Labor Has Only One Candidate: Bernie Sanders

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Bernie opened his remarks by referencing his past support for labor. He could have spent his entire introduction doing so considering that he has spent his political career on the front lines of the labor struggle. He began instead by stating, “I’m not going to talk about the past. I’m going to talk about the future.” It is no exaggeration to say that Sanders’s 2020 proposals form the most pro-worker campaign platform in nearly a century. Some of his plans deal specifically with protecting unions and forming new ones. Though in fact, the rights, safety, and dignity of workers are integral to all of his legislative proposals, including Medicare for All, the Thurgood Marshall Plan for Public Education, College for All, and the Green New Deal. As he stated at the summit, they are plans to create “a government of the working class in this country, by the working class in this country, and for the working class in this country.”

Sanders’s Workplace Democracy Plan, for instance, aims to strengthen the labor movement and expand the rights of workers. The sweeping proposal lowers the barriers to forming unions, bans “right-to-work” laws, and extends the right to strike to federal workers. It also pledges to finally establish card check-in union elections, an unfulfilled Obama administration promise which Joe Biden was tasked with delivering.

Additionally, the plan specifically addresses the misclassification of workers as independent contractors or managers. In the construction industry, companies routinely misclassify workers as independent contractors or pay them under the table. This allows companies to pay workers less, avoid safety and health regulations, circumvent the formation of unions and the hiring of union workers, and evade taxes (these tax revenue losses total in the billions annually). Companies that do this are unfairly advantaged in contract bidding as their costs are lower than companies that employ unionized workers. The result is less work for those in unions, which goes toward explaining the national decline of unionized construction workers.

(snip)

Though Sanders’s Medicare for All bill is best known for guaranteeing free and accessible health care, it doubles as a piece of pro-worker legislation. Most simply, Medicare for All would prevent employers from leveraging health care against their workers. This week, nearly fifty thousand workers with the United Auto Workers (UAW) went on strike against General Motors (GM). These UAW workers are demanding that the automaker raise wages, add additional jobs at existing plants, and reopen shuttered plants. As one union worker at a parts distribution center outside of Philadelphia explained, “We want a fair and equitable contract for our members.” As part of their strike-breaking efforts, GM has cut workers’ health care coverage, a move Sanders harshly criticized at Tuesday’s summit. Passing Medicare for All would forestall companies like GM from using health care coverage as a weapon against striking workers.

(snip)


https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/bernie-sanders-philadelphia-workers-presidential-summit-labor-movement

[George II]

1. How can anyone come to that conclusion? It's insulting to all the other candidates who are....

....pro-labor, maybe even more so.

[Uncle Joe]

2. That would require reading the article.

There is no "maybe" to it, Bernie is by far the most pro-labor Presidential candidate in generations.

[George II]

4. I skimmed through it, but any article from Jacobin is bound to look at him (and it did)....

...with rose colored glasses and be anything but objective.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Jacobin is most definitely pro labor so it would be natural for them to support the strongest

pro-labor candidate.

Having said that, the article is supported by the actions, words and policy proposals of the candidates on this issue.

[George II]

12. Jacobin can almost be called the house outlet for the Sanders campaign. They are far from objective.

For example the page on which the OP article is, there are four other articles linked on it - three of them are pro-Sanders articles.

No thanks.

[corbettkroehler]

88. And Common Dreams?

This article cites multiple sources to make its case...

What Corporate Media Like Best About Elizabeth Warren: She’s Not Bernie Sanders

Why has Warren—who has positioned herself as Bernie Sanders’ closest ideological competitor, and a vocal crusader against corporate control over the political system—so far escaped the scathing and skeptical coverage Sanders has received?

When the Washington Post‘s Paul Waldman (9/18/19) recently attempted to explain Elizabeth Warren’s rise in the Democratic primary polls, he attributed it in part to media:

Reporters on the campaign trail have said for some time that she is the one who generates the most enthusiastic response among voters on the ground. A rise in her poll standing inevitably produces stories about what she’s doing right, stories that get filled with the impressions those reporters have accumulated.

The resulting positive news coverage encourages more Democrats to feel favorably toward her, or at the very least give her a careful look. Which leads to poll numbers that continue to improve, which leads to more positive press coverage, and the cycle goes on.

MORE AT LINK

[qazplm135]

51. lol so

Labor Has Only One Candidate: Bernie Sanders

is the same as

Bernie is the most pro-labor candidate

to you?

Your grasp of the English language is in question if so.

