Explaining why we should all be for Kerry

[louis c]

I'm a Union President and Business Agent of a local with over 300 members. I am in the process of negotiating my third contract. I come from a mindset of collective bargaining. We first meet together as members of the Union without regard to management's positions, to put forward our list of demands. There's alot of arguing and infighting among our Union brothers and sisters on what should be our priorities and strategy. Some of our meetings get quite heated. This is kind of like our Primary season.

Next, we choose a negotiating team, kind of like where we are now at DU (who will be VP)

Then we start the hard work of going head to head against the other side for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. During this time, all the infighting is behind us, we move forward as one.

As the contract deadline approaches, the Union can have no more dissention. Free speach is not the issue. The time to make your case was in step one. The other side will take care of all the opposing view points from now on. For our side to prevail, only total unity and commitment can be our agenda. We must speak with one voice. That is kind of like the election season.

As the campaign season moves forward, and we reach what I like to call an election impasse, I hope my new friends at DU will take into account the Labor attitude in this election. You see, the key to any successful Union cause is the same as any successful election campaign, and that is unity.

[Maat]

1. ABB 2004! Vote Kerry!

[Massacure]

2. Very well said!

I agree 100% with you!

Lets work together. Together we can beat Bush!

[meti57b]

3. I agree!

and would add ... you can't always get absolutely everything you want all at one time.

[senseandsensibility]

4. It's literally

life or death now, bothers and sisters! Who are you going to believe? The patriots quoted above or Nader, who told us tha both parties are the same?

[Pastiche423]

5. You vote for who you want

and I will vote for who best represents me.

[JayS]

6. Same here. My lockstep program quit working years ago. n/t

n/t

[louis c]

7. And the Bush folks

will vote for who they want. No kidding. But there is only one winner, and it won't be Nader. You're doing their bidding if you propose Nader as a division in our ranks. The technique is as old as the 16th century when Machiavelli explained "divide and conquer".

[Pastiche423]

9. WTF is proposing Nader?

Did you see the name, "Nader" in my post?

Don't put fucking words in my mouth!

[BeatleBoot]

8. Me too

That's why I'm voting for John Kerry.

Just can't imagine another four years of torture and unemployment.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pastiche423]

11. I am divisive, how?

[BeatleBoot]

12. In your original post you stated...

that you will vote for the person who best represents you.

But you didn't name who you will vote for.

Who best represents you?

[Pastiche423]

13. How was I being divisive?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeatleBoot]

15. My question wasn't rhetorical, it was just a question

No big deal.

Who best represents you?

Just asking.

If you don't want to answer, then no big deal.

[louis c]

16. Since Kerry is the only candidate

who can defeat Bush. And since I thought that was our common goal. Then to try to persuade others to examine any other alternative at this point in time, is divisive. You also seem to ignore the second part of my question. What is your strategy to defeat George Bush, or don't you think it matters.

[Pastiche423]

17. I have not

nor will I, try to "pursuade others to examine any other alternative at this point in time".

I will vote for who I want.
You vote for who you want.

It's called "democracy".

As to the second part of your question, see my sig line.

[louis c]

19. So, you will

continue to stay neutral, because, as your sig line explains, they're both the same (Bush and Kerry). In the real world, real people can see the difference all too well. If Bush prevails, once again it will be because of folks like you.

[BeatleBoot]

18. Oh, think of the bandwidth lost

on this thread....

All the way with JFK!

[CWebster]

20. You forgot the part about the corruption of the Union

and how the elections are rigged.

[louis c]

21. That's it

attack the group that was ahead of the curve on the Iraq war and NAFTA. Also, if the USA had the same amount of scrutiny in its elections that Unions do, they would have thrown out Bush long ago.

By the way , every major Union in America was against Shrub long before the general public, and continues to be the backbone of his opposition, with money and people. Even if we don't get all we want, even on major issues, we put our asses on the line every single fucking time, because we know the difference between right and wrong. We don't just talk a good game, we work hard to win it.

[senseandsensibility]

28. I've participated in and orgaized

a legal strike that was successful due to the hard work of my brothers and sisters. Most people have no idea what hard work it is to strike legally, how long it takes, how many hoops you have to jump through, My God, it's the opposite of corruption. Everything must be done by the book. Well regulated? That's an understatement. Our union was splintered by so many hard feelings and personality conflicts as well as honest differences of opinion that we thought we'd never make it. But we pulled together, and we WON because we were right. And that's what I want for the Democratic Party. There is no feeling like a truly just victoy.

[louis c]

29. Amen, brother

Every major benefit in the workplace has been won by organized labor.And we need to defeat Bush this year, or many of our past victories will be undone by a hostile federal government. No group has more at stake in this election than the Unions.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. Don't you know that the Unions are always headed by a leader

that best serves the member's interests? There's no power brokers or funny business.

I mean really! (huff)

[louis c]

27. You don't have to worry

about Union funny business at Wahl-Mart, just low wages.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

30. We're talking about why we should all get behind X, aren't we?

I know WalMart pays shit wages.
I know WalMart isn't unionized.

I also know that there are powers that facilitate WalMart's ability to pay shit wages and make unionization more difficult.
I also know that there are powers that facilitate the "correct" election of Party nominees.

"You don't have to worry about Party(either Party) nominees in America- they'll all be centrist or right-of center."

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss... I can appreciate that. Yet I'll probably vote for Kerry, while not begrudging others who won't.

[louis c]

26. You don't have to worry

about rigged elections at Wal-Mart, just no worker rights or benefits. Shrubs dream come true.

[mandyky]

22. I am against shrub and

will vote Kerry, although I am afraid I'll never be "for" Kerry. What I am FOR is electing the non shrub candidate and hopefully evening up both sections of Congress so we can undo the damage idiot boy has wraught on us.

[Rebellious Republican]

23. Hey louis c, I have been preaching Dem unity for some time

people need to understand it is not about "marching in lockstep" like the repubs, its about our very survival as a party and a nation. Then you also have those freeper trolls that their whole mission here is to disrupt Dem unity. Divide and Conquer is the republican motto. I am with you, good post!
:toast:

[TexasSissy]

24. Interesting. And true.

[Ernesto]

31. Well now, WELCOME aboard!

I just happen to be glad to hear from a UNION bro-ham..... I'm SMWIA #162, Sacramento Ca., retired. Here's my story & I'm stickin' to it. As a USMC Viet-vet in school on the GI bill, it was a great honor to meet JK @ Redding Ca in 1972. The guy then (and now) was the very much the sort of fellow that I could accept as a leader. (& not a chickenhawk)

[louis c]

32. Glad to meet you

I'm the Prez and BA for IBEW local 123. I represent all the workers at Suffolk Downs Race Track in East Boston. Small Local, and I work as a Mutuel Clerk there, as the Union Job pays only a stipend. As a matter of fact, our big race day is tomorrow(Sat.), the Mass Cap. I hope our home town boy makes good on Nov. 2.

[drb]

33. You go, Louis! This ain't rocket...

...science!

John Kerry or Georgie Boy?

How tough is that decision?