It's seems "union" is the new demagogued hate word for BOTH Dems and Repubs

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Not surprising really, if you think where their dollars come from and will come from in even greater quantity in the future.

Do you think corporations like unions? Do you think they might wish they could get rid of them forever? Is there a strong drive to privatize education? Are there strong teacher unions?

Are pesky wages still too high, taking precious dollars away from CEOs and BODs?

Stand by for more, this is just the beginning.

Labor, don't be fooled by new efforts to "make nice". Keep on your path of starting a new, strong labor movement. We need it and the time is right. We have NEVER NEEDED IT MORE.

[DJ13]

1. None of this is surprising except its being ecouraged by a Dem admin

That is heartbreaking.

[eleny]

2. K&R!

[Taverner]

3. And to think how instrumental SEIU was in getting Obama elected

Bad move...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. It replaced liberal, eh?

[saracat]

5. You are right Phoebe, and Chuck Schumer confirmed it today.

The Dems and the WH have targeted the Unions. We will hear all kinds of reasons why but money is what it is about. And power. This admin has not yet learned that you have to GIVE in order to get from the people, but they do understand it from corporations,oddly enough.

This nation needs unions more than ever because someone needs to fight for the people.

[truedelphi]

8. Too bad the powerful Dems and the WH are not targeting

BP, Transocean and Halliburton.

But then those damn unions are siding with the fishermen and women
in wanting the Gulf of Mexico back.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. And his office made it official if you read this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8530085&mesg_id=8530085

I'm just as happy that the gloves are off and the pretense is gone.

[Big Blue Marble]

6. The corporations have won in their decades long

propaganda battle to destroy unions and to gut the power of unified labor. I watched the process unfolding during the Seventies,
right through the PATCo massacre into the free trade agreements and off shoring of jobs under the Clinton Administration and now the open assaults
by the Obama Administration.

Dived and conquer; the power of labor is at the weakest point in 100 years.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Labor Took On A Fight In The Wrong Place...

Their influence is a lot strong in a Michigan or Ohio than in Arkansas...Wally World Central and a right to work state. They ran up against an establishment party that was scared of losing a seat and had both the resources and votes to prevail. Call it what it was...a turf battle...and one where Bill Clinton and Wesley Clark held more influence than all the money the unions could pour in.

Instead of anger and the claims that Democrats are anti-union, maybe this is a wake-up call for unions to do more to reach out in those states where its been on the defensive or endangered for years. While I prefered Halter to win, I could see why voters would be leery especially with so much outside money pouring in. Maybe had they spent 10 million in efforts to recruit and build up their own membership and reputations in these states, they'll have a bigger impact in the future.

[JNelson6563]

16. Well said.

Good post. :toast:

Julie

[Raineyb]

21. In other words: How dare you voice your displeasure you should have spent your money

on candidates we want you to who are equally hostile to your needs.

Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

:eyes:

[KharmaTrain]

24. Those Are Your Words...

Mine was an observation that the labor faced big odds trying to have influence in a right to work state. I supported Halter and had hoped we'd be done with Lincoln, however we are where we are. I don't see this as a loss for labor as much as what is best called "real politik".

A constant battle I see is those who see things in an ideological view vs. those who see it as political. This election was a classic case as Lincoln was an ideological thorn, but for those in the White House who care more about keeping a Senate seat, this was all about politics. It's those who see politics as a career vs. those as a calling...and those who see it as the later are a rare minority.

I see the Unions as an important part of the Democratic coalition but in places where they have strong membership and organization. In Arkansas they were seen as outsiders. While I don't think the money spent on Halter was wasted, I'd sure like to see $10 million raised for union building programs within the state. May come in handy for future elections.

[lob1]

9. We democrats need a new party that represents democrats.

I've been a union member my whole long life. I've always been a liberal. Now I see that no party represents me or my views. Obama could've been another FDR. Instead, he turns out to be another Bush. I've very depressed and I'm afraid our country is gone.

[dana_b]

10. K&R for unions

the corporations would love to follow their leader's words and "drown them in a bathtub" I'm sure.

The nurse's union at the hospital that I work at is getting read for a strike. If it happens, it will be the largest nurse's strike in U.S. history. CNA (California Nurses Association) represents all of the UC medical centers as well as a large portion of the nurse's in Minnesota. Rallies in California are happeing today and Minnesota had a walkout today. What do people say?? Some support them but a lot begrudge them. I don't understand it. The nurse's aren't doing this all for $$. Most of their complaints have to do with staffing ratios and care that the patients are not getting because of it. The corporations are great at manipulating the facts and making the unions seem like the bad guys. Too bad a good portion of the public falls for it.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. I LOVE the California Nurses Association!

This is when I first fell in love with them.


**********************************************************************************************
http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2007/december/cigna-capitulates-to-patient-revolt-following-massive-protest-insurer-authorizes-transplant-for-17-year-old-nataline-sarkisyan.html

For Immediate Release
December 20, 2007

CIGNA CAPITULATES TO PATIENT REVOLT - Following Massive Protest, Insurer Authorizes Transplant for 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan
CNA/NNOC-Sponsored Protest Sparks Flood of Calls from Across U.S.
In a stunning turn around, insurance giant CIGNA has capitulated to community demands, and protests that the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee helped to generate, and agreed to a critically needed liver transplant for Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old girl in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center.
*************************************************************************************************

[dana_b]

13. me too!

that was a stunning situation. They really do walk-the-talk so to speak.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

14. When I think back, I think this started in earnest with the auto bailout

remember how they pushed the $75 an hour meme?

[flyarm]

15. heck add unions to the other hate word from 2008..senior women or women over age 50! eom

Proud Women retired Union worker 33 years!

[saracat]

17. You rock Fly, and I will fight anyone who claims otherwise!

:yourock:

[Broke In Jersey]

18. Schumer comments against unions yesterday totally took me back n/t

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

19. It's starting to be quite overtly organized as a campaign to demonize unions

The White House. Schumer. Gibbs. Clinton. And the head of the DSCC.

OK. New message. New Dems hate unions.

Who woulda ever thunk it?

[Raineyb]

22. Schumer is only slightly better than the piece of shit he replaced.

The piece of shit being Alphonse Demento (D'Amato)

[Echo In Light]

20. K/R

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

23. Netflix queue for the White House, Gibbs, B Clinton and Schumer

Matewan, Norma Rae, The Molly Maguires, Harlan County USA, American Dream, Silkwood.