[DownriverDem]

13. No Way

Rep Debbie Dingell, Rep Tlaib and Senator Gary Peters are walking the picket lines here in Metro Detroit. They're all Democrats! The Dems have supported Labor for decades.

[Uncle Joe]

15. How many of them are Presidential Candidates?

Of course Bernie has walked multitudes of picket lines as well.

[Mr.Bill]

20. The headline says he's the only one. n/t

[George II]

22. Right, it doesn't say only "presidential" candidate.

[Mr.Bill]

25. True, but my point was

the headline implies all the other candidates are not pro-labor, which is, of course, bullshit.

[George II]

27. I see, that's a more obvious point - so far this early in the campaigns...

...Sanders has an endorsement of a union with 35,000 members, Biden has one with 300,000 members. No other unions have made endorsements.

I guess Jacobin missed that little fact?

[Me.]

30. Does This Mean The Working Families Party Counts For Nothing?

and their endorsement?

[George II]

32. I think they know a little bit about labor.

[BlueMississippi]

3. Comedy writes itself at Jacobin ..... nt

[highplainsdem]

5. I'm sure that will come as news to the labor leaders and workers supporting Biden, Warren & others.

[W_HAMILTON]

10. And to Sanders's unionized workers that had to go public with their complaints...

...to get him and his campaign to adequately address them.

[Thekaspervote]

33. Ouch!

[George II]

23. So far two unions have made endorsements - One has 35,000 members (Sanders), the other 300,000....

..(Biden)

[TomCADem]

7. United Mine Workers Doubt Green New Deal Promises: 'We Don't Believe It'

Bernie Sanders sends pizzas to Kentucky coal miners protesting Blackjewel
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/22/bernie-sanders-sends-pizza-laid-off-kentucky-blackjewel-coal-miners/2070257001/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/united-mine-workers-green-new-deal-coal-union_n_5d7020b5e4b0cdfe057a63ef

“People are talking about us needing a ‘transition’… Well, our transition has unfortunately been at the bankruptcy court,” Roberts said. “Nobody cares about this. Let’s be honest.”

Roberts’ speech, delivered the same day a climate town hall for presidential hopefuls would be broadcast on CNN, underscored one of the major hurdles progressive Democrats face in enacting some form of a Green New Deal to dramatically curb greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. The proposal calls for a sweeping industrial plan to rapidly shift away from fossil fuels, plant billions of trees and rebuild infrastructure to withstand a hotter, less predictable world.

There are different versions of such a plan, though all promise to create good-paying jobs and look after workers in industries hurt in the transition. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the most vocal proponents of a Green New Deal, has spoken often about how a climate package should fully fund the miners’ endangered pension plan. Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has a plan that includes $15 billion for the Black Lung Disability Fund and a guaranteed five years of salary, health care and pension support for workers displaced by the move to renewable energy.

Several other contenders for the 2020 Democratic nomination proposed federal programs modeled on the GI Bill to help coal miners train for new lines of work.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Considering history over the past half century in regards to how the

major political parties have treated labor, they have good reason to be cynical.

Having said that, your article supports some of the same contentions as addressed in the OP.

[emmaverybo]

8. Definitely in his favor, but when deciding which candidate I most hope will win the primary, I do

have to consider qualifications to lead this whole country, in fact to lead in the world. The president is involved in leading more than America’s labor force. America’s president conducts foreign policy. There, Bernie does not have much experience. Neither did Obama, so he brought in Biden.

[NurseJackie]

9. Jacobin...

[ehrnst]

53. They are already tweeting insults to WFP and publishing hit pieces on Elizabeth Warren because

they didn't simply do what was right and defer to the Jr Senator from Vermont.

Jacobin's metric for anything and everything right and good and progressive = whatever is good for Senator Sanders' career, and their metric for wrong and corrupt and ignorant is whatever does not walk lockstep with Sanders and his ideas.

They seem to be an extension of his senior staff.

[Uncle Joe]

16. Thank you JackFrost

and welcome to D.U.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Solidarity brother...

[NurseJackie]

45. Okay.

[revmclaren]

52. You called a PPRed troll 'brother'???

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=354106

WOW!

With solidarity like that....



ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[ehrnst]

54. Alrighty then...

[NurseJackie]

60. We're often known by the company we keep and the friends we choose...

... speaking for myself, I have higher standards.

