever but you nailed it.

Thank you.

[Robb]

25. Democrats are just lucky, I suppose.

[Generic Other]

32. We have a traditional alliance founded on mutual self-interest

I guess it is appropriate to remind you all that yesterday's longshoreman action was wildcat. Not sanctioned by the leadership. Like the Democratic leadership, the union leadership must work in the interests of their membership not to undermine them. They will also be held accountable.

Democrats and Labor go together like peanut butter and jelly; however, too often lately, seems like people way right-of-center have been trying to slip spam into our sandwich...

[FarLeftFist]

36. You are able to read people's minds?! Don't state something as a fact unless it is.

[Claudia Jones]

40. read people's minds?

No need for that.

[FarLeftFist]

41. Then how can you state as fact that people only support Labor b/c they support Dems?

How do you know people's motives? Aren't you concerned that you may be wrong and just spouting hyperbole? The reason many people become Dems in the 1st place is b/c they stand with Labor. You don't become a Dem then just decide to support Labor as a pre-req. The Labor movement is also supported by the Socialist Party, Greens, etc etc.

[Claudia Jones]

43. easy

By reading their posts.

[FarLeftFist]

47. So you think people only support Labor b/c they support Dems?!

Yet ignore the fact that they may support Labor because 1-It's the right thing to do and 2-Because there is a direct correlation between the strength of the Unions and it's membership and the prosperity of America and it's working class. I'm actually proof that you're wrong. I stand with Labor before allegiance to any political party. Worker's rights is fundamental to democracy and and anti-fascism. It is also fundamental to ensuring our workers and citizens are not being exploited as disposable. But you're entitled to tour own opinion.

[Claudia Jones]

48. some, yes

That is fairly obvious from the posts here.

[FarLeftFist]

65. I'm interested in your profiling techniques.

Because it seems most here stand with Labor before they even stand with the Dems. (as noted by the obvious Dem bashing that goes on here). I don't think I've ever seen an anti-Labor post here, but I have seen plenty of anti-Dem posts here.

[Claudia Jones]

68. that is interesting

You have never seen an anti-Labor post here?

[coalition_unwilling]

70. You have never (not once) seen an anti-labor post here? Yikes, that

statement alone seriously undermines any remaining credibility you might have.

[Bobbie Jo]

33. A lot of HUGE K&R'ing in that thread...

Most of whom are conspicuously silent on this one.

Go figure.

[Number23]

35. It's so very, very innnnnteresting, isn't it?

:)

[Bobbie Jo]

44. Quite.

:smoke:

[HappyMe]

12. k&r

[LoZoccolo]

14. K&R!

:kick:

[AverageJoe90]

17. I stand firmly with labor. No exceptions. Let's hope the chess game plays out well. n/t

[Rex]

20. Same here.

[Little Star]

21. I can understand why they are all singing this song....

Naturally they will not support Republicans. However, I think there will be less money and time given to the Democratic Party in the future. They will at the right moment start supporting individual candidates that support the working people of this country.

So, yes I stand with them too even in this instance because we all have no where else to go, yet.

[Divernan]

45. Perhaps they're playing the Obama game on O. Talk a lot but do nothing.

I hope union leaders keep the pressure on him by endorsing him but not providing money or campaign workers until his speech is translated into actions (by O and his administration) which produce jobs NOW, not in some halcyon future fantasy world.

As you say, I'm sure unions can find progressive Democratic candidates who actually support and believe in unions.

[MessiahRp]

52. I actually wish they'd send Obama a message. Either strongly support Unionized labor in your jobs

bill, or fend off the GOP in 2012 by yourself. And if they did go that route, spend all those hard earned dollars and volunteer resources on progressive Dems that actually WILL fight for Labor on the State and Federal campaign levels instead of wasting it on Blue Dog/DLC/Third Wayers who want to dismantle Unionized labor at every possible turn.

Rp

[DrunkenBoat]

24. You mean you stand with the union leadership, don't you? That doesn't necessarily translate the

same.

Because the leadership is one of the primary reasons union membership had dropped something like 80% from its highs.

[Robb]

26. Ah, yes, the "union aristocracy" gambit.

Those union fat cats, eh? :D

[DrunkenBoat]

30. Not a gambit at all, though I don't expect you to acknowledge the fact.

[FarLeftFist]

38. Yeah, surely the reason membership has dropped is because of the leadership. Riiiiiiiight.

Guess it has nothing to do with outsourcing or union-crushing corporations. In case you aren't aware: There is a (class) war going on outside. But here is a fact for you: The higher Union membership the more prosperous America is.

[DrunkenBoat]

42. I said one of the *main* reasons, not the only reason. But yeah, collusionary leadership *is*

part of the picture.

And it continues today.

[Generic Other]

31. Labor stands with Democrats as it has since FDR's day

The question is whether Democrats will continue to stand with Labor.

I want to believe we will. That means no union busting or trash talking unions from our side of the aisle. We work to strengthen workers' wages. We support workers' causes and fight for their concerns.

Or we go down with them knowing we helped destroy them. No union folks want that to happen. No Democrat should either.

