My boss threatened to fire me and 7 co-workers if we vote for Dems

[litlbilly]

My boss threatened to fire me and my 7 co-workers if we voted Democratic.
We were pulled into a meeting at our Westinghouse service center in Lake Oswego
Oregon and were told, " If you vote for Dems, your jobs will be gone" I stood up,
told my boss he was full of shit and bet him 1k dollars that if Dems got in, not only would
our jobs be safe, but we would all prosper. Here's what happened: My wife and my
income tripled within a year, we bought our first house, we bought 2 new cars,
I got to golf 3 times a week and we went skiing every weekend during the winter.
Here's the thing, the meeting with our boss was 2 weeks before Bill Clinton was elected.
I am still waiting for the 1k my boss still owes me. Now, we are struggling to keep our house and our 2 cars are 20 years old because we can't afford new ones. Things are starting to get better for us though in spite of all the republican obstruction.

[yellerpup]

1. Good story!

Welcome to DU!

[scheming daemons]

2. Cool story, bro!

Since there is no way for him to know who you vote for, your claim is ridiculous.

[Lex]

3. ^^^This.

[litlbilly]

8. It actually happened.

It did happen. the only difference, they were gonna send out jobs to Pueto Rico instead of China. that service center actually shut down a week after GW got selected for office on 2000.

[-LOKI -BAD FOR YA]

38. i had something similiar happen to me

hi litlbilly. i had the same thing happen to me .in 2000 i worked at a major chemical company the repugs were happy for three months.then one day a meeting was held in the lunch room, we were informed our services were no longer needed . the repugs were in shock.some had been there 30 years and close to retirement.seems the company got a tax write-off ,the rep they voted for voted for us to lose our jobs. the company was very profitable

[WI_DEM]

4. And how would your boss know how you voted?

[DemKittyNC]

7. That is what I was wondering?

I guess he could look up your name and address on the Voter Registration site and see which party you are affiliated but seriously that is some stalking psycho shit right there. Plus, who is to say if someone was registered Repuglican that you are not voting Democratic anyways. Your boss sounds like an ass.

[litlbilly]

14. since i stood up and told him what i thought

he knew I was voting for Clinton. I actually did bet him 1k as well. Everyone laughed in the room but they knew I was serious.

[Journeyman]

9. If you donate money, that information's freely available at many sites on the internet. . .

and it's a reasonable deduction that who you support with your money is who you vote for. Then it's easy enough after the election for employers to cull the "undesirables."

This is why I'm opposed to such sites. And in light of Citizens United, we should all enjoy the same freedom with our money as corporations do (at least until the ruling is overturned). Freedom of speech is meaningless if it doesn't include the right to be silent, and to keep to yourself those opinions and beliefs you're not ready or willing to share with the larger public.

This is, indeed, the core of the 1st Amendment argument put forth by the Hollywood Ten. The question we need to ask is, how long will we permit what happened to them to continue in our society?

[litlbilly]

5. I wondered that too

He was only there for a few more months after that meeting. I think he got demoted
and had to move back to the main factory in Pittsburg. I just think it shows there is no difference between now and then. It's only worse now because they are out in the open
about it. Proves to me they must be desperate and they know they are all toast.

[DemKittyNC]

11. Oh btw, welcome to DU! :)

And I am very proud of you that you stood up to him. I always admire people who take a stand for what they believe in.

[thelordofhell]

6. And before "Citizen's United"........what your boss did was illegal

[litlbilly]

16. I suppose i could have turned him in

the funny thing is, I got promoted to senior electrical tech. Strange how no matter how much things change, they stay the same.

[mimi85]

26. Agree!

This was my first thought; isn't this illegal? So Citizens United changed that? Wow, I had no idea. Would you mind explaining that to me? Sorry, i'm having one of those days where everything is going on at once. I'm good at multitasking usually, not today.

And to the OP, best of luck to you and kudos for standing up for your beliefs!

[former9thward]

36. The poster is not going to explain it to you.

That is because CU has absolutely nothing to do with the subject matter of the OP.

[thelordofhell]

40. See post 39.........CU has EVERYTHING to do with the subject

Citizen's United ELIMINATED the barriers that made it illegal for an owner of a company to coerce it's employees to vote for a particular candidate.

[former9thward]

43. No it didn't.

That was not the subject matter of the case or the ruling. Please read it or have someone who knows law explain it to you.

[former9thward]

35. Citizen United has nothing to do with the OP

Nothing at all.

