Obama "staging what labor leaders say is the largest federal union organizing effort in history."

[ClarkUSA]

At a time when basic public employee union activities in state governments are under attack, Uncle Sam is staging what labor leaders say is the largest federal union organizing effort in history.

In contrast to Wisconsin and Ohio, where conservative politicians want to strip labor organizations of certain collective bargaining rights, 44,000 federal transportation security officers will be able to vote to choose a union, or no union, during a six-week period beginning Wednesday.

"It certainly is a contrast, and I'm very proud of the Obama administration for standing up and granting collective bargaining rights to TSOs, especially in the face of this outrageous attack on public employees that's going on in Wisconsin and Ohio," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. He spoke by phone from the Minneapolis airport, where he met with potential union members. "I just wish the American public would sit in some of the discussions we're having with TSOs and hear their frustrations and how they feel unions will make their working life better and contribute to the security of the airports."

TSOs are fired up.

"We are sleeping and breathing the election," said Kimberly Kraynak-Lambert, president of an AFGE local at Pittsburgh International Airport. "People are excited about the fact that they are about to change history and have a real voice in the workplace."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030704600.html

Thank you, President Obama. I have yet to hear a labor leader say a bad word about you. Now I know why. They know whose side you're on.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CatWoman]

20. and I truly, honestly, deeply wish

THEY WOULD SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

[EFerrari]

47. Really? His administration is at war with teachers

and I should shut up?

Really?

That is truly, honestly and deeply disappointing.

[Ken Burch]

22. He did one small, safe thing.

It's trivial compared to his neutrality on the rising pro-worker movement that was born in Wisconsin.

Obama has GOT to accept the fact that no one who hates unions will ever vote Democratic again. It isn't possible to be anti-union and still have any progressive values.

[The Backlash Cometh]

35. I will always remember Wisconsin as the beginning of the New Age.

[The Backlash Cometh]

34. PM me the video. I would be happy to hear what he has to say to

counter the information that members on his staff won't get involved in the State issues because it's too much drama.

[ClarkUSA]

63. LAT: "Obama, speaking out on Wisconsin labor standoff, says public employees should not lose rights"

Link to what he said at the National Governor's conference (video at whitehouse.gov):
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-wisconsin-unions-20110228,0,5323610,print.story

Link to what he said on WI public radio (audio link below):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=433&topic_id=613321&mesg_id=613321


<< the information that members on his staff won't get involved in the State issues because it's too much drama >>

That old NYT story quote only related to message control prior to the SOTU, period. To conflate it into anything else than that is total garbage.

[FormerOstrich]

74. These need to be a thread of thier own!!

and yes k/r for this thread, too!

:kick:

[The Backlash Cometh]

79. Yes they do. If it's correct and relevant to the current issue.

[LWolf]

48. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x600018

[LoveIsNow]

56. These are public sector unions.

They're outsource-proof, so it's pretty easy for them to organize. Obama did one small, safe thing. He and the congressional Democrats haven't done anything to help private sector workers organize.

[jaxx]

2. Get the truth out there.

K&R

[Old Codger]

13. Yes

That is what is needed for sure... So far this is the first I have seen or heard other than the administration thought all this hullabaloo was a "distraction" if there are things happening like this we need to hear about it more...

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Note the crickets around DU? n/t

[AtomicKitten]

77. yes indeed

[Scurrilous]

4. Thanks.

K & R :thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

5. Rec'd. And just think; I've read he's doing NOTHING! nt

[bluestateguy]

6. Obama's record on union issues is far from perfect

but I still say it's better than Bill Clinton's.

[mmonk]

7. I appreciate that.

[Scuba]

8. This is great new. Today in Madison I spoke with dozens....

... of people about the Presiden't support for Unions and overall performance. Opinions ranged from "pretty disappointed" to "what the hell is wrong with him? I'm angry."

[RKP5637]

9. This is great to hear!!! n/t

[msongs]

10. that's a good thing. well kept secret though nt

[Arctic Dave]

11. If only I didn't think the TSA was a bunch of perverted asshats.

Don't get me wrong, if Obama wants to unionize what I believe are part of the problem with this country, more power to 'em.

