TEAMSTERS Support Perry (R) Tx, Now Fort Worth CITY BUS STRIKE

[McCamy Taylor]

Yesterday, the Teamsters Union went on strike in the city of Fort Worth, Texas. This seemed mighty uncivic of them, considering that today is a big general election, and the city is full of Democrats, many of them poor, minority, disabled and elderly who rely on the city bus for transportation. The managers of the The T, the city's bus service vowed to keep the buses running on time, but as today's article shows, service has been stretched thin, with people waiting hours for a bus. And that was on Monday. Imagine how bad things could get if you add tens of thousands up to a hundred thousand people who want to get to a poll to cast a (Democratic vote for Bell for governor). Face it, the people who ride the bus to go vote are likely to vote for the Democrat. Or Kinky Friedman. Or maybe Grandma Strayhorn. Except for some of the elderly, very few are going to cast their vote for Gov. Goodhair Perry.

What on earth possessed the Teamsters to shut down bus service in a city the size of Fort Worth, with a Democratic population the size of Fort Worth's, the day before the election? Was this a favor to the Republican candidate for governor whom they are supporting?

Link about Teamster's support for Perry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_gubernatorial_election,_2006

"Perry has even managed to gain the endorsement of the Teamsters Union, notwithstanding Texas's strong right to work laws."

Here is the Fort Worth Star Telegram article about the Teamsters striking bus workers:

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/community/15949018.htm

"Bus riders quickly grew impatient with long lines and spotty service Monday, the first day of a strike by Fort Worth Transportation Authority drivers, mechanics and other employees.

"Expect more of the same today -- all bus routes will probably be operating, but with unpredictable delays ranging from a few minutes to more than an hour.

"'They kicked me off three buses because there wasn't enough room," said Danny Mauk, who tried to board Route 2 on Camp Bowie Boulevard to go grocery shopping with his mother and four small children.

"Because the strike reduced service, the buses that did run were packed, with customers standing in the available floor space, and there wasn't room for Mauk's strollers.

"'It took me 2 1/2 hours to finally get on a bus," he said. "Every time, I was told to wait for the next one, then the next one and the next one.'"

I called the Tarrant County Democrats and they say that they have not been getting more calls than usual for rides or complaints of voters having difficulty getting to the polls today. Keeping my fingers cross that this means that The T has gotten service back on line. However, the timing of the Teamsters' strike stinks to high hell. Even if they were not supporting the Republican candidate for governor, couldn't they be a little more responsible? Who puts the transportation for the underprivileged in jeopardy the day before a major election?

[Lucky Luciano]

1. Disgusting.

This is politically motivated and should be investigated.

[aquart]

2. Criminals who have gotten a payoff, that's who.

Audit the bastards.

[williesgirl]

3. Wonder how much repukes paid union leaders for this one. recommended

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

4. These crooks were the first union to go Republican

They are also mobbed up from way back.

More criminals at the polling places, but a tidal wave is going to clean some of this garbage out of our government this election!

[rateyes]

5. My dad was a Teamster...

WHAT THE HELL ARE TEAMSTERS DOING SUPPORTING ANY DAMNED REPUBLICAN! The Republicans are NOT for the unions or any blue collar worker in America! I used to live in Ft. Worth, and all I've got to say to the Teamster Bus Drivers in Ft. Worth for this is: YOU JUST FUCKED YOURSELVES!!

[niallmac]

8. Agreed. Unions have no reason on earth to support

a rethug. Won't be the first time members of the dark side
have taken over Union management. Members need to be heads up
and speak up.

[rateyes]

9. That really ticks me off...

To think the number of times my family suffered while my father was on strike for REAL reasons! Never would I have believed this out of Tarrant County, Texas Teamsters. Jerks.

[MGD]

6. So happy I left Texas. Fuck you Rick Perry. eom

[In Truth We Trust]

7. Surely they were paid off with taxpayer money some enron style way. Fucking scumbag sellouts

[Straight Shooter]

10. Remember in Ohio when the utility workers came out, jackhammering the streets?

Yep. On Election Day, they came out there and created obstacles, all in the poorer and more Democratic neighborhoods, pretending they were doing "street repairs."

This, in Fort Worth, is absolutely obscene, though. Pure obstructionism of the vote on a very large scale. My gawd, the Republicans have their own army of goons wherever they go.

[Tigress DEM]

11. WE need to DO something about this. There is NO coverage on it.

CNN is showing other places with glitches, but how can we get this message out NOW? We need someone from Ft Worth to go on and report the problem because CNN and all these places need someone who has actually had the problem.

We need to contact someone to demand that this election be extended to give people time to get to the polls.

[McCamy Taylor]

12. I called the Dems and they said that they are not getting calls for rides

in more than the usual numbers. I am hoping that the City of Fort Worth (not a nest of conservatives) is doing whatever it takes to keep the buses running today. They know that today is an election day and that people need the buses.

But the Teamsters need to be called to account. They give unions a bad name.

[Tigress DEM]

13. There is a response thread in the Ft Worth article.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/15949018.htm

Here is my comment --- if anyone wants to feel free to go give me a rate up. I'm one of the only ones who has mentioned the Perry connection and the timing with elections.

BAD timing. I support the TEAMSTERS doing all they can for their members, but supporting Rick Goodhair Perry was probably a bad idea and striking on election day which effectively deprives low income people of transportation to the polls is effectively voter disenfranchisement. TEAMSTERS have gone over to the dark side with this vile decision.

[rinsd]

14. Time for the circular firing squad and its not even Wed yet

The teamsters and the supporting unions are within their rights to strike.

To imply they are doing so in order to suppress the working vote based on the "evidence" they choose to endorse Perry is irresponsible at best.

[bobbieinok]

15. you don't think that if teamsters want to strike they should pick another day??

and NOT make it difficult for people to get to polling places???

You must live in an extrememly benign universe.

[rinsd]

16. They are not picking Election Day

The strike started this week with Mon being the first day.

Negotiation conditions determine a strike not some arbitrary date.

Should the union have weakened their hand by delaying a strike?

I can't say for certain because I am not privy to the neogtiations.

"You must live in an extrememly benign universe."

As opposed to a universe where the Teamsters conspire with the Republicans in order to suppress voter turnout amongst its fellow union members with the "evidence" of such being that they endorsed one conservative over another (its freaking Texas)?

I think I'll take your line as a compliment.