My union supports Republicans

[Red Knight]

Unbelieveable.

I'm too embarrassed to name this union but let's just say it's a trade union and leave it at that. These are broken up into District Councils and than locals. In any case I just received the District Council's endorsement list and I fully expected to see Lois Murphy on the list.

Nope.

Jim Gerlach--Republican. Yep--same guy who consistently votes against labor issues and in favor of things like CAFTA and lowering OSHA standards and AGAINST the minimum wage.

But on their website they call him a friend to working families.

Also on their list are some other sleezebags like Curt Weldon and Don Sherwood.

I know that the guys at my local have been campaigning for Murphy but all our dues go to District Council and for what? So they can support these guys?

Now they DO support Casey over Santorum and Rendell over Swann but their congressional picks leave a lot to be desired.

I am disgusted and unless payoffs were made, I can think of no reason these guys should appear on the list.

Now on election day I'm going to be phonebanking at the labor council and calling union members. What do I tell them when I push for Murphey and they're holding a PAC sheet from the union that says Gerlach?

Incredible.

We've been sold out.

[charlyvi]

1. Tell them exactly that.

"We've been sold out". Perfect.

[Omaha Steve]

2. This happens, and here is why

I've sat on several union comities that decide who to endorse for public office. Here is the bad news. MANY times certain races are looked at on the basis of since this candidate is a lock, we will endorse him or her. The thinking is that way this person won't be mad at us during the upcoming term. It sucks, but it happens. These candidates usually get an endorsement with little or no funding. The union usually says in a whisper, vote Joe instead. That is the case here in Nebraska where the incumbent Republican is considered a lock. But a few went against this. Here is an example:



David Hahn speaks with striking workers in front of the Goodyear plant in Lincoln. Hahn has been endorsed by the United Steelworkers Local 286.

Hahn honored by endorsement from Nebraska steelworkers

Candidate for governor and entrepreneur David Hahn has earned the endorsement of the United Steelworkers Local 286 of Lincoln.

Hahn stood in the picket line last week with striking workers at the Goodyear plant in Lincoln and talked with members of the Nebraska steelworkers union. The steelworkers union is a member of the AFL-CIO, which endorsed Dave Heineman.

"This is a family values issue. These are people who have spent decades trying to feed their families, and now they face cuts in their benefits. That's not right," Hahn said.

"I believe that working people should be rewarded for their hard work. I'll support the hardworking middle-class people when I'm governor, not corporations and campaign contributors. I believe that this election is about who deserves a break: the companies that make millions but still feel entitled to million-dollar tax breaks; or working people who are just trying to feed their families," Hahn said.

"Without workers creating the wealth, these companies couldn't make a profit. It's time that Nebraska had a governor who represents the people that create wealth in this state--the hardworking, middle-class people," Hahn said.

http://www.hahnfornebraska.org/

Then there will always be different unions endorseing different candidates for their own reasons.

[acmejack]

5. This is exactly what makes people like me cynics Steve.

Why should I think they stand for anything when they won't even endorse a working man's candidate? It's horseshit! Gerlach, Weldon & Sherwood, three real pals of labor. The Union whichever anonymous one it may be proves itself to be nothing more than a hypocritical joke like so many American institutions. No wonder workers are getting the shaft right & left with folks like this "standing up" for us...

It can be rationalized anyway one chooses, but we all know it is HORSESHIT

[madrchsod]

13. same thing here...when our mill was going down

our local state rep, who is a republican, fought to keep it open and got a lot of state money for job retraining. there a lot of union stickered trucks around here with his sticker because all politics is local and he knows to be elected he has to treat everyone fairly...

[bigdarryl]

3. Well don't fell bad minds does to I'm in the FOP and they

always support the republican party nationally.

[Punkingal]

4. If it's the Carpenter's union....

Their President is cozy with Bush, and always has been.

[Ian David]

8. That explains why the carpenters here were protesting aganst Walgreens...

instead of against Bush's Medicare Plan D.

Going after the minnows instead of the big shark.

[Lefty48197]

15. Yeah, McCarren's been a Bush ass kisser from day 1.

Sold out his membership too.

[Donkeykick]

6. Sounds like you're saying districts.

If your union is national one, which I believe it to be, find out if they're supporting Democrats, and if they're, tell them what is going on locally.

If I'm wrong about this, try to find out how many of your regular members are Democrat. Make up a grievance list and hand it to your union. Too late for 06, but it's never too late to start working for 08. Think about it. Good Luck! ;)

[Ian David]

7. Oh, you could have some fun with the phonebanking.

When you make the calls, tell the truth.

And see how many people you can get to join you in solidarity.

Would they dare to physically remove you from your seat in the phonebank?

Can you get an extra photocopy of the call list, so that if they do remove you, you can still make calls from home?

Can you file a grievance with the national leadership of your union?

And is it possible for you to change your membership to another council or even another union?

[Red Knight]

9. Oh I plan to look into it

I was going to email the President of the District Council but I decided to start with my local reps first. I know they support Murphy so I'd rather we go at it as a group rather than an individual.

It's going to be an interesting week. I am curious how they'll respond to all this.

By the way, someone mentioned the possibility of Gerlach being a lock and that's why he was supported. That's not the case. It's a close race and money has been pouring in from the Dems to win it.

I believe Weldon is also in a tight race.

Just on the basis of allowing the Repubs to maintain house seats should be an issue but apparently not. It sucks. But I will look into it.

[still_one]

10. That is one of the major goals of rove

to destroy the impact of all unions

Here in California, it looks as though Schwarzenegger will win in the race for Govenor. There is no question who is on the side on Unions and Labor, it is Phil Angelidies.

Schwarzenegger would NOT win in California if labor and unions voted for Angelidies. It is as simple as that.

Just like what has been going on in the country for the past six years.

If people do NOT realize after six years who is on their side by now, they deserve everything they get. Unfortunately, many innocents will be dragged down this cesspool

It is the same thing as the South, why do they vote against their own interests?

Is gays, guns, and God, really more important than healthcare, social security, Iraq, off-shoring of jobs?

[Ian David]

11. It's okay if all our jobs go to India

They don't have gay marriage in India, either!

:sarcasm:

[alfredo]

12. Our local union will support any candidate that stands up for working

men and women, so far the only ones have been Democrats. They are open to supporting republicans if they showed any concern for working men and women, but that hasn't happened yet.

[sendero]

14. You can only vote against your own self interest..

... for so long before the chickens come home to roost.

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. Firemen, right? n/t

[Omaha Steve]

17. I forgot to mention...

My union AFSCME had it's convention in Chicago a couple of months ago. We had several Democrats as speakers like Barack and Hillary, etc.. No Republicans that I know of. :-)

[Blue_Tires]

18. welcome to the site!!

[sandnsea]

19. Maybe it's regulations

If your union is industry specific and has a hard time with environmental regulations, that can trigger an endorsement for a Republican. When it seems like jobs vs. safety or benefits, sometimes the jobs win. I also know people who believe they have jobs because they're exporting products due to NAFTA, so there's that too. I don't know the economy in PA at all, just throwing out observations.