Joe Biden crosses a picket line to fundraise w/ healthcare exec?!?

[appal_jack]

With Protest Outside Big-Dollar Fundraiser, Healthcare Union Members Call on Biden to Back Their Fight Against Kaiser

byJake Johnson, staff writer

Source:https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/08/protest-outside-big-dollar-fundraiser-healthcare-union-members-call-biden-back-their

Note: Published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License, so reproduced in full from link above. Emphases added.

"Joe Biden's statements about mental health will ring hollow if he can't make them directly to giant HMOs like Kaiser."

Healthcare workers protest as former Vice President Joe Biden attends a fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of Kaiser Foundation board member Cynthia Telles.

Workers with a California healthcare union gathered Wednesday to voice their disapproval as 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden attended a big-dollar fundraiser at the Los Angeles home of a Kaiser Foundation board member.

As HuffPost reported, the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) "is locked in a bitter, yearslong fight with Kaiser over mental health staffing levels in the healthcare provider's California facilities."

Union representatives called on Biden—who is presenting himself on the campaign trail as a "union man"—to cancel the event, which was hosted by Kaiser Foundation board member Dr. Cynthia Telles. The Kaiser Foundation is a subsidiary of the healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente.

NUHW president Sal Rosselli said he never heard back from Biden's team.

"Kaiser, Kaiser, you can't hide, we can see your greedy side!" union members chanted outside of Telles's home.


According to an invitation seen by HuffPost, average contributions at the event ranged from $250 per person to $2,800—the maximum for individual donations in a presidential primary.

"The executive board members, the president of Kaiser Permanente—these executives are writing big checks to the vice president," Rosselli told ABC News ahead of Wednesday's event. "We'd ask him to use his influence with them to fix their mental healthcare system, to work with their clinicians to do it, to urge Cynthia Telles to meet with the psychologists—her fellow psychologists—to learn the inadequacies of the current system."

John Nelson, vice president of communications at Kaiser Permanente, attacked the union's demonstration in a statement shortly after the fundraiser began.

"This is a publicity stunt by union leadership disguised as a bargaining tactic aimed at disrupting a board member's event," Nelson said.

NUHW vice president Elizabeth White responded on Twitter, "This is no stunt!"


According to HuffPost, NUHW "has long alleged that Kaiser understaffs its mental health clinics, leading to long waits for vulnerable patients. The union has demanded that Kaiser hire more therapists and put pay and benefits on par with other employees in medical care."

On Twitter, NUHW said Biden's past "statements about mental health will ring hollow if he can't make them directly to giant HMOs like [Kaiser]."

This is unacceptable from any Democratic candidate.

-app

[stonecutter357]

1. I'll take Joe Biden over the rest anyday !

[LongtimeAZDem]

2. This has already been debunked as a smear, setup by a Sanders supporter:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=114022

[Hekate]

57. Jesus Christ on a trailer hitch

[Gothmog]

68. It is another attempt by someone to smear Joe Biden

[redstateblues]

3. Old news already debunked. Try something else

[area51]

4. Unfortunately it doesn't surprise me,

as Biden is against comprehensive Medicare for All.

[redstateblues]

7. Medicare for All is a General election loser

[Cha]

8. Well it was NOT a "picket line".. so

SURPRISE!

[appal_jack]

12. Other than a union picketing in front of the event, you mean? nt

[Cha]

20. No.. they were protesting.. It was a Protest.

They weren't on strike.. nobody stopped work.

They were Not even at their place of employment. Biden didn't cross a "picket line".

[appal_jack]

32. Solidarity ForNever?

According to the article, 4,000+M NUHW workers were striking as recently as December, and they still lack a contract.

If the union is smart enough to bring the protest to a Kaiser board member's home, then that's where the picket line is, afaic.

Why are you showing more solidarity with a private, for-profit corporate board member than with unionized health care workers?

No wonder private sector unionization is under 7%...
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/30/union-membership-2/

With friends like these, how can unions do anything but shrink?

-app

[Cha]

52. No "solidarity" with a publicity stunt.. and

those trying to smear Joe Biden.