And in case people weren't quite sure how I feel about the TSA. FUCK THE TSA!

[MH1]

50. TSA is probably mostly people happy to have a paycheck

and not necessarily thrilled about the policies they have to enforce.

This isn't exactly the best time to make a voluntary career change just because one doesn't like the new rules at the current job.

Although I am sure that there are quite a few perverted asshats mixed in, there seem to be a few asshats at every job.

[Tx4obama]

12. KKKKKKKKK & RRRRRRRR! n/t

[Denzil_DC]

14. K & R n/t

[ej510]

16. If this comes true, I will be the first to admit I was wrong.

[jefferson_dem]

15. Thanks.

:kick: and Rec.

[MaeScott]

17. K and R. And shared. nt

[uppityperson]

18. k&r

[leftstreet]

19. LOL This should be fun. DU luvz to bash the shit out of TSA workers

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

What to do...what to do...

[madfloridian]

21. Deleted dupe.

[hay rick]

25. Delete

[madfloridian]

23. Look what they can NOT bargain about as a union. Gave away the store.

I am not sure about this. If unions give up the rights to everything to have a union....what have they gained?

Can't bargain on wages or benefits, qualifications, testing or discipline standards. Did I read that right? What can they bargain about?

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/18/133875479/Airport-Screeners-Seek-Union-Representation

"NAYLOR: Pistole announced early this month that he will allow TSA screeners, or officers as they're formally known, to vote on joining a union and, if so, which union to join. Assuming the screeners choose a union, the TSA will then begin bargaining with them on a contract.

Pistole says anything involving security will be off the table. Screeners won't be able to bargain on wages or benefits, qualifications, testing or discipline standards.

Coleen Kelly is president of the NTEU, one of the two unions vying to represent the screeners; the other is the American Federation of Government Employees. Kelly says there are plenty of issues left on the table.

Ms. COLEEN KELLY (President, NTEU): Things about their transfers, if they want to move to another location, if they need to change their hours of work, things like that are things that today are unilaterally decided by management, and that goes even to the promotion system.

NAYLOR: Despite Pistole's assurances that he won't allow bargaining on any issue that might affect security, Republicans in Congress are opposed to letting screeners take part in collective bargaining at all."

[originalpckelly]

24. "Screeners won't be able to bargain on wages or benefits"

Isn't that kind of the point of a union? If that isn't there, doesn't it just become some kind of club? :rofl:

[hay rick]

27. Or discipline.

I'm a steward. At least half of what I do involves dealing with discipline. The discipline articles in our contract have been negotiated and re-negotiated over a period of decades. A union with no say in the rules covering discipline? Sorry, it doesn't pass the smell test...

[gkhouston]

40. You're right, discipline is a biggie. Amazing that's not in there. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

29. From the OP article: "Other than postal workers, no federal employees negotiate over pay."

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Exactly.

But unfortunately, comprehension is lacking by some and has been replaced with such blind hatred that it has become a knee-jerk reaction.

For the record: http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/index.asp">http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/index.asp

[ClarkUSA]

69. You're 100% right. Thanks for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's 2011 Salary Tables.

[originalpckelly]

44. As we all know, it is standard for a union not to negotiate over pay or benefits.

These people should have that ability. I don't care who is responsible for it, but it's not right.

[gkhouston]

49. I think you need to edit your post... you've contradicted yourself.

I believe you have an extraneous "not" in your subject line.

[gkhouston]

37. Think of it as a Hollywood set--it looks like a Western town, but when viewed

from the side, you realize only the fronts of the buildings are there, propped up by 2x4s.

The President's support for the worker needs to be more than stage dressing.

[Rex]

43. Kind of the same thing as when BP had people cleaning the

beaches where Obama was suveying...then packed up and left after he left. Sincerity has to start in the heart and BP sold theirs for oil.

[hay rick]

68. That's sheriff Bart driving off into the sunset

in a limousine.

Hollywood indeed.

