Frustrated Labor Unions May Boycott 2012 Democratic Convention
- Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:08pm by
Billy Hallowell
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — More than a dozen trade unions plan to sit out the 2012 Democratic convention because of their anger over the site of the meeting in a right-to-work state and their frustration over Democrats’ struggles to create jobs.
If unions don’t participate, it would deprive the party of millions of dollars that would have been spent on sky boxes and other sponsorships that usually help underwrite the convention. The move could pose a larger problem for President Barack Obama next year if an increasingly dispirited base of labor activists becomes so discouraged that it doesn’t get the rank-and-file to the polls in its usual strong numbers.
Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC (Site of the 2012 Democratic Convention)
The unions – all part of the AFL-CIO’s building and construction trades unit – told party officials this week they are gravely disappointed that labor was not consulted before Democrats settled on Charlotte, N.C., where there are no unionized hotels.
“We find it troubling that the party so closely associated with basic human rights would choose a state with the lowest unionization rate in the country due to regressive policies aimed at diluting the power of workers,” Mark Ayers, president of the building trades unit, wrote in a letter to Democratic Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The decision by the building trades came after a vote by leaders of the unit’s 13 affiliate unions, including the Laborers, Painters and Electrical Workers. Overall, the unions represent about 2.5 million members.
“There is broad frustration with the party and all elected officials, broad frustration with the lack of a union agenda,” said Michael Monroe, chief of staff of the building trades division. “People are looking for outlets to express that frustration.”
DNC spokeswoman Melanie Roussell said the organizers “look forward to working with labor leaders from across the country to make the convention a success.”
“We were thrilled to have the support of local labor leaders including the AFL-CIO for Charlotte’s bid,” Roussell said.
Despite the strong language in the letter, at least one of the 13 unions says it it still considering whether or not to go.
“The Teamsters Union has not gone through our own internal decision process about the Democratic National Convention,” said spokeswoman Leigh Strope.
Monroe said the decision doesn’t preclude individual members of the unions from running as delegates, and some of the unions apparently are still considering how to proceed.
Many of the largest and most prominent unions, including the National Education Association and the Service Employees International Union, still plan to be active participants in the convention. And local labor leaders in North Carolina have praised the site choice.
But the angst could spread. The International Association of Machinists, which is not part of the building trades, said it has also decided to skip the convention after participating for decades.
“This is the union that came up with the idea for Labor Day and this convention starts on Labor Day in a right to work state,” said IAM spokesman Rick Sloan. “We see that as an affront to working men and women across this country.”
Monroe said the unions are being careful not to use the term “boycott” because they don‘t want damage Obama’s re-election prospects. He said money is also a major factor, when unions are spending millions trying to beat back efforts by Republican lawmakes to beat back union rights in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states.
“It would be disappointing to our members to see us doing business as usual, diverting resources that we know are scarce when we should be laser-like focused on getting elected officials focused on the jobs agenda,” Monroe said.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka warned earlier this year that unions would focus more of their energy and money shoring up infrastructure in the states and less on boosting a single political party.
The choice of North Carolina earlier this year provoked immediate outrage among labor leaders, who said it was another indication that Democrats take union support for granted. But Democrats defended the decision, saying it‘s part of party’s push to win crucial swing states in the South, including a state that Obama carried in 2008.
Organized labor and Democrats had a similar squabble over the choice of Denver for the 2008 convention, where the gathering was held at the non-union Pepsi Center and the city had few unionized hotels.
At one point, Teamsters President James Hoffa threatened to “blow up” the convention with picketing and protests if union issues were not worked out. But the two sides ultimately struck a deal to staff the Pepsi Center with union employees.
This report come after a recent poll that shows New York State residents are souring on President Obama’s job performance. That said, Congressional Democrats currently enjoy a slight edge over Republican opponents when it comes to the 2012 forecast.
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Comments (169)
thom48708
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:40pm“We see that as an affront to working men and women across this country.”
