FreedomWorks to send paid workers to fight unions (WP)

[somone]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022307100.html

Wisconsin governor urging others to take stands against unions
By Brady Dennis and Peter Wallsten

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose efforts to curtail the rights of public-employee unions have thrust him into the national spotlight, is pushing other new Republican governors to follow his lead. He said he communicates regularly with Ohio Gov. John Kasich and has spoken with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. And Walker has suggested that his counterparts in Michigan and Florida seek to address their budget problems in part by demanding major concessions from public workers.

"There's a lot of us new governors that got elected to do something big," Walker said this week. "This is our moment." His comments about his GOP brethren came in an unusual forum: a recorded telephone conversation with a liberal blogger purporting to be conservative financier David Koch.

Walker's standoff with unions in Wisconsin has also prompted tea party groups to put together an extensive schedule of national grass-roots organizing, with the goal of supporting governors and lawmakers who are pushing for pension reform, restrictions on public-sector collective bargaining and deep cuts in spending.

FreedomWorks, a Washington-based group led by former House majority leader Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.), said it will send paid workers to Tallahassee; Indianapolis; Harrisburg, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake City in coming weeks as part of the effort. "This is clearly just the beginning of many state battles that are happening around the country," said FreedomWorks state coordinator Brendan Steinhauser...

[kevinbgoode]

1. sending "paid" workers?

Well now...ain't it wonderful to discover that con-artist con-servatives, who keep telling us that they are just overwhelmed with taxes and just cannot make ends meet, are able to afford to hire "paid workers" to protest REAL workers protecting their salaries and benefits.

It seems to me the appropriate thing for the Unions to do is to hold a massive demonstration outside FreedomWorks as well - demanding their "workers" be allowed to unionize - and perhaps demand that FreedomWorks pay a greater share of taxes, too.

I think the teabaggers are a bit embarassed here - and are late mobilizing. In most of the demonstrations over the last couple of weeks, they have been horribly outnumbers and overwhelmed. . .and it makes them look like a shallow group of paid employees who don't represent anyone but their little corporate masters.

[cliffordu]

2. Dick and his Army might want to reconsider.

One of my stepfathers was a union man and took part in strikes twice in my childhood.

He came home from strike lines bleeding on more than one occasion because bosses were trying to run scabs into the plant.

If the union rank and file these days are anything like that son of a bitch, these folks that Dick is going to send into the fray might want to wear protection.

They are going to need it.


Just sayin'

[du_da]

6. I wouldn't be

too proud of that or advertise it, that is one of the main reasons unions have a bad reputation today. The term union thug didn't come from nowhere. We have to find a cleaner more honest and nobel way of addressing our concerns today.

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. If this is going to work, it must be kept nonviolent

I wouldn't be bragging about people being bloodied up. There is no need for it.

Whoever throws the first punch loses.

[AsahinaKimi]

17. In Atlanta

Teabaggers are going ARMED. Lets hope that its peaceful, but I won't be holding my breath, as far as those idiots are concerned.

[Rabblevox]

3. Just to be fair, the left is also sending paid workers

Locally, I've ponied up $10/each to SEIU and Jobs With Justice to support their trips there.

I've been a union organizer who helped run rallies and "road-trips". The work is exhilarating, the pay and working conditions suck hind-tit.

Of course, the baggers, sitting in Koch's lap, are probably "protesting" from the Hilton and Hooters, instead of the back of a van and McDonalds like we used to do.

[kevinbgoode]

5. Well, this is why I suggest to take a rally to their own capitol. . .

FreedomWorks. Why not set up a protest outside their offices demanding unionization of their "paid workers". . .what status does FreedomWorks have anyway?

I'm convinced that they are scared - they've been so used to being the only big protest game in town this last year - now suddenly they are being dwarfed at their staged events by people whose jobs are really threatened by these policies. They are gonna have to pony up a lot of money to get any decent numbers - the Tea Party just isn't that big - or that passionate. They just get a lot of media hype.

[Luminous Animal]

7. How much, per hour or per day, is the SEIU or Jobs with Justice paying their workers?

And what road trips, specifically, have you organized?

[Rabblevox]

11. Get confrontational much, Luminous? As to wages and road trips...

I don't claim to speak for either SEIU or JWJ. But what I can say is...

Jobs With Justice has a small staff, and a fairly flat pay-scale. I was paid about $12/hour with good benefits, usually worked 60-70 hrs per week that I was paid for 40. (that unfortunately, is standard practice in most progressive non-profs)

I shared a work-station with 2 other people (not a huge problem, I was rarely at my desk). The local director made $5-6/more per hour, had a small private office, and the ability to rent a car.

The last road-trip was about a year ago. J20 in San Fransisco. To protest cuts in federal housing, we organized 5 van-loads of people from Oregon to California, on a shoestring, through some of the crappiest weather northern Cali had seen in years. We did protests along the way in Salem, Eugene, and Medford. We slept on the busses, on church basement floors, on the couches of strangers.

We ate a lot of beans, rice, and cornbread that was pre-cooked and re-heated.

Most of the people on the caravan were either homeless or living in extreme poverty. Some didn't even have blankets or bedding. Some had mental health problems that they didn't disclose until mid-trip.

It was 6 days, total. 60 people. Most strangers. Most homeless or extremely poor. Through snow and sleet and all that crap. And we fucking DID IT!

In some ways it was a nightmare, in some ways it was fabulous. Go figure. The trip, and the march were successful. Everyone got there and back safe and healthy, and I'm damned proud that I played a part in it.

More details on the trip here:
http://streetroots.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/photos-from...

[Historic NY]

4. Paid goons sent to engaged public workers....I don't think the cops are on their side.

[mod mom]

13. I hope not but still recall a motorcycle cop donning a B/C '04 sticker on his helmet as he provided

crowd control at a political event.

[Historic NY]

14. That should have been reported....he was out of uniform.

[mod mom]

15. He was in full uniform (motorcycle cop gear) w a bumpersticker across his helmet

egging on us Kerry supporters.

[joeunderdog]

20. You can't represent political parties while in uniform.

Not allowed.

[mod mom]

21. We received a flyer with our police chief in uniform endorsing a puke for congress.

I was working at the Oh Dem Party HQ at the time and took it in. They gave it to their lawyers who copied it but did nothing about it.

[Jmaxfie1]

8. Who the Pinkerton Detective Agency? ;) n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

9. ". . . .will send PAID workers . . . "

So much for conviction and principal. :eyes:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[annabanana]

16. This needs to be on the front page. The people in those States need

to know what's coming their way. Can anyone scope out how many employees Armey will be sending? (My son is out of work. I wonder how much he pays)

[joeunderdog]

18. This is great.

Nothing will add energy and determination to the cause like active opposition.

Walker would be better off ignoring the Union workers. Pissing them off will get headlines and will help to galvanize their position all the more.

[Dappleganger]

19. You just can't make this shit up.

*shakes head slowly*

[annabanana]

22. kicking for visibility. . . n/t