Posted on 08/01/2018 11:42:20 AM PDT by mandaladon
Does this mean that the oligarchy of the labor “movement” actually LISTEN to the people who pay them grudging tribute?
I thought all the “progressive” demands came from some back smoke-filled room, and the word went down for all the proletariat to go out and enforce.
Labor unions as now constituted in most of the Western world have very little to do with protecting the best interests of the rank-and-file members. They are organized more like armies than like a truly democratic organization.
It’s kind of hard to lobby for an end to “free trade” and renegotiation of NAFTA for 25 years and then dump on the man who actually DELIVERED them.
Aside from teachers’ unions, it seems to me it is SOP for union “leaders” to pretend they might consider supporting a non-Democrat. They will will support whatever Dem is running despite what their rank-and-file want.
I worked with a guy who was very conservative until he became a steward for a skilled trades union. After that, he toed the party line and eventually became head of his local. Supporting democrats is a job requirement for a union official.
I doubt it.
No, but they control where the money and endorsements go, doesn’t matter what the rank and file have to say.. never has
Also, all legal winds are blowing in the direction of “you can’t force members who disagree with your politics to pay dues”.
The bottom line may be driving this.
So what if they endorse a Democrat, Trumka is only one vote.
“Trumka can hardly oppose him without annihilating his own base of support.”
I wish that were the case, but it’s not. Most union workers have political opinions, but what matters most is not what politician gets the union’s endorsement, but what each individual thinks the union will get them in increased pay and benefits.
:D
If they don't endorse President Trump, I think we can expect no endorsement at all.
I have three unions in our shop. Overwhelmingly they voted Trump (in Illinois of all places). Hard-hats all around work sites had Trump stickers on them.
Our union leaders got the damned message. During and after the primaries, union meetings which used to consist of 100 or more people dwindled down to a dozen.
Every union meeting was a lecture on how we “owe the dem party”. Our members were not having it.
Then, the calls began to grow WITHIN our ranks, of making Illinois a “right to work state”. Yes... WITHIN the union ranks members began to wake up, they wanted to oust the unions, many being sick of paying dues to get nothing in return.
This has scared the hell out of the union bosses.
Union leadership, that is, maybe not the rank-and-file
“So what if they endorse a Democrat, Trumka is only one vote.”
Most union members end up voting the way the union bosses want them to either because they have drank the union kool aid or because of the intimidation factor.
One election I remember I was making a delivery, either Michigan or Illinois, the union reps were walking around handing out “pledge” cards for the members to sign. They were making the members pledge to vote a straight Dem ticket.
My wife worked in a union shop.
Every election the union would hand out sample ballots with the democrat box checked with a green check. The Republican was marked with a red X.
When they came to my wife she looked at it, tore it up and threw it in the trash. She pointedly told them they had no business telling her how to vote and not to bother her again.
My darling could be a real spitfire.
Wage inequity is due to union thugs and demagogues like Trumka. He has no intention of supporting any Republican candidate at any time, he's just trying to kiss some ass so he doesn't have to call in his mob bosses to hold on to his job. Thanks mandaladon.
During the 2004 campaign, Kerry was doctrinaire Demwit, but let the thug Jimmy Hoffa give him cover by lying about what Kerry 'really' wanted. Trumka also came out in favor of ANWR drilling. All of them worked nonstop to prevent pipelines, because the union rank and file don't run either of those unions.
Meanwhile, McCain (along with some other RINOs) stabbed all of us in the back (in part, to stab GWB in the back) by voting to prevent ANWR drilling.
Democrats will have Trumka murdered before they would let him back Trump... He needs to lay low and have faith that his union members will vote to support Trump and his choices.
That’s enough. Then stay out of it... They really will kill him.
Trump gained among union members, Trumka felt, "because people were mad. They were looking for someone who was going to change the economy. They felt there were assaults on their health care..."
You are correct, of course.
Trumpka's primary responsibility -- a responsibility far above all others -- is not the union workers, it's the preservation of the union.
I don’t trust this guy, in fact I revile him, I always have. He reminds me of Joseph Stalin and an old boss that looked like Stalin, that was not good either. He is apparatchik and co-enabler of the swamp w/ the COC and it’s big kahuna. Show me in 2 yrs, and then I’ll believe it.
Which is why they are banking on dead people and illegals to form their base - along with ANTIFA sycophants.
Well if SC right to work decision extends to the private sector the unions are in HUGE trouble so they better get a clue. The Rats have become the enemy of hard working middle class Americans
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