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Union boss goes off at meeting, prison guards say
The Washington Times ^ | Sunday, March 20, 2011 | Joseph Weber and David Hill

Posted on 03/21/2011 3:42:00 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Prison guards at a Western Maryland correctional facility say a union boss berated and tried to intimidate them after they raised questions at a pre-shift meeting about how their fees are spent and the benefits of belonging to a union.

The guards said the March 11 meeting at the Maryland Correctional Training Center started amicably enough when Steve Berger, their American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union representative, tried to rally opposition to proposed changes in the employee retirement plan.

The meeting took an unexpected twist, they say, when Mr. Berger opened the floor to questions. When asked about the benefit of belonging to a union, why non-union members must pay a fee to AFSCME and whether the fees go into the same pot that helped the union give millions to Democratic candidates and causes in the 2010 elections, the representative launched into a threatening and profanity-laced tirade.

Sgt. Brian Kelley said Mr. Berger pretended to ignore the first question, then shot back at one of the guards making inquiries, “Come on, be a man and say what you have to say.”

Sgt. Kelley and several other guards also said Mr. Berger, a retired guard generally liked by current guards at the facility, grew angrier with each new question, eventually challenging to a fist fight a 6-foot 2-inch tall guard who later posed a query.

“At first, I thought it was some kind of act or Charlie Sheen moment,” said another guard, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal. “We just looked at one another, bewildered. These were legitimate questions. We’re supposed to go to Mr. Berger if we have concerns — and he called me a Republican.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: christophershank; prison; prisonguards; union; uniondues; uniongoons; unionthugs; westernmaryland
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1 posted on 03/21/2011 3:42:04 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Abundy; Albion Wilde; AlwaysFree; AnnaSASsyFR; bayliving; BFM; cindy-true-supporter; ...

Maryland “Freak State” PING!


2 posted on 03/21/2011 3:43:37 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (up)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I loved the part where the union boss called the man a “Republican” - and the guy seemed to be offended.

The gist is that they aren’t against the union, but their feelings were hurt by the guy yelling at them? Geez, these guys are prison guards, for heaven’s sake.


3 posted on 03/21/2011 3:48:45 AM PDT by chickadee
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Well well well. Let the curtain be pulled back for all the rank and file to see and a lot of this problem will be resolved. ping for later.


4 posted on 03/21/2011 3:50:15 AM PDT by SueRae (I can see November 2012 from my HOUSE!!!!!!!!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

When the unions treat their own like that, it’s no wonder that Tea Party members get death threats from them. These union thugs are true psychos.


5 posted on 03/21/2011 3:51:31 AM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
and he called me a Republican.

The guy doesn't get it. Democrats expect their rank-and-file to be mindless drones who do what they are told to do. If you show any signs of independent thought-- you must be one of those EVIL Republicans (never mind that Libertarians are even more uppity).

You can't make this crap up.

6 posted on 03/21/2011 3:51:58 AM PDT by Lysandru
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“weak unions” what garbage.

Public employee unions should be illegal.


7 posted on 03/21/2011 3:55:59 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: chickadee

I loved the part where the union boss called the man a “Republican” - and the guy seemed to be offended.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

“Why you are nothing but a re-re-re-REPUBLICAN!”
“MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

If you notice the breakdown for union donations they seem to always give the D’s say $500,000 and the R’s $10,000 so they can say no one really knows which party gets your money as both get ‘some’
DUH..................


8 posted on 03/21/2011 3:57:09 AM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98) "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits")
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

How many Republicans does the union represent? I’ll bet not many.

How many Republican social workers are there? Same answer.

How many of the criminals are Republican? Same answer.


9 posted on 03/21/2011 3:58:07 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Lysandru
Democrats expect their rank-and-file to be mindless drones who do what they are told to do.

It is telling how the left always rants about equality but their true selves show when they are critically questioned.

They are all little dictators who really want their cut and they want all others to shut up and be their good little serfs.

10 posted on 03/21/2011 3:59:13 AM PDT by OldMissileer (Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, PK. Winners of the Cold War)
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To: Lysandru
Democrats expect their rank-and-file to be mindless drones who do what they are told to do.

It is telling how the left always rants about equality but their true selves show when they are critically questioned.

They are all little dictators who really want their cut and they want all others to shut up and be their good little serfs.

11 posted on 03/21/2011 3:59:20 AM PDT by OldMissileer (Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, PK. Winners of the Cold War)
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To: yldstrk

Sheeeeple waking up?

Naaaah—never happen.


12 posted on 03/21/2011 4:00:30 AM PDT by Flintlock
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Mark for later read!


13 posted on 03/21/2011 4:00:33 AM PDT by Ladysmith ("There is no right that allows one person to place a burden on another." - Quinn)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

All the more reason that unions have been consuming their own for some time...

Time for folks to get out...Not that I really care...When the unions, as they consist and are comprised of now, fail...

Things will certainly start looking up...


14 posted on 03/21/2011 4:00:42 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I'm jus' sayin')
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Don’t you mean COMRADE BERGER???????????????????????????


15 posted on 03/21/2011 4:02:44 AM PDT by Doc Savage ("I've shot people I like a lot more,...for a lot less!" Raylan Givins)
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To: xrmusn

I was reading an article about the NEA the other day and its former leader bragging about their power. They have 3.2 million members, who pay somewhere around $1000 per year in dues. This is over $3 billion a year. Wow. You can buy a lot of Democrats with that kind of loot.


16 posted on 03/21/2011 4:07:37 AM PDT by chickadee
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To: SueRae

From the article :
state workers with no changes in their benefits to increase contributions to their pension programs from 5 percent to 7 percent — a plan AFSCME strongly opposes and has countered with a request to instead increase taxes.

the afscme will increase the membership in the Taxed Enough Already party.I would like to thank the union goon for his support in our efforts to spread the word.

Unions - Just TAX the people more! Just give us MORE, School yd bullies.
F. em


17 posted on 03/21/2011 4:08:24 AM PDT by reefdiver ("Let His day's be few And another takes His office")
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To: Lysandru
never mind that Libertarians are even more uppity

We are?
18 posted on 03/21/2011 4:08:27 AM PDT by arderkrag (Georgia is God's Country.----------In the same way Rush is balance, I am consensus.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

This guy is suffering from a case of political hysteria. Was he frothing at the mouth, most Democrats do this BTW.


19 posted on 03/21/2011 4:09:35 AM PDT by eaglestar
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Wait till he sees the razzing he’s gonna get at work.


20 posted on 03/21/2011 4:18:51 AM PDT by Celerity
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