[BOG PERSON]

27. labor is totally under the thumb of the democratic party for the foreseeable future

they have nowhere else to turn to and everything to lose.

[Omaha Steve]

28. I'm in

K&R!

[Initech]

29. I wish I could be a labor lawyer.

Companies have been getting away with screwing their employees for far too long. It's time to put an end to it.

[cally]

37. great quotes. Thanks.

[Number23]

39. Here's another post with more links

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x768243

[Lyric]

49. It's easy to stand with labor when labor is doing what you want them to do.

The real indication of commitment to labor is standing with them when they DON'T agree with your preconceived ideas about right and wrong. Do you do that too? If labor goes forward with their plan to start contributing money and footwork to ISSUES advocacy rather than candidates and parties--are you still going to be standing with them then?

I know I will.

:hi:

[Union Scribe]

50. Good, as we all ought to. I trust you also oppose the proposed FTAs.

[Maven]

51. I stand with labor too, whether or not they praise Obama.

[hfojvt]

53. I stand with the working poor, of which I am a card carrying member

the jobs bill sucks no matter how many big shots come out in favor of it.

As I suspected, Richard Trumka makes about 20 times as much as I do, and as such stands to personally gain the maximum of $3,286 from Obama's plan.

"Trumka himself has a salary in excess of $250,000 per year, and there are union heads who make even more than him. There are hundreds of union officials at national and state levels receiving remuneration in excess of $100,000 per year, and thousands more beneath them making two and three times the pay of most union members."

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/may2011/trum-m23.shtml

Hoffa also makes over $200,000 a year.

Weingarten makes over $300,000 a year.

I question whether those members of the top 5% are really on the side of the working poor. Their support of trickle down which gives them big benefits makes them suspect AFAIAC.

[MilesColtrane]

58. The members of the unions who voted them into leadership positions with those salaries...

don't seem to have a problem with them.

The working poor will improve their situation by unionizing and collective bargaining, while attacking the leaders of established unions will do nothing toward that goal.

[hfojvt]

62. the working poor are unable to join unions

because unlike the union elite, you know, airline pilots, NFL players, baseball players, etc., they apparently do not have marketable skills.

You apparently are coming up with another way for working people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, but instead of telling them to goto school and get an MBA instead of attacking the leaders of established businesses, you tell them to unionize.

Either way, the onus is on me and people like me, rather than being on those ver well paid "leaders" to do something to help me.

Oh, that's right, they are helping me by endorsing Obama's plan. See, when they get an extra $3,000 in take home pay that will trickle down to people like me. I'm just to dumb to see how their $3,000 in extra income really helps me.

[MilesColtrane]

64. "the working poor are unable to join unions...

they apparently do not have marketable skills."

A "marketable skill" is not a prerequisite to join my union. No one gave me a test to see if I qualified, and I doubt if the SEIU tests your ability to clean an office before you can join.


"You apparently are coming up with another way for working people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps...you tell them to unionize."


Yes, I recommend it to anyone who isn't a member of a union, because it is only through solidarity and collective bargaining that you can help yourself to better wages and working conditions.

Do you think most owners and managers will willingly part with an extra nickel out of the largesse of their heart?

(I also happen to support strong government social programs to make life more equitable in this country.)


"Either way, the onus is on me and people like me, rather than being on those ver well paid "leaders" to do something to help me."


Every working person in this country has benefitted from labor unions, whether they are members or not.

You want someone fighting for you, find like-minded people, set some by-laws, and elect a leader who knows something about labor/management relations.


You have fallen for the oldest trick in the book-divide and conquer.

Keep attacking people working collectively to make their lives better. This will not lift you up, but it will tear them down, and while that is something that might make you feel better, it won't do a damn thing for your economic security.

[Robb]

60. "Union fat cats." Straight from the playbook.

What you mean is "Solidarity! Unless I know better!"

[hfojvt]

61. yeah, sure

it's real funny for somebody making $250,000 a year to wag his finger at somebody making $12,000 a year in the name of solidarity. Rather than scolding me to support THEM, how about scolding them to support ME.

Because I will never consider the endorsement of trickle down economics to be support of the working poor.

[LooseWilly]

57. No you don't. You stand with those who are pledging loyalty to the Democratic property... you don't

give a shit about labor.

How about a moment of honesty? Maybe even two moments of honesty.

If some leaders of labor are flirting with the "lesser evil"... standing with them does not equate with educating yourself or them... it's more of a case of encouraging mouth-breathing...

I'll await a criticism by lackeys of capital, to give voice to the governmental powers to take people's shit away and give it to conglomerated collectives.... (damned tough to strike...)

[Robb]

59. Pretty tough words.

An awful long union history in my family. Lots of blood and sweat.

"Lackeys of capital"? You expect actual working people to take you seriously? Attempts to marginalize the union movement in this country only strengthen it. So keep it up.

[Jakes Progress]

63. Uh. Where would you stand it they dissed the president's plan?

[Robb]

66. Precisely where I stood before.

And http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1814056">where I stand now.

Will you stand with labor?

[Jakes Progress]

67. That's good. Let's see how it swings.

Good for being for unions. Is the AFL-CIO your only union barometer?

[mdmc]

71. ..