Politics

AFL-CIO Rep Pledges Lawyers, Resources for ‘Occupy’ Protesters

A Pennsylvania AFL-CIO representative told a group of “Occupy Harrisburg” participants that the unions stand with them and are prepared to provide resources for the protesters, including lawyers and meeting space.

Michael Fedor, the AFL-CIO’s director for the central Pennsylvania area, told attendees at an organizational meeting Wednesday that the pledge comes directly from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

“The president of the AFL-CIO was on a call with us tonight and said I want you to communicate to “Occupy” groups that we are with them, and he’s directing local labor movements to put resources on the ground to help, including lawyers, including meeting spaces, including whatever we need,” Fedor said.

At the same time Fedor said top union brass warned local leaders to “not be heavy-handed“ and ”do not come in and try to take over this.”

“Let the local movement and young people who are there feed this energy,” Fedor said he was told.

Fedor compared the “Occupy” movement to the Arab Spring, and said he was prepared to get arrested alongside his fellow demonstrators.

“We’ve got to be willing to stay in the streets and when the clashes break out, that‘s when we’ve got to be willing to really understand what we’re getting into here,” he said. “If we see the cops coming, you know, we‘ve got to hold hands and we know what we’re in for. Get arrested, get out of jail, right back down.”

Trumka himself made a similar statement praising the demonstrations earlier this week, telling reporters the labor movement backs the protesters in New York City and elsewhere and will work with them “to make the top 1 percent pay their fair share.”

“These demonstrations are truly spontaneous,” Trumka said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “We intend to be supportive of them…. We are going to support them in any way we can. We’re not going to try to usurp them in any way.”

Comments (97)

  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:07pm

    We will just ignore you, and when you resort to violence, I hope you get what’s coming to you.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:23pm

      as usual the unions want to foment violence and aggression..“when the clashes breakout”. They just can’t help themselves. The useful idiots/smelly faux-hippies/delusionals at these days of rage have already demonstrated that they’re easily led, will blindly follow and have a propensity for instigating trouble. All it’s going to take is to insinuate some unionistas into their ranks to push them over the edge. Right now Rathke and Lerner are trying to work out how to keep the unions calm…at least until they believe it’s the right time to get violent..I promise you. This will boil over and the left‘s mask will drop to reveal it’s ugly little face. The American people will see the left for the trouble stirring, delusional morase it is. Obama and the democrats will get no help at the polls by siding with these idiots.

      Report Post »  
    • Living In NYC
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:50pm

      GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Union thugs with union thug lawyers….Here comes the baseball bats, chains, bottles and knives.

      Such a class-less pack of ignorant roaming fools and their supporters!

      Led by the the number #1 fool and thug our Community Organizer and Chief……Barry Obama!

      Report Post » Living In NYC  
    • ReallyAUnionGuy
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:59pm

      I have spent the better part of the last 3 and 1/2 years trying to wake up my fellow union members, now I guess we will see where they stand…. I guess i should change my name to Really “Ashamed” union guy.

      http://www.firefightersforfreedom.blogspot.com

      Report Post »  
    • SavingtheRepublic.com
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 6:12pm

      ~^~v~~^~~v~^~
      They think they will be untouched when this all comes apart. Someone ought to send vids from like Greece where politicians became targets! They say they want it to be peaceful yet have plans in place for what to do when it violence happens happens?! He also points out they are copying the Arab spring, ummm correct me if Im wrong but hasnt that ended up in blood shed and left the ME on the verge of chaos?

      Wish these people could hear themselves, they think they are revolutionaries and are making history all they are doing is accelerating he collapse of society pitting American against American. Cant they see those who are on the sidelines pulling the string who will benefit? Soros, Obama, DC they are the dividers and the only ones who will benefit from any of this anger. We need to find ways to expose them so their useful idiots turn on them! TAPGW http://tinyurl.com/yhglscs

      Report Post » SavingtheRepublic.com  
    • chazman
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 6:29pm

      … union dues going to pay for lawyers and ‘resources’ for the useful idiots? Any union members out there agree with that? Do you accept the FACT that your union leaders are card carrying Communist’? If you do then you are commies as well. Just askin’ …

      Report Post »  
    • PA PATRIOT
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 7:01pm

