Union raises stakes for July (Dem Convention)

[corporatewhore]

Union raises stakes for July
Police group eyes convention boycott

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff, 3/10/2004

Boston's largest police union is asking Democrats nationwide, including presumptive presidential nominee John F. Kerry, to boycott the Democratic National Convention in July, a dramatic escalation of tactics in the union's quest for a contract.Police union allies across the country have already begun phoning local delegates and party officials, telling them that entering the FleetCenter will be seen as crossing a picket line if Boston police do not have their contract settled by then. Thousands of police from at least nine states and 18 unions are ready to stand beside Boston officers to show their solidarity.

"There will be an expectation that the line not be crossed," Thomas J. Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, said at a news conference yesterday at the union's Roxbury headquarters. "I know Democrats do not do that. That's the protocol."

The union has widely proclaimed its plans to use the convention as leverage in its public battle. But until now, tactics have largely targeted Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Several unions recently ran an ad in the Washington Post aimed at party officials, and yesterday the police union unveiled a pro-union website that mimics the official DNC site. But the move to confront delegates raises the stakes for the Democrats.Asking delegates to stay away from the biggest Democratic political event of the year would embarrass hundreds of Democratic elected officials, particularly if officers from their hometowns are on the picket line.

A picket line outside the convention could also embarrass Kerry, who will formally receive his party's nomination at the convention. A public display of disharmony among Democrats, who have traditionally had close ties to organized labor, could send a negative message as the party tries to present a unified front against President Bush.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/03/10/union_raises_stakes_for_july/

[Kremer]

1. Ok so have the convention in the parking lot??

Boy the repugs will jump all over this! Momentum killer.

[corporatewhore]

3. they better get those contracts then

[corporatewhore]

2. kick

[mdmc]

4. Interesting

AKennedy and Kerry better kick those mediators into high gear. :kick:

[rucky]

5. DNC already putting pressure on Menino

Negotiations are in progress. A Blue Flu ain't gonna happen, but what a hellova bargaining tool.

[davsand]

6. Maybe Kerry should show some spine on this.

OK--the convention is set for Boston--but Kerry needs to just say no--not as long as this kind of bullshit is going on with the unions.

HE needs to take a stand RIGHT NOW and say fine--we'll HOLD the DNC convention in the Ft. Wayne Holiday Inn parking lot if we have to--but NO DEM WITH ME will cross a picket line to attend that convention.

If Kerry wants labor support he damn well better be willing to do something to support labor. He could emerge from this with an even stronger labor support than he has already--and all he has to do is stand up and do the right thing.

Just my two cents--but it is time the DNC and the Dems show a bit of support for labor. Kerry could begin that change right now.

Laura

[BabsSong]

7. Here we go again--two steps forward, 6 backward

This is why we always end up, well..fucked!! Perhaps these cops would be more comfortable with Bush in the White House and a lot more repukes in public office!! This is a case of blowing their faces off to get a few more coins in their pockets. They need to be there cheering the Dems and demonstrating in NYC!! The broader picture is to support those who support unions and not try to destroy them. To me it's equivalent to a "Nader thing"----fight, but don't dump this fight at the Dem convention because it will be the only news the media will cover (i.e., Dems again fight among themselves). Nothing is gained if they still end up with nothing in a contract but have turned lose the dogs of hell who want to see all unions busted and most especially government worker unions. It's a cheap thing to do.

[davsand]

8. So they should just be quiet?

I'm not sure what you are getting at here. Labor unions are fighting for survival right now--and the Dem party needs to recognize that. The DNC has always "expected" labor support for candidates--but I can't say that I've seen the Dems consistently support labor.

I'm not sure who decided on Boston for this convention--but they need to be booted in the backside for even sending a convention of Dems to ANY city that can't settle labor contracts with first responders.

Instead of viewing this as such an awful thing for labor to do-why not view it as an opportunity to DEMONSTRATE that the Dem party really IS different than the GOP?

Laura

[genius]

9. There are also problems with the security team Boston has hired

Apparently they are overzealous at injuring protestors. This could be worse than Chicago.