Posted on 01/28/2006 7:04:10 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Have you heard the one about the preacher's son who was running for political office?
It gets better (and by "better," I don't mean "funny.")
The preacher's son, John Lujan, is an 18-year veteran of the San Antonio Fire Department. For each of those 18 years, he's voluntarily paid his dues to the union, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.
This is the same association that operates under the umbrella of the local AFL-CIO, which represents a variety of local unions.
It's also the same association that recently endorsed Lujan in his bid for state representative in House District 118.
So you can't exactly blame Lujan for thinking he might have a shot at the larger AFL-CIO endorsement. Can you?
You can, if you're the AFL-CIO.
Lujan never even got an invitation to the organization's candidate's forum two weeks ago. Thinking it was a mistake, Lujan showed up anyway and was given the cold shoulder.
He was not allowed to speak — even for a couple of minutes.
So what sin did this son and grandson of Baptist preachers commit? He filed in the wrong primary. He is a Republican.
"I was angry," Lujan said. "I told them, 'I'm ready for any bashing that you want to give me, but I've been a union member for 18 years and I should have the right to be heard.'"
Bob Salvatore, a local AFL-CIO official for four decades now, isn't about to apologize.
"We're not a public organization where we have to bring everybody in," he said.
He said the AFL-CIO's chief goal is to steer voters toward the March 7 Democratic primary to help former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez win back his Congressional District 28 seat.
"Why would we entertain a Republican?" Salvatore asked flatly.
Chris Steele, the president of the firefighter's union, said the situation concerns him at a time when unions nationwide are declining in numbers and influence, partly because they are viewed as a partisan arm of the Democratic Party.
"We're working toward change," Steele said. "It's a matter of getting some of the longtime, long-standing (AFL-CIO) board members to recognize the new paradigm.
"As long as we're held hostage to one party, we won't get the respect of everyone," he said.
Change will be slow, however.
Told that the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which split off from the AFL-CIO in an ugly divorce last year, is entertaining primary candidates from both parties, Salvatore deadpanned: "Good for them."
Lujan remains a long shot to emerge from the Republican primary. His better-known foes include George Antuna, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Steve Salyer, who ran for the post two years ago.
But Lujan can take solace in the fact that the AFL-CIO has been embarrassingly wrong before.
Three years ago, the AFL-CIO told a little-known City Council candidate named Richard Perez that they simply didn't have the time to interview every candidate on the city ballot.
The implication was that they were only focusing on viable candidates.
Perez is now serving his second term on the council and is considered the right-hand man of Mayor Phil Hardberger.
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Political Editor Jaime Castillo's column appears on Saturdays. E-mail him at jscastillo@express-news.net
Just a part of the damned Dem plantation!
In case you haven't seen this..............
When I read this line, I immediately thought of the BSA.
Unions ARE big business.
then he derserves a refund on 18 years of dues with interest.
Communists, Muslim fanatics and unions are all alike.
They are afraid of competition!
When the New York Times pleaded for a Democrat senator to start a filibuster on the Alito vote, John Kerry took the bait.
I think the NYT runs the left wing and the Dems, unions and other wackos dance the dance.
But liberal news organizations are losing money and downsizing every year.....I smell a little panic.
Americans are now smarter because of cable news and the internet.
Is this Union a part of the IAFF? The International Association of Firefighters? If so where is President Shitburger and his promises of equal treatment for Republicans.
Rat Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
This is very interesting.
Schaitberger to Kick Off IAFF Human Relations Conference
January 26, 2006 - IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger will welcome a record-breaking 250 IAFF members to the 2006 Ernest A. “Buddy” Mass Human Relations Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The conference officially kicks off January 26, 2006, with welcome address from President Schaitberger, followed by an opening reception. The Elected Human Relations Committee met January 24-25. Read more... http://www.iaff.org/
What was a needed thing at one point in time has become an albatross around the neck of free societies everywhere. No wonder they have to infect government schools to plant the communist union seed in the fertile minds of our kids. Then they continue in the universities to spew their communist puke. No wonder they have to bash McCarthy. He was right.
"We're not a public organization where we have to bring everybody in," Bob Salvatore said.
Just a part of the damned Dem plantation!
My Union "Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen" has removed itself from the membership roll of the AFL-CIO. As did many others. Wonder why? I vote Republican and I served as a local union officer for years. Over half of my fellow officers were Republican also. By the way we are a "Teamsters" affiliate. Flame away!!!
Hmm...now, correct me if I'm wrong, but did Bob Salvatore just admit to violating FEC rules, and possibly other rules along the lines of tge Beck decision?
Isn't a Union doing only One-Party advocacy a violation of CFR if it is near election time too?
Across the IAFF
....San Antonio, TX Local 624
What groups and unions you might join are your business and none of mine. Go for it, but remember if your group/union gets involved in the political spectrum, please expect me to point out things your group/union does that I think are wrong and injure the body politic. I'm not a union man, but I did have to join the teamsters so I could put myself through college with my job at that time. I saw then they were a waste of my money, and still feel that way. But that's my opinion, and if they help you in your job, then you have a different opinion. We can both still be conservative, and we are both still all-Americans. That's the beauty of this place, different, but still brothers.
Thanks that was refreshing. Haven't run into that attitude much here.
"Isn't a Union doing only One-Party advocacy a violation of CFR if it is near election time too?"
The FEC and Texas AG Greg Abbott need to take a good look at Bob Salvatore and the AFL-CIO. I doubt that Ronnie Earle will.
The afl-cio is more interested in electing dems than servingthe membership. That is why it lost about 1/3 of its' membersship when BRT, SEIU and another union withdrew to form a new organization
I don't know? I took note of the fact that my pay-check was larger when I took it home. Not because of the last great contract that we landed (sarc) but because of the tax cut that President Bush brought down. My Union works with the carriers for the betterment of both. If you take a look at the chart for bni (NYSE) you will see that it is a profitable arrangement for both of us. Might take a look at ksu and nsc as well.
I'm not saying all unions are bad and that they don't help members. Some unions are starting to realize they can't follow the liberal democratic agenda blindly and still represent a good portion of their membership. The membership in many union's are starting to force that change.
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