UPDATE: Rankled Boston Mayor’s Minions Held Up Non-Union Permits for ‘Top Chef’ Crews

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor

http://deadline.com/2014/08/rankled-boston-mayors-minions-held-up-non-union-permits-for-top-chef-crews-823460/

by David Robb, Special To Deadline
August 22, 2014 5:15pm



UPDATED 5:15 PM: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s Press Secretary issued a statement to Deadline tonight. “The permits were issued for this show and production of the show went forward — to our understanding — on schedule,” Kate Norton said. “In fact, the Mayor, along with a number of other city officials, directly participated in the filming of this show. I’m looking forward to seeing the episode.”

RelatedBoston Teamsters' 'Top Chef' Threats Become Statewide Campaign Issue

Shot at a local museum, the episode showed the mayor chowing down and welcoming Top Chef to the city. A few days later, reps from Teamsters Local 25 called the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment to find out where the show had received permits to shoot around the city so they could set up picket lines. Panicky phone calls ensued, and “that’s when the mayor realized it was a non-union production,” the source said, “and he was concerned that by appearing on the show, it made him look like he doesn’t support the local unions. So they held the show’s permits for a couple of days and it delayed their schedule.”

Local 25 President Sean O’Brien rejected Deadline’s account of the fracas, first reported on Wednesday, despite police and other corroboration of the published account.

Sean O'Brien“The Top Chef situation as it is written is fiction at best,” he said in a statement released by the union. “We have the right to lawfully demonstrate and protest the filming of non-union non-Massachusetts workers. We have fought long and hard to protect our members, their livelihoods and will continue to do so. If the allegations were true, Milton Police would have taken appropriate action.”

FULL story at link.

[yallerdawg]

1. Great 'old school' Union story!

Rights should never be given up without a fight!

Whenever bible-thumpers bang on my door and ask, "Have you heard the Good News?" I think of Omaha Steve's Labor posts and tell them, "Yes, I have!" before I slam the door. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha