Posted on 04/21/2011 1:15:43 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
New Labor plan: Nationwide protests By: Ben Smith April 21, 2011 02:31 PM EDT
In a major strategic shift, the Service Employees International Union plans to use its giant political operation to try to build a grass-roots movement of public protest and organization similar to the massive show of pro-labor support that overran Madison, Wis., last month.
The SEIUs ambitious effort is a dramatic departure from its straightforward approach to the 2008 campaign. That year, the union pressed a single-minded and ultimately successful focus on getting Democrats to commit to a health care overhaul. Then it spent more than $32.5 million in independent expenditures to elect President Barack Obama.
SEIU President Mary Kay Henry acknowledged in an interview that the new strategy, which would include aggressive outreach to non-union members, is a risk.
We felt like we were called in this moment to roll the dice and to think about how to use our members resources for the greatest hope for changing members lives, she said. I hope what people will see is more of what we all witnessed in Madison. ... more people in the streets making demands about what kind of America we want to see.
The new plan, revealed in a planning document reviewed by POLITICO and in the subsequent interview with Henry, reflects the widening recognition by labor leaders that the shrinking national ranks of union members no longer carry the political heft they once did. The draft plan, titled Fight for a Fair Economy in what Henry said was a preliminary planning document, would reach outside union ranks to focus on mobilizing underpaid, underemployed and unemployed workers and channeling anger about jobs into action for positive change.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Do they really think Americans like that stuff?
Two questions for Ben Smith:
1) Do you know who at the SEIU wrote this?
and
2) Did you need to edit it at all?
Looks like at least one Michigan teacher has the stones to stand and speak against the union and their illegal plan to strike.
http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/14955
Actually, this is exactly how the Nazis cowed the electorate.
No thanks folks. I can take the trash out all by myself.
Fortunately our nazis aren’t bright enough to realize that America isn’t Europe.
They will fail, just like they did in Wisconsin.
You just can’t bus around enough paid thugs to create the impression of a Nationwide movement, which this is an attempt to do..
Who the hell are they trying to kid with this "grass-roots" crap. The SEIU is all about astro turfing, busing outsiders in with their professionally printed signs, there's nothing "grass-roots" about them!
>>>would reach outside union ranks to focus on mobilizing underpaid, underemployed and unemployed workers and channeling anger about jobs into action for positive change.<<<
Mobilizing people who aren’t working is a union activity? God help us.
As soon as I can wake her up, I am sure she will be out in the street rallying the masses.
These people are a sad spectacle, mostly urban, mostly clever losers... living off of a share of whatever they are granted from my wife's pay.
Bring on the gangbusters!
I really think that November 2012 is going to be a surprise for the progressives. I think they think the TEA movement is a flash in the pan, that most of us don’t have enough attention span to stay the course and that no one on the right will emerge with any credentials (ok, they might be right on that last one).
I think not, though. I think the right is going quiet, mostly from being exhausted from having to make the same basic points over and over again and seeing no comprehension on the other side. So, rather than give them the satisfaction of going postal about being ignored, the right will just play possum. No great big displays, no monumental demonstrations, just quiet rage boiling in silence while we hold our cards.
Then, on election day, the cards are shown and the opposition has to cope with having at most Obama still in office or having any power. Then the recovery begins.
Time to start saving my dogs yard droppings for the drive-bys...
. Come ahead. I'd dearly love to introduce you to my(soon to be)two black dogs, the soon to be smaller of whom is 85 lb.
Then the sh## will really hit the fan-atic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.