[roguevalley]

75. yes. sort of a lame thing to trot out in the middle of a revolution and

then say nothign about it. He's covering that part of his campaign with a little window dressing. Plugging the holes in the Obama/Biden 2012 wash tub

[Rex]

26. Just had to go and find out more details didn't you!

Why run these good folks day in the sun? They found something good to cheer around and you went and found some dirty facts! :spank:

[ej510]

28. Wow, they have no bargaining power. Scott Walker is that you? OMG!

:eyes:

[Rex]

33. What do you expect from people that think the middle class makes

150k a year? Bubble meet trouble.

[ClarkUSA]

30. Here's a detail for you: No federal employees negotiate over pay, other than postal workers.

[gkhouston]

52. Actually, the workers at the FDIC do, too. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

53. Proof?

[gkhouston]

58. search for the word "negotiated".

This union has members in many Federal offices and has many achievements related to pay, but the one with the FDIC specifically mentions negotiations.

http://www.nteu.org/NTEU/default.aspx#history

[ClarkUSA]

59. Give me a complete quote. Where does it say FDIC employees can "negotiate over pay"?

[gkhouston]

70. A more explicit statement, for the comprehension-challenged...

from http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/speeches/archives/2005/others/spsept2705.html

"Employee compensation and benefits at the FDIC are the subject of collective bargaining with the union that represents our bargaining-unit employees -- the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). The FDIC first began negotiating pay with our employee union in the early 1990's."

[ProSense]

36. Here is more recent

information

<...>

The existing program allows for favoritism and “is based on really low wages,” Kelley said. While a union can’t bargain over pay according to TSA rules, it can discuss the process for determining who gets awards, she said.

John Pistole, the security agency’s chief, said in his Feb. 4 decision allowing the election that workers also can’t bargain over security or disciplinary penalties, strike, or take job actions such as deliberate slowdowns.

They can bargain for a contract of at least three years on issues such as their uniforms, parking subsidies, transfers, shift trades, and methods for seeking assignments and leaves, Pistole said in the decision.

<...>

Still, how does any of this detract from the fact that a massive new union is being formed?

More via Daily Kos, the voting ends April 19ht

[ClarkUSA]

38. Wrong. No federal employees other than postal workers are able to negotiate over pay.

[gkhouston]

72. Not true... see post #70. n/t

[Autumn]

54. That's one hell of a fucking Union

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: It reminds me of insurance finance reform. Of course IMO if you have to pay 25 cents per pay check for dues I would think you were being robbed.

[ClarkUSA]

80. See Reply 67

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=610295&mesg_id=611131

[provis99]

31. this has nothing to do with Obama.

Nowhere does it say he even supports this initiative, which is being taken by the TSO workers.

on edit: Oh, it's by Joe Davidson, an Obama sycophant. What a surpise (not).

[SidDithers]

32. K&R...nt

Sid

[jillan]

39. Am I blind? I skimmed thru that entire article and didn't see one quote from Obama.

[Rex]

42. I think they mean that by extension of his administration.

that includes him too.

[readmoreoften]

82. Even though he's trying to stop his administration from assisting labor.

[readmoreoften]

81. That's because its just pro-Obama propaganda from the OP.

[Indydem]

45. Here is the problem with this method.

In Indiana, state workers were granted the right to collectively bargain by Evan Bayh doing an executive order.

Mitch Daniels just issued another executive order and took them away.

By using this same method at the federal level, what will stop the next repuke from rescinding the right?

[EFerrari]

46. It took me less than a minute to find Trumka challenging Obama to do something

for workers.

Washington is "having the wrong conversation," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said today in the capitol city. "We don't need to settle for stagnation and ever spiraling inequality."

While unemployment continues to hover close to 10 percent, Trumka says leaders in Washington should focus on making job-creating investments in infrastructure and education, rather than focusing on fiscal austerity.

"We live in an Alice in Wonderland political climate," Trumka said. "In this topsy-turvy world, the same leaders who fought so valiantly to cut taxes for the wealthy turn right around and lecture us about the imminent bankruptcy of Social Security. Only at the Mad Hatter's tea party does that make sense."

And while Trumka said it is largely Republicans who are "giving up on America" by rejecting government spending, he called out the president for coming down too softly on the industries that led to the financial crisis. Mr. Obama is "about as pro-business as any president," Trumka said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20028907-503544.html

Shall we go look at what the teachers' unions are saying?

[ClarkUSA]

51. That's old news. On Feb. 27, 2011:"AFL-CIO chief blesses Obama's handling of Wisconsin labor battle"

AFL-CIO chief blesses Obama's handling of Wisconsin labor battle
By Michael O'Brien - 02/27/11 11:19 AM ET

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka gave his blessing Sunday to President Obama's handling of the labor standoff in Wisconsin.

Amid some criticism on the left that Obama could do more to boost unions in their demonstrations against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and his proposal to eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers, Trumka said the president was doing just fine.

"I think he's doing it the right way," Trumka said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/146311-afl-cio-chief-blesses-obamas-handling-of-wisconsin-labor-battle

[EFerrari]

55. Your claim is false and obviously false. n/t

[ClarkUSA]

57. Wrong. I was speaking for myself & referring to the recent attacks on union rights in WI, etc.

I certainly wasn't referring to old news stories that have zero relevance to what the OP is all about, i.e.:

At a time when basic public employee union activities in state governments are under attack, Uncle Sam is staging what labor leaders say is the largest federal union organizing effort in history.

In contrast to Wisconsin and Ohio, where conservative politicians want to strip labor organizations of certain collective bargaining rights, 44,000 federal transportation security officers will be able to vote to choose a union, or no union, during a six-week period beginning Wednesday.

"It certainly is a contrast, and I'm very proud of the Obama administration for standing up and granting collective bargaining rights to TSOs, especially in the face of this outrageous attack on public employees that's going on in Wisconsin and Ohio," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

[Autumn]

60. A Union with no teeth

much like insurance finance reform.

[ClarkUSA]

61. Care to explain what facts support your rhetoric?

[Autumn]

62. What did you not understand?

this is a quote from post 23
"Screeners won't be able to bargain on wages or benefits, qualifications, testing or discipline standards." No teeth? :shrug:

[ClarkUSA]

64. Did you know that other than postal workers, no federal employees can negotiate over pay?

Here is why "TSOs are fired up":

The existing program allows for favoritism and “is based on really low wages,” Kelley said. While a union can’t bargain over pay according to TSA rules, it can discuss the process for determining who gets awards, she said.

John Pistole, the security agency’s chief, said in his Feb. 4 decision allowing the election that workers also can’t bargain over security or disciplinary penalties, strike, or take job actions such as deliberate slowdowns.

They can bargain for a contract of at least three years on issues such as their uniforms, parking subsidies, transfers, shift trades, and methods for seeking assignments and leaves, Pistole said in the decision.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=610295&mesg_id=610689

[Autumn]

66. To me ,having been a member of the AFL-CIO

for five years, bargaining over security or disciplinary penalties are very important.

[ClarkUSA]

67. "TSOs are fired up" even if you are not. As a huge union, they will have rights they don't have now.

If I were a TSO, these new rights would sound good to me:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=610295&mesg_id=611053

[deacon]

65. Walker brought the unions that strayed back to the dem party. n/t

[RegieRocker]

71. WTF you got to be kidding!

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You take of what you have first. I'm sure this is going to help the folks in WI.

[slay]

73. Well if the choice is Obama or a batshit crazy republican of course labor will side with

Obama but it's not like there is really another choice now is there? Republicans? HA. How does Obama's embrace of charter schools support unions? Oh yeah that's right - it doesn't.

[TomCADem]

76. I Am Sure The Chamber Sponsored Bloggers Will Attack Any Pro-Democratic Posts

On a DU site. Must spread division and discord in the left.

[readmoreoften]

83. +1

[Kalun D]

78. Thank God

OBAMA IS PROTECTING THE POLICE STATE WORKERS.

Now all the gropers, jack-booted border thugs, and porn watching cretins

will be Unionized

YEEEEEE HAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!