      Harrisburg is seriously BROKE. The PA legislature is considering a bill that would allow the Commonwealth to take over financial responisbilities of the city of Harrisburg. Govenor Corbett said that he would siign it if it makes it to his desk. BUT alas, there exists and attorney in Philthadelphia that is standing behind the mayor and will sue the state if they take over Harirsburg. The current city council has been riddled with nepotism and greasing the palms of Union workers. It is a mess.

      http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/09/harrisburg_scrambles_to_stop_s.html

      Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • mils
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:12pm

      i FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT UNION MEMBERS CONDONE spending their money on this crap. Do union me members not have a say in this? hAVE THEY BEEN ASKED

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on October 8, 2011 at 6:35am

      it would seem we are not very far from violenece in the streets. it is what the commies,ie. obama and his fellow travellers want.

      Report Post »  
  • olddog
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:00pm

    The Idiots we see protesting now are nothing but a Ploy by the leftists to see if we’ll bite. They don’t care if they loose them or not.. Ever played Chess, if you have you understand..Don’t, Do Not React to these Idiots. These are merely the Pawns in the Game, right Sorass…

    Report Post » olddog  
    • chazman
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:40pm

      @OLDDOG

      …You are absolutely correct. I stand aside …

      Report Post »  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:58pm

    I wonder if trumpka is going to give away his millions. Surely he is the ” 1% “. Anyone think so?

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • michael79
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:31pm

      Bloomberg, he’s 1% also. Maybe he’s starting to smell the coffee. They’re coming for him to.

      Report Post » michael79  
    • booger71
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:44pm

      Hey Trumpka, so your giving away more of your members money again huh. Goal of occupy wall street is to bring down wall street. Funny, over 80% of union members retirement is tied up in mutual funds on wall street. Good move

      Report Post » booger71  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 6:00pm

      You got it Booger, and they can’t see the hypocracy.

      Report Post »  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:57pm

    Outright subversion buy Trumka and he can get away with doing it because the Administration is in this thing just deep as anyone else.

    If you are a true American and still believe in the principals and values that once made this country strong and proud in the face of communism then you are now considered the enemy and communism, the hero.

    I am convinced that as true Americans, we are on our own. We have become the hunted and must rely upon God and our own defenses for survival.

    I don’t know what the future holds for those of us that are Christians but according to the Bible, things will only get tougher for us before they get better. We just have stay true to Him even in the face of death. Jesus certainly knew what that meant as He was being led to Golgotha.

    Report Post » moreteaplease  
    • JohnGalt
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:30pm

      We put on the armor of God! We will make it through this as long we remain steadfast with our Lord and Savior. Now the other guy? it won’t be looking good for them.

      Report Post » JohnGalt  
  • jdawg
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:56pm

    There’s an Egyptian immigrant that says this is nothing like the Arab Spring. Trumka probably never talked to him.

    http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-spokane/egyptian-immigrant-says-wall-street-protests-nothing-like-cairo-tunisia

    Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:56pm

    Seems to be that these Unions are getting way out of line with the American tax payer who is getting stuck with billions of dollars funding the short falls of unions, and to think our own president sides with this behavior is disgusting and in my opinion …Treason.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • IronSights
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:28pm

      I wonder why union members aren’t up in arms over their union dues going to support a bunch of loads that are protesting and are probably career activists.

      Report Post » IronSights  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:56pm

    you know what makes this ironic,is the nypd are union,i just wonder will they do their jobs and protect the city or will they allow these law breaking idiots to run rough shod over them, these people are calling for violence, they are willing to hurt people, people this is just what obama wanted an army,i hope america is paying attention,this is what they voted for, obama has bailed out the unions,now it is time to pay it back,either in services,protest,violence and destruction, is greece,italy england really what america wants, the more the unions and the left continue to show themselves the more people see who obama is standing with, i hate to say this, but the bailout money oabam gave the unions is nothing more than a down payment for the destruction of america.

    Report Post »  
  • Steve
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:55pm

    I thought union dues were used to help union members.

    Not pay for legal fees for non members
    Or
    support political causes.

    ooo well

    Report Post »  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:57pm

      Nope, this is part and parcel of the Left’s propensity for redistributing funds at whim.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
  • olddog
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:54pm

    ???Why would a Peacefull non violent group need lawyers??? But then, when have we know Unions to be peacefull and non violent???