[crazytown]

34. No Cha, they were not Sanders Protesters

It was an informal picket sanctioned and organised by a registered union

The Hill

Health care workers to picket outside Biden fundraiser

The president of a California union representing health care workers said members will picket outside Vice President Joe Biden's upcoming fundraiser in Los Angeles set to be held at the home of a director of the Kaiser Foundation.

HuffPost reported Tuesday that the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), an Oakland-based union representing more than 3,000 Kaiser Permanente employees in the state, will hold an informal picket outside Biden's Wednesday event.

The union has battled Kaiser for years over staffing levels in California clinics, according to HuffPost, and is reportedly pressuring Biden's campaign to side with union workers over his donors. The former vice president defended unions in recent days after criticism from President Trump over several unions' endorsement of Biden's campaign.

"He should take our side in this dispute," union president Sal Rosselli told HuffPost. "I think he should walk. He should cancel it."

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/442082-documents-provide-glimpse-into-buttigiegs-military-service

The National Union of Healthcare workers split form SEIU in 2009. It has 11,000 members.

[R B Garr]

67. This union has a history in California. They were Bernie

supporters. Sal Roselli has a history. He’s a Bernie supporter. No escaping what happened in years prior. Their credibility might be what the resistance to them is about.

[crazytown]

71. You may well be right.

I was addressing the question whether this was a official picket/protest sanctioned and organised by a registered union.

My sister has direct experience of Kaiser’s ‘mental health’ care in California. She has too dollar coverage. The under resourcing is woeful.

For what it’s worth, I believe retaining they ACA with a string strong Public Option is the way to go. If existing regulation of private insurers is falling short, tighten it. MFA advocates remind.me of search and destroy tacticians. We had to burn down the village in order to save it.

[Gothmog]

84. I am older but I did AMJURED (get the high grade) in Labor law

This was not a picket in the real world http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/picketing.html

Industrial action by unionized workers (called pickets) who either are on, or are trying to gather support for, a strike by assembling near the entrance to the employer's premises. Pickets try to persuade (1) coworkers to join them, (2) workers of other firms (such as delivery men) to refuse to enter the premises, and (3) customers to refrain from doing business with their employer. To be lawful, picketing is usually required to be approved in a union ballot.

Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/picketing.html

In the real world this is not a picket

[emmaverybo]

22. And how would that position make him anti-union? I am pro-union and not sold on Medicare

4all. I am on Medicare. Thank goodness that’s not the only insurance I have.
Not being for Medicare4all does not mean a) being against universal healthcare b) being against unions
As I understand it, there are several other options through which to offer affordable healthcare 4all.

[wasupaloopa]

54. It just means you don't let yourself be bullied by some here.

[hay rick]

5. Subject line is false.

Biden did not cross a picket line. This is a smear.

[appal_jack]

13. In what way is a union picketing not a picket line? nt

[emmaverybo]

23. More accurately a protest line. nt

[lapucelle]

47. The story you link to makes absolutely no mention of Biden crossing a picket line,

most likely because there was no picket line to cross.

picket line
noun
a boundary established by workers on strike, especially at the entrance to the place of work, which others are asked not to cross.

[ismnotwasm]

6. Jesus Fucking Christ.

[jberryhill]

9. Here, have a bucket

[ismnotwasm]

27. Stealing

[EveHammond13]

11. so there were people blocking the way with large signs - and he plowed through them?

[emmaverybo]

14. This smear has been tried. It is false. Obviously, if only out of pure self-interest

for his political fate, Biden would not cross a picket line. You should be decrying a staged effort to discredit Biden rather than chiming in on a debunked story.

[appal_jack]

17. Citing some actual evidence would be welcome.

Unions are free to take their struggle to company board members' houses, afaiac.

