James Hoffa's Hot Air: Sandy Pope, candidate for Teamsters President Speaks Out

[Better Believe It]

At a Detroit Labor Day rally, Teamsters President James Hoffa created a firestorm, fanned by FOX News. Labor Notes asked Sandy Pope, Hoffa’s chief opponent in the election for Teamsters Union president, what all the noise was about. BBI

Hoffa's Hot Air
Interview with Sandy Pope
September 7, 2011

What was your reaction?

He’s full of hot air. People don't know that he’s in the middle of an election campaign—he was talking to his troops. He was in Detroit, his home base; there were a lot of Teamsters in the audience. All the people making a fuss don’t realize this was big talk designed for his own election and not anything real.

Suddenly he’s talking tough, when he’s been totally missing in action when it comes to fighting back against concessions at the companies we represent like UPS or Waste Management. Now he’s talking about jobs, when he’s allowing all these companies to get away with hiring part-time workers, temp workers, contracting out our work.

What reaction have you heard from other Teamsters?

My Facebook page has exploded with comments. People are enraged because he’s shown no backbone in fighting the companies, and now he’s talking tough. And even politically, all he does is write big checks and these politicians abandon us anyway. There’s no organization nationally to hold these politicians accountable.

Their whole insider, Beltway lobbying strategy is predominant. There is no strategy to mobilize the members, no grassroots strategy. And it’s just totally failed.

http://labornotes.org/2011/09/hoffas-hot-air



Sandy Pope with campaign supporters


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NEWS RELEASE

Sandy Pope Statement on Hoffa's Labor Day Comments

Hoffa’s landed in the headlines with his Labor Day comments about “taking out” anti-labor politicians. My problem isn't with what Hoffa said. My problem with Hoffa is that he’s all talk and no action.

Of course, we need to take corporate politicians out of office. That’s the labor movement’s job! But we won’t succeed by following Hoffa’s failed strategy of inside-the-beltway lobbying and writing blank checks to politicians who forget about us as soon as the votes are counted.

Obviously, no one is talking about committing violence against politicians, let alone Tea Party members, some of whom are Teamster members. That’s just media hype and a distraction from the real issues.

Hoffa’s empty Tea Party talk is similar to his empty talk about corporations. He huffs and he puffs and then he surrenders.

Teamsters want less talk and more action. Hoffa could learn a thing or to from how the Tea Party became such a powerful political force. They’re organizing the grassroots. They're mobilizing, and drawing a line on issues and telling politicians: “Do Not Cross.”

The Teamsters Union needs to do the same thing on issues that matter to working Teamsters: jobs, pension security, the right to organize and more. As General President, I’ll stop writing blank checks to politicians and I’ll use our political action funds to mobilize Teamster members and the public.

Corporate America is waging a war on working people. It’s time to fight back. The Teamsters can lead the charge. But we need a General President who will be a field general—not empty-talker-in-chief.

Corporations and corporate politicians don’t care what you say. They care if you can back up your words with action.

http://sandypope2011.org/node/5991

Sandy Pope. A Tough Leader for Tough Times Youtube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYc3ZG1z60&feature=player_embedded#!

[mfcorey1]

1. GTH, Sandy and take your supporters with you. Let us enjoy the high Hoffa has given us.

I don't hear anything inspirational from you except criticism. As the evangelicals would say, "But he is on time." At this time we needed a fighting voice and we found one. We will continue to enjoy the ride. I sure you will now dominate the cable shows with this bs.

[Better Believe It]

3. In Labor Movement, A Rising Female Leader: Sandy Pope

In Labor Movement, A Rising Female Leader
NPR Staff
September 5, 2011

JACKI LYDEN, host: This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Jacki Lyden. Michel Martin is away. Happy Labor Day. Coming up we'll talk about how we're all working so much that there's too little downtime to enjoy a family outing or even a good book. With all of the ways technology allows people to reach us, work life balance is more and more an imbalance. That's in a few minutes but first it is Labor Day.