So that means if you’re not in a union, you don’t qualify as a woking man or woman?
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 5:31pm… hey, let’s all admit it. Unions suck, and they deserve all the bad things that come their way for being a pack of commie slugs! PIsS OFF TRUMPKA, AND PIsS OFF AFL-CIO!
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:04pmWho cares if the unions don’t participate? That’s a bad thing? For whom?
Report Post »michael48
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:05pmdumb azz unions…the Marxist in Charge GAVE them GM…typical lib-tard child…never satified…STFU and pay the Bond/ Stock holders, the Dem-Wit in the District of Criminals THIEVED from those folks..no working skanks…Unions= Worthless , Pathetic….and don’t even mention GOV. GUMBA UNIONS…
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:33pm.
Report Post »Boycott?
The hookers in Charlotte will be disappointed.
obfuscatenot
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:45pmMaybe they spent too much money in Wisconsin on the recalls and they can‘t participate cause they’d need another stimulus to do so?
Report Post »avenger
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:00pmbest news I have heard …
Report Post »DrFrost
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:52pmIt’s just rhetoric. They couldn’t care less about working people. They just want their gravy train to continue and they‘re angry that all the money they’ve poured into the democratic party hasn’t given them more control over Washington…. And if you don’t believe they contribute a lot of money…. go take a peak at opensecrets.org at the “Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2010″ list. It’s littered with unions donating almost exclusively to the democratic party.
Report Post »freekazoid
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:39pmUnions are dying.. Thank God!!!!! I hope within 10 years all Unions are gone. This country will be much better off. Wisconsin Proved that. And look at what happen at their fair. When this country finally comes to head like overseas. There is going to be a lot more bloodshed that what people think. In the U.S. unlike Britian, we carry guns and not afraid to shoot.
Report Post »snidley-whiplash
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:03pmTrumpka is a
Report Post »Lumpka in the
back of my pants.
Ookspay
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:58pmThere is absolutely NO chance that the unions will not try to steal this election. Along with their buddies at Acorn, planned parenthood, NOW, Code Pink, NAACP, CAIR and on and on and on…
Oh yes they will all be there in full force! We all had better join forces after the primaries and defeat these clowns or we will have four more years of B O.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:59pmThey ain’t giving up the booze, coke and strippers. Not a chance in H e l l. They’ll be there throwing the union dues money around like a willow tree losing its leaves in the fall.
Report Post »johnj1952
Posted on August 14, 2011 at 12:15pmDrop dead Trumpka, a thief and lier to the men and women that pay for so much and get so little. Your pockets are full of ilgotten gain from the sweat of union members. Commie/socialist that looks a lot like STALIN, and has the same agenda.
Report Post »Corco
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 5:48pmQuestion… Why don’t us normal non-union Americans that I guess don’t qualify as a working man or woman, as per the unions, that are tired of being used and abused by the “pack of commie slugs” of the Unions, as stated by Chazman ,boycott any company that has a union in the AFL-CIO and demand cities privatize any union city job? That would definitely stick it in their pipe when America is against the people that take tax payer money in bailouts while the rest of use lose our jobs, cause prices of goods to increase so the purchaser gets the shaft for their union BS, help provide more jobs in America by decreasing the operating costs of companies in America to give them incentive to stay in America and not go overseas and finally unions who also bankrupt American cities and cause many headaches for those that just are trying to get by, when they are trying to do a honest day’s work when they don’t collect trash or plow the streets during a major blizzard. Privatization is the way to go to save the taxpayer money and also for better service. History has proven this time and time again. Unions were created to provide safe working conditions back in the turn of the 20 century at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when there were not any gov’t labor laws in place. Union’s are a relic that have been turned onto a political tool. It is time that we start thinking like these radical left wing groups and use thier own “tug” tactics against themselves.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:39pmGood! We do not need a Broken leg epidemic in NC!
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:35pm.
Report Post »Who cares?
We all know they will pull the “D” lever when the time comes.
