Food at union meetings: Perk, bribe or legit accommodation?

sacbee.com ^ | March 28, 2011 | jon ortiz

[BenLurkin]

The single-sentence email from a frustrated state worker hit our inbox this morning:

"This is what SEIU does to attract attendees, and my fees go to this!"

It came with a scan of this flier promoting a series of 30-minute Local 1000 meetings at CDCR headquarters this Wednesday promising, "$5 Subway Cards will be given to all who attend." All employees represented by the union are welcomed and, presumably, will get a Subway card.

The flier reminded us of an SEIU protest at the Capitol a few years ago that offered free lunch to participants. At the time we thought it was a legitimate accommodation for state workers who were taking their lunch time to show up at a rally, sort of like when a reporter turns in a receipt for a business lunch with a source.

SEIU Local 1000 spokesman Jim Zamora said that the union often offers food at events where it's asking folks to sacrifice their break time to participate. It's also an effective recruiting tool, he said. Former SEIU president Andy Stern once said he joined the union because "they were serving pizza."

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2011/03/union-meeting-come-for-the-foo.html#ixzz1I05Oa0Ih

[GeronL]

We should donate food for Union meetings:

http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=14337711

[cripplecreek]

Isn’t Subway an evil corporate overlord that uses non union slaves?

[max americana]

>It’s also an effective recruiting tool, he said. Former SEIU president Andy Stern once said he joined the union because “they were serving pizza.” <

*

Nuff’ said about these bastard Rats’.

[Bernard Marx]

"TANSTAAFL -- There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch."

Robert A. Heinlein

[MEGoody]

If they didn’t give away free food, they wouldn’t come to the meetings.

[Grams A]

We used to go to Subway all the time but ALL their employees seem to be Mexicans now, and we have tried several in the area. So they are now off the list.

[Inspectorette]

Heh - what pikers! When I was an IAM-AW member back in the 90’s, they used to provide free booze at the local meetings too. It would sometimes get quite raucous.