A day in which we take a moment to think about the millions of Americans in the labor force. Only about 12 percent belong to a union today versus 20 percent a generation ago in 1983. And amid all of the economic uncertainty unions have agreed to contracts loaded with concessions just to keep those they represent employed. This is a criticism (unintelligible) that The International Brotherhood of Teamsters better known as the Teamsters Union and one member is so fed up that she's vying to lead the group.

Joining us now is Sandy Pope, the first woman to run for the presidency of the teamsters. The election is in October. Welcome to the program.

Read the interview at:

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/05/140140278/in-labor-movement-a-rising-female-leader

[mfcorey1]

5. NPR is a better reason to ignore it.

[Better Believe It]

7. And you also think the Nation article is a good reason to ignore "it"?

[postulater]

2. Which one in the photo is Sandy?

[Better Believe It]

4. You don't like women running for union office?

[ingac70]

13. Not women who bankrupt their Local. n/t

[Better Believe It]

21. Why are you spreading that discredited smear against Sandy Pope?

You got that straight from the swiftboat like character assassination campaign directed and paid for by Teamster Union operatives working on behalf of Hoffa's campaign. The Local isn't "bankrupt" and hasn't filed for bankruptcy.

And these operatives refuse to identify themselves at their "truth about Sandy Pope" website! They prefer to remain anonymous so that they can't be investigated for illegal campaign operations and activity by the federal Election Officer supervising the election to guarantee fairness and legal financing.

Keep up the swift-boating and trash talk and I'll have to put you on ignore.

[ingac70]

34. Go ahead and put me on ignore. PLEASE.

[Better Believe It]

6. From the Nation: Can Sandy Pope Revive the Teamsters?

Can Sandy Pope Revive the Teamsters?
By Ari Paul
This article appeared in the May 23, 2011 edition of The Nation.

Read the article at:

http://www.thenation.com/article/160434/can-sandy-pope-revive-teamsters

Read the Nation and other articles in progressive publications. Decide for yourself. Don't depend upon what Hoffa's paid publicists have to say in their personal attacks against Sandy Pope. BBI

[mfcorey1]

8. Kudos to Hoffa for firing up the base. nt

[kctim]

9. Holy cow!

If she's the boss, I may have to rethink my unwillingness to work for a union.

[Snotcicles]

12. You don't work for a union, a union works for you. Just ask a real member. nt

[kctim]

14. Eh, whatever. Makes no difference

She can order me around all she wants.

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Well, I'll join the chorus and congratulate Hoffa

for firing up the base, BUT... he is a part of the labor aristocracy and the only time they get militant is when the rank-and-file FORCE them into militancy. Maybe Sandy is part of that forceful rank-and-file?

Either way though, it's and instructive lesson on how to gain traction in moving the conversation leftward (Are you listening President Obama?). Somebody comes out with something that the left wing believes in STRONGLY and others fall all over themselves trying to be MORE left than the original premise. All of a sudden, we've got people staking out positions on the LEFT side of the political spectrum and the talk is all about left solutions instead of Tbagger ones.

[fivepennies]

11. Where teamsters talk online -

http://www.teamster.net/topic/55536-the-truth-about-sandy-pope/

[dionysus]

16. epic thread.

:rofl:

[Better Believe It]

20. That's mainly a Hoffa controlled website: Check out this real Teamsters discussion board at:

http://teamstersonline.com/forums/



The other "Teamster.net" board is mainly a trash talk board loaded with personal attacks against anyone who disagrees with Hoffa's policies. Only a small number of people post on it. It's pretty much useless for any progressive who wants to find out what's happening in the Teamsters Union.

The Teamsters Online board doesn't permit personal attacks and encourages democratic debate and discussion among all union supporters.

[snooper2]

15. Wow, she's got one tough looking crew there...

:rofl:

[sufrommich]

18. They look right out of central casting. nt

[Bandit]

17. I would not trust Hoffa as far as I could throw him.

In 2004 he instructed the teamsters to support Bush*/Cheney. In 2000 the Teamsters bult a new Union Hall in Houston Texas with scab labor and Hoffa never uttered a sound...Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. I hope this gal wipes the floor with him...America has been on this downhill slide for more than a decade now and we are just now hearing something from the Teamsters??????