-app

[emmaverybo]

39. Here is a story, quite critical of Biden, but it must concede that

he did NOT cross a picket line. It was a protest.
The story being spread is a smear by a Sander’s supporter, Sal Rosselli who is quoted.
Yes, he gave a story to HuffPost before the protest, as part of the set up. HuffPost favors Sanders heavily.
So the problem is a mischaracterization of what Biden ignored, while the essential criticism is that he takes money from big donors.
The protesting workers are not out of work, by the way. Biden is not a scab.
A snob? You decide.

https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/dont-go-joe-biden-passes-union-protest-to-attend-big-money-fundraiser/

[Cha]

60. Yes they are.. but this was a Protest.. NOT

a "picket line".. Get to know the Difference.

[crazytown]

15. My sister had to deal with Kaisers 'mental health' care in CA.

Bad news.

[marybourg]

16. Picketing a workplace is legitimate and such picket lines

should not be crossed. Picketing a home smacks of a set-up intended to ensnare the candidate going to a planned fundraiser at the home. A home is not a legitimate target of picketing and it’s reasonable to disregard such picketing.

[appal_jack]

19. What a ridiculous notion.

What other rules do you intend to impose upon unions? And by what authority?

A legitimate target is where the union decides to picket. But your scab-logic would be embraced at many Republican sites, I am sure.

-app

[msongs]

25. so pickets are outside a person's house they are not allowed to enter? hmmm nt

[Cha]

36. An anti-Biden publicity stunt.. I'm glad he didn't stop

These stunts are Backfiring on BS..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=114114

[highplainsdem]

64. So am I.

[George II]

83. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even know it was going on.

[Cha]

65. No, it's Not "ridiculous" at all.. what is..

is trying to smear Joe Biden with "crossing a picket line" when there was no "picket line".

And please don't insult the poster by telling her that her "logic would be embraced by repub sites". That's just wrong.

[marybourg]

75. Thank you, Cha.

[MineralMan]

80. Scab-logic?

What's that about?

[George II]

82. How is that "scab-logic"? Once again, it's NOT a "picket line"....

https://www.google.com/search?q=picket+line&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS725US725&oq=picket+line&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i61j69i60l2.2143j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

pick·et line
/ˈpikit ˌlīn/
noun
a boundary established by workers on strike, especially at the entrance to the place of work, which others are asked not to cross.

No strike, not the place of work.

[Gothmog]

85. This was not a picket line

In the real world this is not considered to be a picket line https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/picket_line

A boundary established by workers on strike, especially at the entrance to the place of work, which others are asked not to cross.

‘they crossed the picket line’
‘hundreds came to support the strikers on the picket line’

[crazytown]

24. Not snare exactly. The protest/picket was announced daty in advance

(I have a personal connection to this - My sister can attest just how poor Kaisers ‘mental heslth’ Care is in CA, even with top dollar insurance)

Health care workers to picket outside Biden fundraiser

The president of a California union representing health care workers said members will picket outside Vice President Joe Biden's upcoming fundraiser in Los Angeles set to be held at the home of a director of the Kaiser Foundation.

HuffPost reported Tuesday that the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), an Oakland-based union representing more than 3,000 Kaiser Permanente employees in the state, will hold an informal picket outside Biden's Wednesday event.

The union has battled Kaiser for years over staffing levels in California clinics, according to HuffPost, and is reportedly pressuring Biden's campaign to side with union workers over his donors. The former vice president defended unions in recent days after criticism from President Trump over several unions' endorsement of Biden's campaign.

"He should take our side in this dispute," union president Sal Rosselli told HuffPost. "I think he should walk. He should cancel it."

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/442565-health-care-workers-to-picket-outside-biden-fundraiser

[Cha]

29. Thank You, marybourg..

Sanders supporters Protesting is Not a "picket line".

[left-of-center2012]

18. Fake news, already exposed

This was put up on DU and debunked.

By the way, Medias Bias/Fact Check says about the source of the story Common Dreams:

"These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation.
They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes),
publish misleading reports and omit reporting of information that may damage liberal causes
... may be untrustworthy."

Again, fake news

[appal_jack]

21. Liberalism!?!? Perish the thought!1!!!11!

I'm sorry, but I won't limit myself to corpo-approved union-hating links to post here at Democratic Underground.