OccamsGun
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 11:23amNot quite true, SSquirrel. A surprising number of union members vote Republican. Their benefit to the Democratic party is the *money* that the union ‘organizations’ give to them. The Democratic party funnels billions of dollars to the Unions, suppoesdly to help “hard working Americans”, and the Unions then kick back some reasonable large percentage to the Democratic party in just the fashion they are refusing to do here. However, my guess is that this is symbolic (done as a show for their disgruntled union members) and they are still passing equivelant cash to the Democratic party in other ways.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:36pmDemocrats are not so dumb. They Know it’s cheaper to have their convention in a Non-Union State.
Report Post »They won’t have to pay all the different union fees just to have a Light bulb changed.
Vickie Dhaene
Posted on August 13, 2011 at 12:40pmAnd why should their job projects be any better than any other man or woman. Jobs are being created. Spread the wealth, remember?
Report Post »Pattondog
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:33pmin other news the convention was set up and taken down in record time and under budget.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:31pmWouldn’t it be nice if the members of the UNIONS pulled a strike against the UNIONS. Now that would be something. But they can’t afford to since they are just about as corrupt as Trumpka.
Report Post »MadeintheUSA2
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:15pmNot sure every union member is corrupt but it would be nice and quite refreshing if the membership as a whole woke up and started demanding the unions they pay dues to are held accountable. Why are unions not forced to shore up retirement benefits for members? Instead, they can spend millions upon BILLIONS on elections but screw over the workers when it comes to retirement? This makes no sense at all!
The idea of the union membership striking against the union is a beautiful thought though! When Wisconsin (where I live) decided it had had enough of the public unions raping the taxpayer–I seen things in a whole new light. The state senators that left the state because the “going got tough” was very enlightening. The union thuggery at the capital was a disgrace. The recall elections were a complete waste. We have had enough of the nonsense here and I am very hopeful that employment will become plentiful again in this state!
Did you know that the teachers union forced the school districts/state to buy the health insurance through the union? At around $30K per employee, somebody was making a killing, and it wasn’t the tax payer. Since Walker signed it into law, many districts are now in the black because they get to shop around for the best deal on the insurance for the public workers. Ain’t competition grand!
Report Post »Thankful to be an American
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:31pmThe union slave masters are upset, too bad. The ones that should be upset are the workers, it was their retirement money that has been use to buy off the elected officials.
It is time to END union control of everything, the left seems to like everything to be control by feds, so how about we have a federal “Right to Work” law. Now that would be one expansion of government I could get behind.
Unions are killing the America Dream and the American works have become slaves to the unions. They tell you when to work, when to strike, and who can and can’t work for, sounds like a slave to me.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 5:16pmWe’ll miss you………………NOT!
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 7:45pmPerhaps the Unions are racists who don’t want the poor whites to work? They want to go in and break down workers and make them pay union dues to go to a political party whether we like it or not. Unions want to take away states right to work laws so only their goons can work and the rest of have to babysit or do lawn work because other jobs are all union. I think what they’re doing is racist against us.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:29pmDoes it smell like 1967 to anyone else here?
Report Post »FEMALL
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:05pmYes. Too bad it won’t be in Chicago. Rahm really has earned it.
Report Post »John_The_Beloved
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:29pmThere really needs to be separation of union and state like they got separation of church and state. Unions have no business being in gov‘t just like churchs don’t need to be in gov’t, you can have labor just like you got monotheism in gov’t. But church and unions have no business being in gov‘t and besides you should never work to get rich in gov’t. You work in gov’t because it is civic duty.
Report Post »MAJORMINOR
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:39pmSeparation of Union and State!! Go for it! Start promoting the concept everywhere you go.
Report Post »fatsomann
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:25pmSome of us are frustrated with the union policies and tactics. Diverting resources? Only if they go into the pockets of the unions.
Report Post »GaryInTheMiddle
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:24pmObumble your rats are deserting your sinking ship.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:41pmHis Rats have come home to roost!Not God Bless Communism…God D@#$ Communism!
