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Subscribe to RSSCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The stage for the Democratic National Convention is an elaborate display of lights, carpeting and video screens. It’s worthy of a Las Vegas show. In fact, unionized workers from Vegas were “imported” to build the stage, according to delegate Dick Collins, who hails from Sin City.
“Most of the trade unions are boycotting this, because it’s held in a non-union town,” Collins proudly said. It’s also the least unionized state in the U.S. -- less than 3%, especially since state law forbids government workers from organizing.
NBC's Savannah Guthrie and Meet The Press moderator David Gregory join Brian Williams to discuss this week's events at the Democratic National Convention.
North Carolina’s right-to-work status has been a sore spot with unions. The building trades held their own political rally recently in Philadelphia. Local leaders quietly talked about not being motivated for the president and those down-ticket.
So into the discontent, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka stepped Tuesday morning, meeting with several hundred labor leaders who are also delegates. He got a raucous welcome. The organization chose a hotel close to the Time-Warner Cable Arena. It didn’t matter, since no hotels are unionized in Charlotte.
“And the labor movement may be small here, but I could tell you that it truly does punch above its own weight,” Trumka said trying to mollify any holdover anger. He urged members to keep the greater goal in sight. “We have a chance to stand with leaders who champion working families.”
Besides, he suggests, labor’s presence might spark some movement on that front in North Carolina, and maybe the south in general.
Collins, a retiree from labor organizing in Buffalo who moved to Vegas, breathes a heavy sigh when asked about such speculation. “I hope he’s right. I hope he’s right.”
He’d rather be anywhere else. “Not only is it a non-union town; it’s a staunch anti-union town, which makes it even worse."
Sen. Dick Durbin talks about the atmosphere surrounding the DNC and answers the question about whether Americans are better off four years later.
Collins concluded, “They have so many ignorant people here that they don’t understand the goodness of unions."
But Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is not just for unions. Mark Mix of the National Right to Work Committee issued a video statement marking the holiday as a pre-emptive strike on the Democrats’ convention.
“Union officials are mounting a billion-dollar campaign to reelect President Barack Obama; and elect more pro-forced-unionism allies in Congress,” Mix says into the camera.
He claimed, “The National Right to Work Committee is mobilizing its 2.6 million members to call on candidates to support greater workplace freedoms.” They do politics, too.
Leave a Comment:
An apt description of the entire 'kill the union', TeaParty RepubliCONS!
Con merchants have been lying about Unions for a century.
Unions created the middle class, by fighting for fair wages and benefits for a decent quality of life. Those benefits and wage scales brought up the private and public sectors.
Business negotiates for what it wants, and workers should have the right to sit around the table, and do the same. Countries like Germany that keep business/union equal voice, have the strongest economies in the world.
RomneyRyan/GOP will do away with the minimum wage any chance they get.
backhouse do you ever get tired of lying?
Really, then why did the democrats IMPORT union workers from Vegas to build the stage. They didn't use the locals -- nice support for the city that's hosting your convention! Why are so many cities going bankrupt trying to fund the hefty union pensions and benefits? Why do the unions spend dues on "courting" the democratic party? Goodness of Unions my butt! They have an agenda just as transparent as your comment.
None of the Dems I know would knowingly lie.
Not even for a Roman Emperor, such as yourself.
Dotties girl
We are living in an era when failed CEOS walk away with multi-million dollar golden parachutes, traders may bankrupt their companies but still get big bonuses...but your basic hourly wage-slave is "greedy" for wanting a decent pension and healthcare benefits. How did America get so screwed up?
Oh that's right, Republican policies.
They didn't use locals because the locals weren't union labor.
And I doubt 97% of the state population hates unions.
I'd bet it's 51% of state legislatures that do.
I'm not quite sure your argument actually has a basis in reality, DottiesGirl.
@Backhouse:
have you noticed that since Fox accused the republicans of lying at their convention, every right wing shill has been throwing out the liar, lying, liars adjective every chance they get? is it just me noticing this shift? (i'm assuming the Roman Emperor called you a liar since i have had him on ignore for quite some time...)
@Dotties Girl:
ugh. do you think that 'job creators' give good wages out of their own altruistic nature? Do you recall anything of the industrial revolution, and the conditions that forced workers to band together in order to not have to work 80 hours a week in inhumane conditions? You take modern standards for granted, forgetting where and why they came about and you'll find yourself on a one way ticket back to the root of the problem. Right to Work is just a pretty name for 'he who has the gold makes the rules'...
ah backhouse you're not good at it, in fact you've been punked pulling an NBC and editing quotes to fullfill your lies.
You should just do what Amy does and use Anecdotal evidence, at least you wont look quite as stupid. quite is the operative word
I am not anti-union, just anti unions. These guys push for terrible laws that strip individual rights and that is gross and no public employee should be unionized.
Amy, you are a proponent for wage protection. The BIGGEST wage protection our citizens have is our immigration laws. How does the party that claims to be for the worker not enforce these laws?
Really Amy? Please cite which Republican policy allows failed CEO's to walk away from failed companies with multi- million golden parachutes. Please cite which policy allows traders that bankrupt their companies walk away with big bonuses. I'm serious, I really want to know specifically which Republican policy did that. Can you name them or are you just spewing the typical liberal whining point?
