FDL: DNC’s Union-Free 2012 Convention

[Omaha Steve]

http://workinprogress.firedoglake.com/2011/02/01/dncs-union-free-2012-convention/

By: Michael Whitney Tuesday February 1, 2011 1:07 pm

This morning the Democratic National Committee announced that its 2012 convention will be held in Charlotte, NC. Charlotte was selected over St. Louis, Minnesota, and Cleveland; it can be assumed that the city was chosen for its location in the new swing-state of North Carolina, which Obama won in 2008 and that the GOP must win if it has hopes of recapturing the White House.

North Carolina has another distinction: it’s the least union state in the country, with just 3.2% of its workers belonging to a union (coming behind even Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi). And the DNC’s host city of Charlotte has exactly 0 (zero) union hotels in which the 15,000+ visitors will stay for the convention. Finally, the host venue in Charlotte, the Time Warner Cable Arena, does not appear to have any union workers. (I called the arena; the operator laughed at the notion that employees would be union members, and a press contact hasn’t replied yet.)

Union leaders had previously asked the DNC to not choose Charlotte or Cleveland for their lack of union hotels. The DNC had said at the time that union representation was one of “a number of factors” the DNC considered in site selection.

“Among the DNC’s four finalist cities, only St. Louis and Minneapolis” have the capacity to “house a large portion of the delegates and other guests … in unionized hotels,” John Wilhelm, president of the international UNITE HERE union of hotel and textile workers, wrote in a letter to DNC Chairman Tim Kaine.

“Therefore, one of those two cities should be the DNC’s choice for 2012. Unfortunately, Charlotte and Cleveland do not fit the bill, and they should be removed from the list.”

FULL story at link.

[Brickbat]

1. Shameful. I would be just fine if labor sat out an election.

We keep working for people who do little more than say "well, at least we aren't Republicans!"

[chimpymustgo]

3. I'm sick of answering: "Well do you want Sarah Palin???" We are so screwn.

:puke:

[Gaedel]

6. Labor did sit out in 72

Despite Nixon's landslide over McGovern, the Democratic party lost very few seats in the House or Senate as labor concentrated on the down ticket races after the McGovernites blew off the unions as "old politics". Union voters massively split their tickets when they voted.

[du_da]

2. Have to wonder why

I would be interested to see what the other criteria was that was significant enough to over-shadow union membership. Certainly there are some other priority items that with significant enough differences might justify the choice but I am not sure what those would be. I imagine price isn't that far off from one location to the other. Weather might be a factor but that doesn't explain not picking St. Louis. It makes me wonder if the declining trend in union participation throughout the country has resulted in the Democratic Party leadership hedging their bets for the future. I am not sure that is a good idea, wouldn't a better plan to present the argument to the voters and illustrate the positive qualities of unions in today's market place?

[Omaha Steve]

7. Obama needs this new swing state to win in 2012

It is that simple.

The anti union R's have been active on this post I see.

[du_da]

8. I can't imagine

that holding the convention there would make that big of a difference. It certainly wouldn't hurt but that isn't nearly as much of a bump as the downside of a slap in the face to the unions would be. Unions get people out there on the ground across the country while the convention may help in the one state. Unless of course they are going off the assumption that they don't need to be concerned with loosing union members helping in the campaign.

[gratuitous]

4. Sounds like UNITE HERE may need to do some work

There's nothing to say that by the time of the convention there won't be a union hotel or two in Charlotte. Seems that the NLRB would or should be more receptive to a union certification vote. Shouldn't it, Mr. President?

[Scruffy1]

5. I think they are sending a message

An anti labor message that is. Also they didn't want someplace like Minneapolis where they would run into large protests like the March on the RNC.

[WillyT]

9. K & R !!!

:mad:

:kick:

[bvar22]

10. Organized LABOR....Bah!!!

The "New Democrat Party" doesn't give a shit about Organized LABOR.
Just ask Bill Halter and the UNIONS in Arkansas.

"Democrats to organized labor: drop dead"

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/09/lincoln_halter_labor_democrats

[Brickbat]

11. What were those letters, again? They seemed so full of promise...ah yes, I can remember them now...

E...F...C...A...