NYT: New York Police and Fire Unions to Picket G.O.P. Events

[kskiska]

The presidents of New York City's police and firefighter unions sought to turn up the heat on Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in their contract battle by threatening yesterday to picket various subsidiary events during the Republican National Convention next month.

Borrowing a tactic from Boston's police union, New York's police and firefighters warned that if the unions do not reach a contract before the convention begins, they might picket parties and receptions for Republican state delegations.

Stephen J. Cassidy, the president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said, "We intend to make our case and to highlight the lack of respect that the mayor has for the firefighters and cops, and if we have to picket the parties that the mayor holds to do that, we will."

The police and firefighters denied that their threat to picket various Republican parties would violate a pledge by the city's Central Labor Council not to disrupt the convention, a pledge aimed at attracting the convention and its economic benefits.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/nyregion/24union.html?ex=1091332800&en=d85625482b69b066&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1

[loudsue]

1. GO NYPD!! GO NYFD!!! You guys ROCK!!!!

It's about damned time NY repukes started paying attention to what they've done to these heros! After the heroic acts of 9/11, the repukes have done NOTHING but use these guys to try to bolster their own campaigns, while cutting their benefits and budgets.

SUCK ON THAT ONE, GEORGE BUSH!!!!!

:bounce: I LOVE IT!!!! :bounce:

:kick::kick::kick::kick:

[aquart]

2. Oh, my goodness. What bad press.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

3. I love NY!

:kick:
Big kick for the NYPD and the NYFD!

[Barkley]

4. No Justice, No Police! - nt

[bushisanidiot]

5. Talk about taking the feather out of AWOL's cap. I'd LOVE to see

AWOL cross the NYPD's picket line.. Oh, sweet irony.

Why the hell was the RNC so stupid as to have the convention in New York? Did they really think they'd be welcomed with open arms? 9/11 was 3 years ago.. AWOL can't revive the support he had on 9/12/01. It's OVER!!!

[54anickel]

6. Heh-heh-heh, Especially since Kerry got quite a bit of press about

respecting picket lines and refusing to cross in Boston for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. Good...they've treated the NYPD and NYFD badly on this contract issue.

[leesa]

8. Good. Give em hell.

[Chelsea Patriot]

9. Hell on Earth For Republicans!

leesa is so right!

GOP will not have one moment's respite!!!

They will rue the day.

[MurrayDelph]

10. What I want to know ...

if they decide they don't want to stay inside the "Free Speech Zone"
who's going to be there to make them?

[mom cat]

12. My thoughts exactly. We need to VISIBLY support the NYPD and

NYFD. I don't think they will be as inclined to get rough with their supporters. :dem:

[Stephanie]

11. They're out leafletting right now

They're in front of Penn Station with flyers - they have been without contract for two years, without raises for three years, IIRC. These, our "heroes" - treated this shabbily.

[Joanne98]

13. Yay

They're probably mad about Bush's plan to cut overtime pay that's goes into effect Aug. 23rd.