[snooper2]

19. Yo BBI, you ever going to release that new record?

[Motown_Johnny]

22. ROFL, as if she isn't the one blowing hot air to benefit her campaign

Come on, she has as much chance of beating Hoffa as Nader does of beating Obama.



Perspective people, perspective!

[Better Believe It]

24. So you're comparing Hoffa to Obama and Sandy Pope to Ralph Nader!

Well, let's all get on the Hoffa election bandwagon!

I take it you don't agree with the progressive websites, "professional leftists" radicals, union militants, rebels, dissidents and Teamster progressives/liberals who are backing Sandy Pope's election campaign and want a more democratic and stronger labor movement.

What campaign statements and positions of Sandy Pope do you disagree with and why?

Name some obvious progressive websites that are backing Hoffa and opposing Sandy Pope.

I'm listening.

[Motown_Johnny]

31. I was comparing the situation, not the people themselves

but I could just as easily find what you consider progressive/liberal websites that will back Nader over Obama


I'm not going to get into a tit for tat with you over this, if she even comes close to winning I will apologize for my post. Until then I think we should just let this go.

[blindpig]

23. k&r

You go Sandy!!

[TeamsterDem]

25. Thanks but no thanks, Sandy. And take the TDU with you when you lose. nt

[Better Believe It]

26. So you hate democratic union reform groups that progressives support.

Are you by any chance a full-timer in Hoffa's Teamster union official gravy train?

[TeamsterDem]

27. lol nice try. But not all progressives support the TDU. And if TDU is so democratic

mind sharing with me how "democratic" it is that they can expel you from TDU for not toeing their line?

But I'm particularly fond of your silly effort to paint me as not progressive simply because I don't support the TDU. They ain't all that progressive, and while their rhetoric is great, their actions leave us all a burger short of a combo meal.

[Better Believe It]

28. Why would you or anyone who disagrees with TDU want to join their organization?

Every union caucus has the democratic right to decide who may join their group and they would be irresponsible if they permitted individuals who disagree with their objectives and want to sabotage their organization to join iy. What's wrong with that? It's a private organization.

In fact, it's a lot like DU and other internet discussion forums. DU also has a right to set conditions on people who wish to participate in our forums and deliberations. People who are right-wingers opposed to our liberal/progressive agenda are removed and banned from DU. Do you also oppose that policy?

Once again, can you name any progressive/liberals websites that support James P Hoffa and oppose Sandy Pope in the Teamster election.

I'm still waiting for an answer to that simple question.

[TeamsterDem]

29. You've contradicted yourself in every response

Democratic doesn't equal tossing people for having contrary beliefs, much as you strain to make that connection. Even the DNC didn't toss LIEberman for acting like a Republican. THAT, friend, is a Democratic organization. And I think what you're forgetting is that someone might join TDU but later have a contradictory opinion; it doesn't only affect those attempting to join.

Regarding website rules, I don't see the connection between those and movements unless it's the site of the movement in question - tdu.org for example. But if one were thrown off of DU that doesn't mean they're no longer progressive whereas getting booted from TDU does mean you're no longer TDU. You might still consider yourself progressive but you couldn't then claim to be TDU.

I am as progressive as they come and I support Hoffa given my alternatives. Many of my fellow Teamsters are progressive as well and they support him too. You aren't the arbiter of who is and isn't progressive, sir. That I'm not aligned with TDU isn't the sole consideration in that respect, much as you might think it is. Perhaps you require titles to discern who is who, but most real Teamsters make decisions without that petty requirement. As to notable supporters of him, I don't require a popularity of an idea to validate its worth. Sad that you do.

[Better Believe It]

30. Every voluntary organization has a right to determine its membership rules and rights.

Period.

Some political organizations, such as the Democratic and Republican parties, are not membership organizations and they have no monthly dues, no membership obligations and requirements, no membership meetings and no one can be removed from membership for violating their principals, discipline or ideas because the Democratic Party/Republican parties don't have those requirements.