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:23pmScr*w the communist pigs. Abolish all unions!
Report Post »margaret1977
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:17pmReady to do so !!!! How ???
Report Post »NotFooled
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:23pmYes ! Please stay home. The Unions ruined my State of Nevada by voting Reid back into office. Then 1/3 of them lost their jobs to the economy, leaving use this limosine liberal. The Union Bosses don’t really care. It’s all a racket to them.
Report Post »NotFooled
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:25pm*with this
Report Post »NightWriter
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:09pmWe, in NE NV tried… to oust that fossil! Alas, we failed… sorry.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on August 14, 2011 at 10:03pmNevada did not fail to oust Reid. The unions were servicing the voting machines and rigged the votes. Reid lost the vote, but he won because of vote fraud by the unions. Screw em.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:23pm“We find it troubling that the party so closely associated with basic human rights would choose a state with the lowest unionization rate in the country due to regressive policies aimed at diluting the power of workers”
oh there just aren’t words for this
Report Post »ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:23pmGive us free healthcare and retirement, wahhhhh
Report Post »dcwu
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:22pmWhy just boycott when you can have a communist party meeting of your own?
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:21pmthat’s funny as sheet!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:21pmOh they will boycot teh very democratic convention where they help strong arm events along their path and ideological inconsistency and indigestion inducing incendiary illustrious illustrations of how and what not to do in the future?
These idiots fail to get it, they have only one candidate in the field right now unless Soros decided to have him rejected and insert either Hillary or Gore.
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:37pmI’ve enjoyed reading your post…at least three times…your descriptive comment is just perfect!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:18pmThey will still vote, where else are they going to turn to?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:34pmThey will vote simply because it will be against a Republican. I am hoping this trend continues with other groups. If conservatives continue to come together, 2012 will be a route.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:47pm@Anonymous
Report Post »Agreed, we need to continue to stick together. In my circle of friends, I am on record that 2012 is going to be the “shellacking” of a lifetime. Conservatives take it all in a landslide, if we keep a cohesive message and stick together.
evilhatemonger
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:17pmIt’s also entirely possible they could just say “screw it” & stay home.
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:18pmThat is hilarious!! If bho isn’t careful, they may even riot. THAT would be social justice, right?
Report Post »Large Eagle
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:17pmUnion leaders are lazy fat big mouth wanna be business owners – kind of like our government
Getting a lesson in the free market
Lov’n it
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:16pmIf a tree falls in the woods, but no one is there to hear it, does it still make a noise?
Report Post »If the Democrats hold a convention, but no one buys a ticket, is it still a huge waste of money?
Living In NYC
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:15pmHey guys why not just boycott the world for a couple of centuries!
THANKS!
Report Post »CS_GUY
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:15pmSorry Trumka…………no power in that city………..
Hey Rick, do you even know what affront means?
Yea, that’s right, mention Hoffa and his threats…….now where is he?
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:12pmNow THAT is funny!! LOSERS! Hehehehehe!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:19pmHopefully this is a sign of things to come!…unions have brought DOWN the work ethics of the American workers…hands down!
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:29pm@godlovinmom…. I couldn’t have said it any better!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:55pmI know right!…my husband has always worked industrial construction, for the last five years he has worked at a “union run” wood mill…can not believe the cry babies the workers are, and lazy beyond belief. Who in their right mind thinks that they can go to their job for eight hours and sit there and then complain if they have to get up and do something…ummm what?
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 4:12pmTrumpka is not boycotting the Pres……..
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 5:26pmTrumpka AKA, Jimmy Hoffa very well may boycott Obama, he isn’t giving them what they want. To screw the American tax payers.
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoStinkingBadges
Posted on August 12, 2011 at 6:16pmOh, they just want to riot for the TV cameras … again. Commies like destroying things (like America, freedom, liberty). Democrat voters wake up!
Report Post »