-app

[left-of-center2012]

26. It's a far left site attacking Biden

[Cha]

61. Nobody "hates" unions" especially Not Joe Biden.

[betsuni]

62. "corpo-approved union-hating links"

[crazytown]

28. Here's an article days before the incident.

Health care workers to picket outside Biden fundraiser

The president of a California union representing health care workers said members will picket outside Vice President Joe Biden's upcoming fundraiser in Los Angeles set to be held at the home of a director of the Kaiser Foundation.

HuffPost reported Tuesday that the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), an Oakland-based union representing more than 3,000 Kaiser Permanente employees in the state, will hold an informal picket outside Biden's Wednesday event.

The union has battled Kaiser for years over staffing levels in California clinics, according to HuffPost, and is reportedly pressuring Biden's campaign to side with union workers over his donors. The former vice president defended unions in recent days after criticism from President Trump over several unions' endorsement of Biden's campaign.

"He should take our side in this dispute," union president Sal Rosselli told HuffPost. "I think he should walk. He should cancel it."

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/442565-health-care-workers-to-picket-outside-biden-fundraiser

[Cha]

30. Yep.. just trying to smear Joe Biden

and it's BACKFIRING!

[betsuni]

45. Recycling "Dems beholden to wealthy donors/corporations, hate unions, ignore working class" smear.

Glad to see how quickly and thoroughly it's backfiring.

[Cha]

48. Yes.. their Smears are BACKFIRING..

Rolling Stone: 3 Dems Who Top Most Disliked List

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=114114

[PoliticAverse]

31. Prior discussion on DU on the issue...

( And it was a protest line not a picket line really. The workers aren't on strike and and are still going to their jobs. )

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=114022

[appal_jack]

35. Thanks for the link.

I am on DU very frequently, but not constantly. I missed this one.

I still think that people denying that it was a picket line are off-base. In this day and age, actual strikes are very punishing to workers. I support union actions above and beyond strikes, and I think that every Democrat should.

Work-to-rule, workplace slowdowns, public protests, off-site picket lines: these are the least of what will be necessary to regain workplace protections and fair wages.

-app

[George II]

33. That wasn't a picket line, there is no strike, and it was only about a dozen people....

....knowing how these things work, no doubt Biden never even saw the "picket line". It WAS a stunt, and after the fact was blown way out of proportion.

BTW, the article states "average contributions at the event ranged from $250 per person to $2,800". How can that be? An average is ONE number, somewhere between $250 and $2800.

BTW2, the legal contribution limit is $2800, why are people complaining about people making legal contributions? EVERY candidate accepts them.

BTW3, this took place last Wednesday, why is this being brought up now, again?

[appal_jack]

38. LBN is further up the screen there, bud.

I just read about this event, and had not seen the discussion of it at DU. Did I post it in LBN? No.

I realize that it will take quite a few $250-$2800 checks to make a campaign run, but should a Democratic candidate solicit them at a private, for-profit health care corporate board member's house and refuse to even meet with the union asking for a contract from said corporation?

I am disappointed in old Joe here, and it's not like I was impressed with him prior.

-app

[Cha]

41. "...old Joe.." ageist much?

[appal_jack]

44. No, actually. You? nt

[Cha]

46. Then don't call him ".. old Joe".

[emmaverybo]

69. Won't put up with ageism no more, no more...call them out anytime they do it. Go Cha

Ageist crap should be no more welcome here than would sexism, racism, ethnophobia, homophobia...
Elders face enough discrimination, predatory behaviors, dismissal, and stereotyping in society at large.
We don’t need it here.
One can give a cogent mention of Biden’s age as it might affect job performance.
But the flippant, derogatory name-calling won’t be tolerated by at least two of us.

[Cha]

70. Thank You, emmaverybo.. he did it and

then denied it.. when it's written there for everyone to see.

[George II]

42. We don't even know that Biden knew about them demonstrating across the street, no doubt....

....if the Secret Service was involved (most likely they were, him being an ex-Vice President) they swept him in through a back door.

