Why Won’t Obama Join the Verizon Picket Line?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/11833/union_leader_wants_obama_to_walk_on_verizon_picket_line/

Tuesday Aug 16, 2011 2:05 pm

By Mike Elk

Citing Obama's healthcare reform legislation, the company wants concessions. Union members want a show of solidarity

Last Saturday, about 100 Verizon workers and their supporters from the Washington D.C. area —some of the 45,000 company employees who went on strike last week around the country—protested outside of a Verizon wireless store at 13th and F streets. Verizon is demanding nearly $1 billion in concessions from union workers after the company recorded $10.2 billion in profits last year.

Mike Harris, president of D.C.-based Communication Workers of America Local 2336, told me that the concessions “would crush the union." Many union supporters have said that the total cost, per employee, of the pay and benefit concessions Verizon is seeking is seeking would amount to $20,000.

The picket line I attended on Saturday was only two blocks from the White House. President Barack Obama was not on the picket line. “I know the president is a very busy man, but he should be here,” Harris said. “This is a fight about saving the middle class and saving our union."

Indeed, during his campaign, President Obama said: "If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain, when I’m in the White House, I’ll put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself. I’ll walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States because Americans deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner.”

Harris believes his union’s ability to bargain is being threatened by Verizon’s demands—but so far the president has not marched on a single picket line. The White House has not even issued a statement on where it stands on the largest strike in four years. The White House press office declined to comment on the strike.

FULL story at link.

[monmouth]

1. His stance so far on unions is disgraceful...Comfy shoes my ass....n/t

[whathehell]

4. Agreed 150%. n/t

[lob1]

2. Supporting unions is a little too democratic for Obama.

[frylock]

3. because it would smack of actually taking a stand?

[Autumn]

5. Mainly because Obama does not stand for Unions.

We know what corner he stands in.