Boston Police Deal Won't Stop Convention Picketing, Union Says

[Democat]

A state-appointed arbitrator's settlement of a two-year-old contract dispute between Boston's police union and the city won't keep police from picketing events at next week's Democratic National Convention, the head of the police union said.

Boston Police Patrolmen's Association President Thomas Nee said the 1,428-member union will picket the 29 parties Mayor Thomas M. Menino is scheduled to throw for Democratic delegates from around the country. Many delegates have said they won't cross picket lines, and at least two parties have been canceled.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aas0pgIdbQO8&refer=us

What the hell is wrong with these people? Would they rather have Bush in office for another four years? Is this a right wing operation to make Kerry look bad or are they just too stubborn to see the big pictures?

[Democat]

1. Here is the answer to the question - these are Bush supporters!

Menino suggested the union, which endorsed Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush over then-Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, a Democrat, in 1988, had political reasons for picketing and disrupting the convention now that the contract was solved.

``The question I keep asking is what is the other agenda, if they continue to picket?'' Menino said.

Looks like they are supporters of the Bush family.

[JaySherman]

3. I've never understood how anyone could be union and republican.

It's beyond conflict of interest. It's sheer stupidity.

:shrug:

[Frances]

6. Has anyone done a poll to see how the people of Boston

feel about the picketing?

This police union sounds greedy and selfish to me. They have a good contract but they are more interested in making the Dems look bad than in making Boston look good.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Not in town but,

I beleive their goal is to make one particular democrat look bad.

[demosincebirth]

17. Cops never honor any union picket lines, so why honor theirs?

[gratuitous]

2. We'll see how many picketers actually show up

Any working person who thinks life is better under Bush needs to have his or her head examined. Though I'm pretty sure a cranial x-ray would show nothing.

[MaineDem]

4. Andy Card has done this before

I've said this on here before but I attended a State Convention in Springfield, MA that was picketed by the local PD. They had supported George HW Bush in his election. This had all been organized by Andy Card and Ron Kaufman.

I bet one doesn't have to look far from the Oval Office to see who's orchestrating this whole thing.

[Gman]

5. This will NOT be a work stoppage and associated picket line

it will be an informational picket only. They have a contract, whether they like it or not.

There is no work stoppage such that a picket line is established to keep scabs out. Their pickets will only be informational and there is nothing wrong with "crossing" an informational picket line. Informational pickets are just that, for information purposes.

I'll be crossing that line because that line is NOT meant to keep anyone out.

[JaySherman]

8. Of course the corporate won't spin it that way.

Watch. The headlines will read about cops "picketing" the DNC, instead of calling it a protest like it really is (and a minor one at that).

[shockingelk]

9. It's not a picket line, it's a protest n/t

[Toots]

12. They should have to go to the free speech zone don't ya think

:shrug:

[David Zephyr]

7. Great News!

Thank goodness for this!

[matcom]

13. yeah,. right

GREAT news! :eyes:

[David Zephyr]

16. The Problem is the Mayor.

They are not picketing Kerry.

[dolstein]

18. No, the problem is the unions

They originally claimed their reason for picketing was because they didn't have a new contract. Now they have a contract. But they're still picketing.

And if their problem was the Mayor, not John Kerry, they'd find another way to make their objections known. They can picket city hall. Instead, they'll be picking the convention center.

[NashVegas]

11. didn't they just announce 1 month ago they weren't going to do this?

After Kerry refused to cross a picket line?

This is cheap. Really cheap. I'd bet some of the rank and file might be a little pissed off about this.

[2Design]

14. if they get bush in again....they will have no union, no benefits...

and they will be on the streets...

[abelenkpe]

15. yeah

Life will suck for them once Bush is re-instated. Of course it will suck for all of us as well.

If you think things are bad now, just wait for the roller coaster we will be on in 2005.

[Justice]

19. Check Out Front Page Of Boston Herald Tomorrow

I am not good at posting pictures, so here is the link

http://news.bostonherald.com/frontpage.bg



Note, the Herald is a RW rag!!!

[TahitiNut]

25. Here ...

[feedppl]

20. Police contract gives 14.5 percent raise over 4 years. More than I get.

Unless someone has a reason I haven't thought of this is one picket line that I wouldn't care if people crossed.

[AndyTiedye]

21. This Is How they Turn Our Expected "Convention Bounce"...

...into a "Convention Slump".

They'll make it so Kerry can't even leave his hotel
without crossing a picket line. Then their media shills will
spin Kerry as being weak no matter what he does. If he crosses
the picket lines, they'll accuse him of being indecisive and
flip-flopping. If he doesn't, they'll accuse him of being a
captive of the unions. Either way he'll come out looking weak,
which is the one thing that will doom his candidacy.

The Boston cop union leaders have made a deal with Rove.

They have us completely over a barrel. The only way out of it for
us is to get Menino to buy them off, no matter what the cost. This
must be done quietly enough that Menino takes the heat for it, not
Kerry. If Menino balks, he needs to be reminded about how terrible
a Bush* victory will be for Massachusetts (shades of 1973 and 1989).

If negotiations are impossible (e.g. because the BFEE has resorted
to blackmail instead of bribery), delaying and even moving the
convention should be considered.

Kerry is walking into a trap.

[Gman]

22. I don't think the situation is as dire as you seem to paint it

Kerry will be ok no matter what happens.

If anyone needs to be nervous about their convention its the GOP.

[struggle4progress]

23. Why do you think the union is after Kerry instead of Menino? eom

[TahitiNut]

24. So, with all the extra security needed they have extra cops?

Are they picketing or patrolling? Maybe they need to do more patrolling?