[emmaverybo]

26. Are you calling DUer's comments "reactionary noise?"

[George II]

35. How is that relevant to the discussion of calling what many of us say here "reactionary noise"?

[George II]

37. Ah Johnny, we hardly knew ye.

[George II]

40. "Reading"?

[TexasTowelie]

44. You certainly seem to know a lot about this site for someone who recently arrived. nt

[NurseJackie]

55. Oh dear! He's out of here as quick as a jackrabbit!

[revmclaren]

59. You are so on the money NurseJackie.

The little troll app at this link says 'high probability'.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212439167

Amazing who tries to slink back here.



ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[George II]

39. I've heard of Conservative Cave, was never there. I've also heard of JPR, never been there either.

[stonecutter357]

19. lol !

[GeorgeGist]

21. Have you no SHAME?

[left-of-center2012]

24. The source, Jacobin, is rated by Mediabias as ...

The source, Jacobin, is rated by Mediabias as:
“We rate Jacobin Magazine, Left Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that
always favor the Democratic Socialist Left.”

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/jacobin/

[Doitnow]

28. Without Bernie, what would any of the candidates be talking about??? Go, Bernie!

[sheshe2]

46. LGBTQ. nt

[ehrnst]

62. They would be talking about the issues that the Democratic Party has

stood behind for decades, many when Sanders was still running for local office as a Socialist and getting 4% of the vote:

Women's rights
Reproductive justice
Racial justice
Economic justice
Voting rights
Universal Health Care
The Social Safety Net
Environmental Protection
GUN SAFETY LAWS
LGBTQ Justice

And Labor.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/sanders-white-house-campaign-hit-with-federal-labor-complaint

[TidalWave46]

31. As far as rhetoric, Sander has to be considered a top labor candidate.

I think when it comes to advocating for unions it’s between Warren and Sanders, with Warren being a fat better choice. Warren is a stronger coalition builder and more likely to have success. That alone makes it no contest. I still have Sanders at a distant second in this area.

This is a difficult conversation to have but the trend seems to be clear and we should be asking a different question. Which candidate will use the power of the executive branch and work with congress to impose stronger labor laws across the board?

Additionally, jacobinmag is a socialist publication. There is only one major socialist running. Sanders is their only game when it comes to this race. This is an opinion piece by a surrogate.

[brooklynite]

34. Perhaps you should let Labor know...

His speech in Des Moines was....underwhelming to the crowd.

[Gothmog]

42. Really??

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[myohmy2]

47. sobering...

" If once-reliable union strongholds like Philadelphia are unable — or, in some instances, perhaps unwilling — to deliver their votes to a Democratic Party that has largely turned its back on labor, it could happen again. "
………………

" It speaks volumes about Sanders’s commitment to building labor power — and his sheer electability — that he stood alone among the serious contenders for the office in enthusiastically accepting the call to meet with and learn from Philadelphia’s working class. "


...Bernie makes me proud...

[TreasonousBastard]

48. What has Bernie actually done for labor besides talk?

[ehrnst]

50. Speaking of talk, he denounced his own staff for exercising their NLRB right to free speech...

The NLRB found this rule to be unlawful and explained: “Employees have a statutory right to speak publically about their complaints or concerns with their terms and conditions of employment, including to the press, without employer authorization.”

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/can-you-terminate-employee-talking-to-press

"It does bother me that people are going outside of the process and going to the media," he said. "That is really not acceptable. It is really not what labor negotiations are about, and it's improper."

Sanders said, ahead of a weekend Iowa campaign swing: "We are disappointed that some individuals have decided to damage the integrity of these efforts. We are involved in negotiations. And some are individuals that have decided to damage the integrity of that process before they were concluded."

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/07/19/bernie-sanders-campaign-staff-wage-15-hour-union-elizabeth-warren-campaign-wages/1781159001/

[ehrnst]

49. I guess Jacobin didn't talk to Senator Sanders' own Union staff.

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Because of course they wouldn't.

Former Bernie Sanders staffer files charge alleging retaliation for union activities

[NurseJackie]

56. Wow!

[ehrnst]

57. It gets worse

Sanders denounced his union employees for exercising their NLRB endorsed right to speak to the press. I suppose he either didn't know enough about labor rights, or he thought that his own union staff were exempt from those rights if it meant they could do something that displeased him, or he assumed their fealty to the extent that they would never dare exercise them in a way that displeased him.

The NLRB found this rule to be unlawful and explained: “Employees have a statutory right to speak publically about their complaints or concerns with their terms and conditions of employment, including to the press, without employer authorization.”