The only requirement for "membership" is that one declare him or herself a Democrat or Republican. That's it!

So your analogy with actual membership organizations such as TDU that require agreement with their principals and organizational loyalty to become and remain a member is not a valid one.

Do you not yet understand the difference?

Do you think that a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan should be welcomed into a private organization like the the NAACP?

And if the NAACP expels the racist KKK'er from membership, would you also denounce the NAACP as being "undemocratic"?

And what if a one time progressive member of the NAACP somehow turns into a right-wing KKK nutcase, do you really believe he or she should be allowed to participate in the NAACP for the purpose of disruption or even worse?

That's just plain nuts!

Private organizations have the legal, moral, democratic and constitutional right to determine who may or may not be members of their groups so long as they are not violating laws prohibiting discrimination.

Anything else violates the democratic rights of the membership in those organizations.

The Democratic Party leadership has a right to do what ever they want to do regarding Leiberman and they can tell you to go pound sand if they want since your opinion is of no relevance to them. That doesn't necessarily make them "democratic" since anyone, even die hard racists, can call themselves "Democrats".

[TeamsterDem]

32. You keep talking but not saying anything new or valid

If your organization defines the thought processes of its members to the point where any dissent isn't permissible, yours isn't Democratic. Take the IBT itself: Unless I scabbed a line, affiliated with the mafia/folks on the expulsion list, or committed some sort of union-related crime I couldn't be dismissed from membership. You can even walk into a non-TDU local's meeting and promote the TDU. That, sir, is democratic.

And your analogy of KKK racists seeking entry into the NAACP is hardly appropriate when discussing rank-and-file Teamsters and their decision to join or abstain from the TDU. Rank and file Teamsters are hardly as offensive to every normal person's senses as the KKK racist would be; it's an unfair analogy not terribly in line with the Teamsters - speaking of nuts. But the key point here is that not everyone who doesn't carry a KKK card is automatically not a racist, and not everyone who isn't a member of the NAACP is a racist. The point is that you need not be TDU to be progressive - a point I know is difficult for you TDU cultists. But that it's difficult doesn't mean it isn't true.

What TDU did back in the day was great. We are now a democratic union largely thanks to them. But like some "reform" groups they achieve the reforms and then face the reality of no longer being relevant, so they either dissolve or become an anti-"establishment" group without any tangible (real) aims other than politics. Such is the case for TDU.

[Better Believe It]

35. TDU is a private organization, it is not a labor union. The IBT is a labor union.

They operate under totally different rules, regulations and laws.

And you don't understand the difference!!!!

I take it you've never been a union member, much less a member of the trade union political caucus.

I'm hardly a "TDU cultist" nor do I follow the personality cult of James P. Hoffa nor any other overpaid blowhard who pretends to be a union leader.

But, I am a member of a labor union which is probably more than you can say!

[TeamsterDem]

36. LOL how pathetic

Because my views are different than yours I "probably" am something? Good one. I'll say you're "probably" quite simple, but I don't do that because I'm taking guesses. I say it because you've demonstrated it.

What's humorous here is that you don't realize how humorous you are. So TDU doesn't have all of the "rules, regulations, and laws" which the IBT has governing it, but they VOLUNTARILY choose to censor members' beliefs - to be less democratic. That the point you're driving at? That they're more democratic because they're less-so? Kinda like fucking for virginity, ain't it? Or is it that they're not quite as democratic, but only because the government hasn't yet FORCED them to be so? Wow, stand-up comedy: I introduce you to an up-and-coming star.

Equally as interesting is that in your less-than-impressive attempt to paint me as, well, I don't really know what, I've gone from a paid Hoffa "gravy train" Teamster to now never having been in a union, let alone the Teamsters. My advice would be to pick a tack and stick with it, much as you've stuck with a regrettably false tack of suggesting Sandy Pope and the TDU are "progressives" and, better yet, if you're not one of them you're not progressive. But at least that's consistency. Consistently wrong, but at least you're not all over the map on that one.

[Dreamer Tatum]

33. Maybe she could take a more stereotypical picture.

Those don't look like union thugs AT ALL...