Free Republic

As the nation's union leaders gather today in Washington the labor movement is in turmoil, with the president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s largest union hinting that it might pull out of the labor federation and some labor leaders saying that John J. Sweeney may face a challenge for its presidency. In a sign of the jockeying and soul-searching, Andrew L. Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s largest union, called yesterday in a letter for far-reaching changes in labor designed to increase its membership, proposing a $25-million-a-year campaign to unionize Wal-Mart and a near doubling in the amount...

To: Interested Parties From: Bush-Cheney '04 Communications Date: 10/11/04Re: Violence At Republican And Bush- Cheney '04 Campaign Headquarters Across The CountryBelow is the text of a letter sent by Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Governor Marc Racicot to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney via fax at 10:15 a.m. today. The letter asks Sweeney to put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation at Bush-Cheney '04 and Republican Party offices around the country. Bush-Cheney '04 has created a hotline for victims of voter intimidation to report what happened. The hotline, 1-888-303-7125, will begin operation...

To:        Interested Parties From:   Bush-Cheney '04 Communications Date:    10/11/04 Re:        Violence At Republican And Bush-               Cheney '04 Campaign Headquarters               Across The CountryBelow is the text of a letter sent by Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Governor Marc Racicot to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney via fax at 10:15 a.m. today.  The letter asks Sweeney to put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation at Bush-Cheney '04 and Republican Party offices around the country.Bush-Cheney '04 has created a hotline for victims of voter intimidation to report what happened.  The hotline, 1-888-303-7125, will...

It should be noted that Roy Neel-- Al Gore's consigliere-- was also suggested to Howard Dean [to run his campaign] by the AFSCME and SEIU unions who are demanding willing results from Dean...or else.While no one in the Dean camp called the conversations ultimatiums, sources inside the Dean campaign said that both AFSCME President Gerald MceNtee and SEIU President Andrew Stern made it clear to senior Dean advisors that the candidate must win in next weeks races or face the prospect that both unions will publicly announce that they are reconsidering their endorsements and support.It's embarassing for Dean, but it's...

<p>Politicians haven't missed a self-praising beat when it comes to the new corporate disclosure rules they passed post-Enron. We're about to find out if they care as deeply about union corruption and transparency.</p> <p>Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has proposed requiring unions with receipts of more than $200,000 a year to fill out expanded financial disclosure forms. This far from radical request would finally let the rank-and-file see how their mandatory dues are spent. But pro-labor House Members on both sides of the aisle are maneuvering to add a rider to a Labor spending bill today that would prohibit Ms. Chao from instituting this breath of fresh air.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON -- Not everyone has a nickname given to him by the president, and only one has been dubbed ''Congressman Kick-Ass.''</p> <p>Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, earned the moniker as a sharp-elbowed advocate for George W. Bush in the 2000 Florida recount fight, where his take-no-prisoners and lower-no-voice approach earned the notice of the president-to-be.</p>

DEMOCRATS: SECURING THEIR BOSSES, NOT OUR HOMELAND Democrats Choose John Sweeney Over A More Secure America ______________________________________________________ President Bush: "There are senators who are more worried about the special interests in Washington than they are about protecting the people." (Adriel Bettelheim, "Congress Changing Tone Of Homeland Security Debate," CQ Weekly, August 31, 2002) "Senate Democrats will seek a high-profile vote during floor debate on the [Homeland Security] bill to affirm their stance to labor supporters in advance of the mid-term elections." (Adriel Bettelheim, "Work Rules Throw Wrench In Homeland Security Bill," CQ Weekly, August 3, 2002) ______________________________________________________ PRESIDENT BUSH UNDERSTANDS...

<p>"AFL-CIO chief John Sweeney is having a high old time with business scandals, condemning 'corporate greed' and capitalist 'thieves.' Yet his acute moral antennae have somehow missed the shenanigans at Union Labor Life Insurance Co., or Ullico, a labor-owned insurance company that looks like Big Labor's Enron," the Wall Street Journal says.</p>

<p>How some union insiders made a dubious killing in the telecom bubble.</p> <p>AFL-CIO chief John Sweeney is having a high old time with business scandals, condemning "corporate greed" and capitalist "thieves." Yet his acute moral antennae have somehow missed the shenanigans at Union Labor Life Insurance Co., or Ullico, a labor-owned insurance company that looks like Big Labor's Enron.</p>

Former Enron, WorldCom and Arthur Andersen Workers and Thousands of Working Men and Women Call on Business Leaders for Accountability NEW YORK, July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- "American consumers can shop with more assurance of quality and safety at their corner grocery store than American investors have when they shop for equities in our stock market," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said in a sweeping address today as he called for business leaders and government to curb "crippling greed" with a five-point action plan. Outside the New York Stock Exchange and surrounded by more than a thousand workers, including laid-off Enron Corp.,...