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/can-you-terminate-employee-talking-to-press

"It does bother me that people are going outside of the process and going to the media," he said. "That is really not acceptable. It is really not what labor negotiations are about, and it's improper."

Sanders said, ahead of a weekend Iowa campaign swing: "We are disappointed that some individuals have decided to damage the integrity of these efforts. We are involved in negotiations. And some are individuals that have decided to damage the integrity of that process before they were concluded."

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/07/19/bernie-sanders-campaign-staff-wage-15-hour-union-elizabeth-warren-campaign-wages/1781159001/

[NurseJackie]

58. OMG... you're right... it did get worse. Absolutely amazing.

Sanders denounced his union employees for exercising their NLRB endorsed right to speak to the press.

And by "amazing" what I really mean is "disgusting". Ugh.

And that quote... perfectly dreadful. It's something that really does provide a lot of insight into the man and his philosophies.

Conclusions will be drawn and opinions will be formed. I have to be honest with you and let you know that my opinion of him continues to decrease. It remains a mystery to me why it is that any candidate who says (believes) things like that... or who has such GROSS misconceptions... could be seriously considered by anyone for higher office.

[Gothmog]

64. I remember this

[ehrnst]

61. One votes with one's consumer dollars when one chooses where to shop.

Last edited Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

63. LOL

[Uncle Joe]

65. That's good to know ehrnst.

[ehrnst]

66. I have no idea what that has to do with a post about Senator Sanders purchasing his clothing

from a non-union retailer who partners with Amazon, which seems pertinent to Jacobin's exhoration that he is THE ONLY Labor candidate.

But to each his own. It's a pretty map graphic of the US, I'll give you that.

Red Herring
Ignoratio elenchi

(also known as: beside the point, misdirection [form of], changing the subject, false emphasis, the Chewbacca defense, irrelevant conclusion, irrelevant thesis, clouding the issue, ignorance of refutation)

Description: Attempting to redirect the argument to another issue to which the person doing the redirecting can better respond.

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/150/Red-Herring

[Uncle Joe]

67. "One votes with one's dollars."

That's your selective premise.

Is that clearer?

[ehrnst]

77. I was talking about one's consumer dollars voting for the retailers where one chooses to shop.

Such as those spent on clothing at Kohls.

I've added that to my post, so that it's quite clear to those that didn't get it the first time.

[Uncle Joe]

79. You edited your premise but if that premise holds true for the one

why not the other?

Is that clearer?

[ehrnst]

80. Not really. One can donate far more dollars to a candidate than times one can vote for them.

And of course, one can be a responsible progressive citizen and never ever have to spend a single dollar at a Kohl's. Again, I would think that a candidate being extolled as THE ONLY candidate for LABOR would be aware of labor practices when they they have the choice of where to shop.

Besides, I told you I was going to update my subject line so that anyone who wasn't clear on it the first time, can't mistake what the significance of it is. Others had no such difficulties.

And I do hope you're not simplying that the more someone donates to a candidate is directly proportional to the votes that candidate will get... it's more an indicator of the size of the email list they have.

“We are thrilled to bring Amazon Returns at Kohl’s to all of our stores across the country,” Gass said. “Amazon and Kohl’s have a shared passion in providing outstanding customer service, and this unique partnership combines Kohl’s strong nationwide store footprint and omnichannel capabilities with Amazon’s reach and customer loyalty.”

https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-bother-underpaid-kohls-workers-with-your-am-1834238424

[Uncle Joe]

81. So are you suggesting that the vote is more precious than the dollar?

"Not really. One can donate far more dollars to a candidate than times one can vote for them."

[ehrnst]

82. Straw man much?

No, I'm just saying that contributions aren't always an indication of anything more than say... a rather large email list.

That's why someone might be envious of someone else's much larger list, because that's a major tool for raising... donations. That said, the $ amount raised by a first time candidate outstripping the amount raised by a candidate who already had a substantial national email list would be even MORE impressive.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elizabeth-warren-outraises-bernie-sanders-19-million-haul/story?id=64196428

But what do you think of Senator Sanders' choice of retailers? Do you think the that THE ONE candidate for LABOR, as Jacobin exhorts, knew about the situation at Kohl's?

He does keep up with Amazon, I understand.

But Kohl’s and Amazon seem like a match made in heaven. Aside from underpaying their workers, both companies are also fighting unionization efforts at every turn. The average Kohl’s cashier makes just under $9 per hour, hardly enough to live on. The average Amazon warehouse employee is making $13 an hour [Update: Amazon says it’s $15 per hour], and while that’s better than Kohl’s, it’s not a living wage.