    Report Post » olddog  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:59pm

      i wonder if the media will cover the violence or will they continue to say the tea party is violent, and if nacey polise thinks she saw violence in the 60‘s and 70’s, she ain’t seen nothing yet, with the afl-cio giving a green light to violence, there will be hell to pay for the innocent.

      Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:05pm

      Don’t forget that they may need to keep some veterinarians on retainer in the event any of these “protestors” need to be neutered.

      Report Post »  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:53pm

    Communist helping the brain dead!…………………………..

    Report Post »  
  • azjoannie
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:53pm

    Why would these peaceful, patriotic demonstrators need lawyers? There goes your union dues !

    Report Post »  
  • petestreet
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:52pm

    The commies united ,union thugs and commie leaders working to destroy our way of life. Thanks omoma.

    Report Post »  
  • capecodsully
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:52pm

    All very convenient for Obama, bought and paid for terrorists at his command. Easy to see where all that stimulus money went to, and what it pays for. And they still have their hands out.

    Report Post »  
  • Docrow
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:51pm

    These protesters will have my full support when they get rid of everything they own produced by what they protest.

    Report Post » Docrow  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:50pm

    Commies, go to HELL.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • JohnQTaxpayer
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:48pm

    Why need lawyers for peaceful protests

    Planning something different?

    JQT

    Report Post » JohnQTaxpayer  
  • JohnGalt
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:46pm

    ‘“These demonstrations are truly spontaneous,” Trumka said,’
    If so why did I find out about this demonstration months ago, even notified NYPD about it. *sigh* idiot.

    Report Post » JohnGalt  
    • georgiavietvet
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 6:21pm

      johngalt………………….. my thoughts exactly. the unions were in on the planning for these protests and are now showing their hand. get ready america, civil war is coming………………………..

      Report Post »  
  • motonutt
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:45pm

    For all you union Jacks and Janes out there, your blackmailed donations to the cause will be increasing out of your next bloated pay check. Thanks.

    Report Post » motonutt  
  • OhioRifleman
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:45pm

    This is what it looks like when battle lines are drawn. Sides are forming up, clarion calls are being resounded throughout the country.

    Where will you stand? For what will you stand?

    Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • olddog
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:02pm

      We all stand together, but now is not the time. These are merely the lefts Pawns in the game…

      Report Post » olddog  
  • blkbelt7
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:44pm

    The union sez this protest is an off shoot of the arab spring…and how did that work out??? Beck was right, he predicted this months ago if not a year ago. All I can say is I have been stocking up on water, food and ammo…”BRING IT ON PROGRESSIVES, I’M READY”.

    Report Post »  
  • wethepublic
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:44pm

    If only these protesters had something more interesting for them to protest
    http://BiggestCoverUp.blogspot.com/

    Report Post »  
  • Worried Grammie
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:42pm

    Trumka, Hoffa, Van Jones – socialists/Marxists/progressive THUGS – sadly, the protestors are too stupid to realize they are being used as pawns. This dictatorial administration is working to take down everybody but the very elite. They are pushing for racial revolution, Muslim revolution – pitting everyone against each other. Why, oh why, doesn’t our military stop this evil, satanic administration????

    Report Post »  
  • Bowmaster
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:41pm

    Useful idiots supported by useless unions!

    Report Post » Bowmaster  
  • Rajabear1
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:41pm

    Stunning. Just absolutely stunning.

    Report Post »  
  • AllSmyles
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:40pm

    Liberals have absolutely No standards, NO shame, NO conscience, NO soul, NO respect, NO integrity, NO intelligence, NO intellect, NO decency, and they are the epitome of Arrogance, Stupidity, and Hypocrisy.. so why should anyone expect anything other than that, from them.. And they are WITHOUT A DOUBT, the most Vile, Repulsive, Repugnant, and Despicable, Sad and PATHETIC creatures, on planet earth, next to cochroaches.. It’s so hard to tell the difference

    Report Post » AllSmyles  
    • Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:42pm

      yeah other than all those things you mentioned, they are pretty nice ppl….. It appears the battle has begun….

      Report Post »  

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