Unions to hold their own political convention

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Unions to hold their own political convention
By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 6:54 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 6:54 p.m.

Union leaders upset that this summer's Democratic National Convention will be held in right-to-work North Carolina plan to stage their own political gathering in a more union-friendly state.

Labor officials say the idea of holding a separate "labor summit" a few weeks ahead of the convention won wide support Wednesday at the AFL-CIO's annual winter meeting.

Most unions are still planning to attend the Charlotte convention, but more than a dozen trade unions are boycotting it. They're angry that Charlotte has no union hotels and North Carolina is the least unionized state in the nation. Some labor leaders consider the choice an affront to a core Democratic constituency.

Ed Hill, president of the Electrical Workers union, said members of Congress, governors and other elected officials would all be invited to attend the labor summit in a union-friendly city, possibly Philadelphia. The gathering would be held three or four weeks before the Democratic National Convention, which is set to begin Sept. 3.


Read more: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20120314/APA/1203141083

[Liberty Belle]

1. Was this a DINO plot to keep union people away and lessen their influence in the party?

What better way to do that than to hold the national convention in a non-union place. Shame on the party for doing that.

[jeff47]

4. No, it's an attempt to drum up enough support for Obama to win NC

Conventions tend to be held in "swing" states in an attempt to win the state. You can judge just how insane a party is by what they consider "swing" states.

[whathehell]

5. Are there no unionized hotels in NC?

I know it's the South, but it still seems odd.

[jeff47]

6. There are none in Charlotte.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are none in the other 3 major NC cities. NC has a lot of laws that make unionizing extremely difficult.

[whathehell]

15. Yeah, well that kind of sucks...

and I think they've made a big, if not all that surprising mistake given that Obama's paltry

support of labor, in going, for the first time, to a non unionized hotel...Surely

there must be some OTHER state that's "borderline" in its support for Obama that

he could have chosen.

[midnight]

2. If the Democrats were smart they would of made a point of embracing workers rights....

Glad that some of the Unions are for breaking away from this location...

[whathehell]

16. I agree....They're not being that smart on this. n/t

[mopinko]

3. i wish the seiu and other unions would just go down there

and organize a couple of hotels. i guess they don't care, it is a sellers market. but it would be great.

[lunatica]

10. What makes you think they haven't tried?

And what makes you think unions don't care? Doesn't this protest action give a hint?

[mopinko]

14. i asked around. haven't heard anything. hope that doesn't mean they aren't.

i know even here in chicago hotels are hard. restaurants, too.
but if it ain't on the teevee, it won't do what i think it would do.
i know they care. i am just saying this would be a good cause. celerbre.

[Citizen Worker]

7. It's about time. Now, if Labor uses this summit to begin movement building and separating itself

from party politics this will be very positive. If not, it's just more of the same.

[Proletariatprincess]

8. Absolutely Correcct, fellow worker

I was very disappointed when the AFL-CIO endorsed Obama...especially after Trumpka had finally acknowleged that neither party had been fair to labor and separation is past due.
Gore Vidal has said that the Dems and REpubs are just two right wings of the Corporate party. There is no place for Labor in either party....other than for it's money and free campaign workers. Im tired of Labor being so badly used. If only we could have a real Labor Party.....

[madrchsod]

9. good idea

[unionworks]

11. I'll go them one better

How about organizing a boycott of products made by non-union shops in right to scab states? Just like we went after Limbaughs advertiers.

[unionworks]

12. why aren't democrats

Last edited Thu Mar 15, 2012, 10:36 AM - Edit history (1)

With close ties to labor raising holy hell about this and perhaps even threatening to boycott the convention?

[JNelson6563]

13. Labor has a lot of power at conventions

I find it hard to believe they will by-pass this opportunity to throw that power around. They will have their binding caucus and hit the floor to vote en masse. That is the union way. Anyone in Michigan Democratic politics knows this.

Julie

[Doctor_J]

17. And yet unions will be blamed for not supporting Dems vigorously enough

Smile when we slap you in the face, godammit!

[Vidar]

18. Good for the unions! Now how about starting a Labor Party?