The lesson: If you’re going to use Amazon’s return service at Kohl’s, don’t be a dick about it. Workers are already underpaid and will now be taking on more work to make your life easier. It’s a good rule of thumb to not be an asshole to workers in general, but we can all use a reminder sometimes.

https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-bother-underpaid-kohls-workers-with-your-am-1834238424

As a union member myself, I keep up with these things. It's not that complicated. There's even an app to make it easier for you or whoever is responsible for your shopping.

https://unionlabel.org/

[George II]

83. I remember this classic from early on in my working career (I worked in a union shop):

BTW, I was a member of three different unions. My brother was a life-long member of the CWA, and my FATHER was one of the first non-African American members of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters ("Pullman Porters" ).

[ehrnst]

85. My spouse is also a union member. IATSE, the union of stagehands and carpenters.

There was a union refresher class spouse took for lighting, and learned one of the cardinal rules for follow spot operators:

If you value your career, never aim a follow spot at Stevie Nick's butt. Ever.

&list=PLFQhvl7pv9hzIc4AEbSnO6pYmGMZmTNaj&index=8&t=0s

[MineralMan]

69. What is that map supposed to represent, please?

[Uncle Joe]

70. That's the Democratic Candidate for President donor map as of August

before Bernie hit 1 million unique individual donors.

(snip)

The Times spins Sanders' small-money support as a deficit, noting that the average Sanders donor puts in $46, unlike the average of $80 for Biden and Harris. Sanders has raised $36m from 746,000 donors -- a commanding lead over the second-place Elizabeth Warren campaign, which has raised $25m from 421,000 donors.

The data comes from the Democratic party fundraising system Actblue, and is current as of June 2019.

(snip)

https://boingboing.net/2019/08/11/36m-from-746k-donors.html

[MineralMan]

71. So, nobody in those blue states donated to Biden?

Really. Or Warren?

That map contains no useful information whatever, especially when it is posted without any labels or explanation.

[Uncle Joe]

73. That's not what the article says.

[MineralMan]

74. It's still not clear, that map.

As you might have guessed, I did not read that Jacobin Magazine article. I'm busy and it's biased.

But, you posted a map with no legend or explanation at all, so I asked. Your answer did not clarify the map, either.

Oh, well...

[Uncle Joe]

78. The New York Times had the original map and article,

there is a link on the OP to that more detailed article.

The map is basically color coded by the number of donors and donations for each Democratic Presidential Candidate, the map is blue because that was Bernie's color as he dominated throughout the nation with the exception of a few home states of other candidates.

[ehrnst]

75. You're missing the point!

Which is: the answer to any questioning of Bernie or his policies can always be shouted down with "HE GOT ALL THESE DONATIONS look at this map, therefore your statement about Bernie is irrelevant," when you have nothing directly to respond with.

At least sometimes.

[ehrnst]

72. It was a red herring the first time you posted it, and it's still a red herring.

Other people understood the subject line, but I've updated it so there's no way to say that one doesn't get it.

You have remained silent on the topic of Bernie's choice of Kohl's, and I'm interested in your views - other than THIS MAP ANSWERS EVERYTHING.

But Kohl’s and Amazon seem like a match made in heaven. Aside from underpaying their workers, both companies are also fighting unionization efforts at every turn. The average Kohl’s cashier makes just under $9 per hour, hardly enough to live on. The average Amazon warehouse employee is making $13 an hour [Update: Amazon says it’s $15 per hour], and while that’s better than Kohl’s, it’s not a living wage.

The lesson: If you’re going to use Amazon’s return service at Kohl’s, don’t be a dick about it. Workers are already underpaid and will now be taking on more work to make your life easier. It’s a good rule of thumb to not be an asshole to workers in general, but we can all use a reminder sometimes.

https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-bother-underpaid-kohls-workers-with-your-am-1834238424

[LiberalFighter]

87. And that map is both misleading and useless.

[MineralMan]

68. No, I don't think so.

Labor will support who they support. Jacobin Magazine does not speak for all of labor.

I expect unions to actively support the Democratic nominee, whoever it is.

[Gothmog]

84. Biden says "There's only one reason we have a middle class, and it's spelled 'U-N-I-O-N.'"

Link to tweet

[obamanut2012]

86. Wrong -- not the only one, and Warren is better on inclusive labor than he is