And EVERY candidate has accepted $2800 or $5600 (for a married couple) contributions, even Elizabeth Warren who has already reported more than 150 worth about $500,000 total.

I don't fault any of them. In order to wage an effective campaign they HAVE to do so, every one.

[mcar]

78. This

Security may have required that he not enter through the front door.

[ismnotwasm]

50. So.

Is it your understanding, that “old Joe” crossed a picket line to talk with healthcare executives from an insurance company? Is that what you think happened?

[highplainsdem]

63. You call him "old Joe." Will you call your favorite "old Liz" when she turns 70 next month?

[emmaverybo]

72. Oh, that is sooooh good. nt

[jberryhill]

37. ECHO... Echo... echo...

I’ll drop a stone, and you count seconds until you hear it hit bottom, okay?

[NYMinute]

40. You got the message from Vermont late

This smear has already been posted and debunked completely.

[emmaverybo]

74. You have seen it, just won't admit seeing. People'sworld online, though critical of Biden, also

said in the first line of its article— Biden did not cross a picket line. I provided a link up thread. Use your common sense. If Biden had crossed an actual picket line, you’d have seen photos of him doing it across the nation and across the pond.
You have an entire thread-ful of details. But believe what you need to.

[lapucelle]

56. The Hill called the protest an "informal picket" in its story, with a link to HuffPo.

The HuffPo story says it was an "informational picket line", whatever that is.

picket line (noun)
a boundary established by workers on strike, especially at the entrance to the place of work, which others are asked not to cross.

There is no strike, and there was no picket line. It was a publicity stunt that failed.

I heard that there were 12 people at the protest. I wonder if they like donuts.

[Jake Stern]

43. If Trump and the Greedy Old Party stay in power

along with their judicial rubber stamps there might not even BE unions in a few years.

All it takes is a 5-4 decision to impose Right To Work nationwide. From there it's a simple matter of finding a pretext, no matter how flimsy, to shut them down either legislatively or through the courts. Picture William Barr wielding RICO to break the backs of organized labor.

At least with a Dem administration and a Dem AG, labor has a fighting chance. If we take just enough seats to control the Senate that puts judicial confirmations back in our hands which allows us to temper the fascist assault on our very democracy.

Unfortunately that takes money. Lots and lots of money. I want the Dem nominee to build the biggest war chest he or she can and if that means taking PAC money or playing nice with corporate America then so be it because my goal is to get Trump and the Greedy Old Party OUT. Then we can work on greater labor protections and better funding for things like mental health care or work on blunting Citizen's United.

[4now]

49. Yawn...Another desperate attempt to smear a good Democrat

[quickesst]

55. More wishful thinking....

The biggest problem as I see it is that Joe Biden's detractors are using the run of the mill wishful thinking. Everyone knows that in order to make any progress, one has to double down, pull up your bootstraps, and use that strain till your eyes squint, sweat popping out of the forehead, grunting like you have to take a shit that's been built up for 2 weeks kind of wishful thinking. Believe me, it's the only way.

[revmclaren]

58. This has already been debunked...

Now it's just bashing a Democratic figure.



ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[cilla4progress]

59. The level of confusion here

Among just one select group of users about just one issue is somewhat frightening!

[R B Garr]

66. Straight from the union, "we were there to protest, not picket"

Read the link in post 39. They wanted to stop the fundraiser. That is not union business. LOL, the desperation to force fake talking points is pretty silly and so unnecessary. Going to someone’s home is not anything informational. It’s a protest.

[Cha]

73. "we were there to protest, not picket" Thanks, RB!

https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/dont-go-joe-biden-passes-union-protest-to-attend-big-money-fundraiser/

For the next time someone tries to smear Joe Biden with "crossing a picket line".

[emulatorloo]

76. It's been debunked already. It isn't true. Please Delete your thread

Maybe write positive threads about Warren instead. Those would be interesting

[EveHammond13]

77. thank goodness for the handy and useful Full Ignore

[WeekiWater]

79. " exec?!?"

[Tipperary]

81. Old news.

Fail.