[thelordofhell]

39. Of course not.............

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251151839

[TBF]

10. Welcome to DU ...

... enjoy your stay.

[Panasonic]

12. Tell your boss to fuck off

and quit on the spot.

Or you can show him the Voting Rights Act of 1965:

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 prohibit persons from intimidating or attempting to intimidate, threaten or coerce another person for the purpose of interfering with their right to vote freely in federal elections.

Tell your boss if he wants to sit in prison for a year.

There was a toon showing Republicans clamoring the same shit, different decade from 1845 to now.

I can't seem to locate it.

[RichGirl]

21. Yeah...

Tell him you quit and that you're not going to get another job. You're going on welfare, get food stamps and medicaid and his taxes will have to pay for it....HA!

[JiminyJominy]

13. This Thread

wreaks of .....awe.....

(wait for it)


someness!


And its also pretty ridiculous.

[hamsterjill]

15. Welcome to DU!

Happy to have another "feisty" Democrat amongst us.

Thanks for standing up to a domineering boss. A bully is a bully is a bully. Regardless of whether he wears a suit or a t-shirt.

[litlbilly]

18. He was a young guy right out of college

when he told us that, he said, "this is what my bosses are telling me" before he told us the threat. He was trying to cover his own ass. I remember it like it was yesterday especially since ive seen these huge corporations threatening their own workers right out in the open.
Thank you citizens united...

[cilla4progress]

17. I believe that's a federal crime.

voter intimidation

[litlbilly]

19. I also remember everyone in the room

looking at me like I just shot my mother or something. they all expected me to get canned.
I was there 5 more years.

[woolldog]

20. true story?

[litlbilly]

22. Yes, it really happened

I am still friends with my co-workers from back then. I am still on a bowling team with one of them.

[mimi85]

27. Can't resist...

but in this case "the dude abides!" Again, best to you and your family.

[The Wielding Truth]

23. Gee. Great story of intimidation and the reality of Democratic progress.

[DrewFlorida]

24. I think you should demand payment of the 1k bet!

No seriously, good for you, for having the confidence and clarity to speak up under such a situation. Most others would not!

[litlbilly]

28. I've thought about it for sure

Just can't locate him. If I could I would kindly remind him he owes me some money. Not gonna hold my breath.

[HockeyMom]

25. I haven't been threathened with Divorce

from my Republican husband. He knows who I am voting for. I have an Obama shirt, and a Not a Republican sticker on my car.

These Republicans are all BARK and no BITE. Trust me, with 38 years of experience.

[litlbilly]

29. I really admire you HockeyMom

I don't know how you do it.

[litlbilly]

31. My final thought on this

When things are going good I tend not to think so much about politics. Things are different now because of what's at stake. If we can get some good Dems and Progressives in charge, really in charge, things will get better very quickly. If that happens, what's left of the republican party will be wallowing in their muck for many many years to come. they will have to change their way of thinking if they ever want to compete again. Put them up against the taliban right now and they look very similar. Kinda scary but I think most people get it. Let's hope

[mimi85]

30. Wow!

How do you do it? Well, not THAT way....the James Carville & Scary Mary kind. I've been married for so many years that one year I thought our anniversary (New Year's Eve) was a different number! We've had have "discussions" about lots of things all these years as most couples do, but I don't think I could handle being married to a Republican! As far as NY eve goes, i'll never forget how pissed my dad got when my husband claimed me on the next year's taxes. Ha, and we were only married 5 hours that whole year!

You should get a medal!

And apologies to all for getting totally OT...

[coalition_unwilling]

42. Having been physically assaulted and the recipient of death threats from them for

protesting, I must disagree that they are all bark and no bite.

My wife no longer allows me to protest by myself. I now have to do it with at least one other person.

[infidel dog]

32. Jesus God! I wish I still lived in Portland. I'd be happy to pull on my greaser boots, hop on the

bus to Lake Oswego, hang around in the Westinghouse parking lot until quitting time, and have a friendly discussion with this...person.

[litlbilly]

33. After it became Eaton, they moved to Wilsonville

and I dont think they even exist now. Anyway, if you're ever in Beaverton, let me know, Id be happy to have a discussion with you.

[meow2u3]

34. Good for you standing up to a bully boss

[RBInMaine]

37. First, what he is doing is illegal. That is unlawful termination. &, How will he know how you voted?

[obamanut2012]

41. Wow -- I can only say one thing to this