Dotties girl, it's sad that you feel that way about working folk!....
But, it seems that you may be conflicted.
The guys over at Faux News are members (as are all actors, broadcasters, etc.) of the Screen Actors Guild, A UNION.....They certainly have their rights protected, so why do you think the average working person should not enjoy some job protections?
And when GREEDY unions run a company out of Business the Union Members lose thier Jobs while the UNION Fat Cats like Trumka have thier own Golden Parachutes provided off the backs of thier slaves.
Amy - We also live in an era when one party is dedicated to abolishing collective bargaining, repealing workplace safety regulations, and refuses to support equal pay for equal work.
Which begs the question - how DO Republicans celebrate Labor Day, anyway? An extra day at the shore? Another big sale at the mall? Or do they even take two minutes to reflect on what yesterday is all about?
"The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement."
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
Will President Romney even have a Secretary of Labor? Why bother?
Chilled, our immigration laws protect the worker, but since the D's have the poor vote wrapped up, they want more poor people.
Joanne PA if you mean none of us that lean right went out with hammer and sickles and marched around then right. I think labor day is a wasted holiday. I would rather see 9-11 replace it
Coming from a thug entity a la Jimmy Hoffa I will stick with the right to work crowd.
Caesar - "I think labor day is a wasted holiday"
Holidays are whatever you choose to make of them, Caesar. I spent a lot of time yesterday thinking about my late father. I do not belong to a union and never did, and I didn't always agree with my father about some of their issues. But even though my father never went to college, he worked his tail off to ensure that my brothers and I could - first at the plant where he got his first entry-level job out of high school, and eventually, after working countless extra hours for free for the union he belonged to, rising up through the ranks to become its national president for over 20 years, after which he worked another 8 or 10 years, even well into his 70's, traveling around the country working to secure retirement benefits for one of the teachers' unions and teaching courses at the George Meany Labor Studies Center outside Washington, D.C., which is where we held his memorial service when he died. There were over 300 people in attendance, the presidents of the AFL-CIO and the United Farm Workers union were among the speakers, and yes, we gathered at a tree planted in his memory there to sing "Solidarity Forever" at the end. My father never marched with a hammer and sickle; in fact, the last couple of "marches" he participated in were for Alzheimer's Research and the Special Olympics, once even after he'd lost a lung to cancer. He was both a good man and a great man, and I spent a good deal of time yesterday quietly reminiscing about his accomplishments and wishing he could be as proud of me as I am of him.
So maybe for you it was a wasted day. For me it was a pretty important one.
OK liberals... give me an answer to this one sentence spoken by Dr. Barbara Bellar:
We’re going to be gifted with a healthcare plan that we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don’t, which purportedly covers at least 10 million more people without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a congress that didn’t read it, but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a president who smokes, but says he doesn't, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes for which we will be taxed for 4 years before any benefits take effect by the government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese and financed by a country that’s broke.
So what the blank could possibly go wrong.
CA
Why? To rally around Bush's incompetence?
brianb
I don't see a question mark in there anywhere. psst,...easing up the ER's will be a start.
Brianb -
One sentence? Easy:
"Barbara Ruth Bellar, MD., JD., MA. (is) Your Republican Candidate for State Senate District 18"
http://electbellar.com/who-is-barbara-bellar/
CA
so 9-11 was Bushes Fault. there's a truther LOL. Even if that were how many people died and still die? We can also attribute 9-11 to Clinton how many times did he have the chance to get Bin Laden. No biggy right. Hey Clara when you're done hating America (not your fvcked perverted Pinko Commie version) let me know
What terrible laws are you talking about that strip individual rights? In your opinion no public employee should be unionized. In you opinion no worker should be unionized and we should all be completely at the mercy of the Corporate CEOs.
And there's something wrong with wage protection? CEO sign contracts, why shouldn't labor? It's clear you believe that the future of American best served through an Oligarchy rather than a democracy but fortunately you are in the minority. You ask about a party that doesn't enforce immigration laws? How about a party that declares amnesty for Illegal Immigrants? You do realize that party is the Republican Party in 1986 when Ronald Reagan granted amnesty to Illegal Aliens right?
"Ask yourself, can I love America...and still be a Republican?"
If you put Doc in your name, you should have at least one brain cell.
Public employees answer to the taxpayer, not a CEO. Wow, how dumb.
I read the rest of your post, I can't respond, you don't understand what you read anyways.
No, ignoring the threat was Bush's fault. ("Bin Laden Determined to Strike Within the United States", a briefing GW Bush ignored)
Since you seem to have the answer, ok...how many times did Clinton have a chance to get bin Laden? How many times did Clinton have bin Laden cornered in Afghanistan caves and how many times did he let the "Northern Alliance" do the deed (and let bin Laden slip into Pakistan)?
Interesting comment coming from a person using a "fascist dictator" as a handle...nice touch. By the way, why did 33 Republican held states pass voter suppression laws? Since the rate of voter fraud while GW was in office was .00004%, it's clear there is no voter fraud problem...so, how long has the Republican party hated America and democracy?
Why do you continue to embarrass yourself? Your ignorance is nearly epic! Public Employees are NOT answerable to tax payers. They are answerable to their Department heads who may or may not be elected. Their bosses are answerable to the tax payers...not the employees. If you believe otherwise, walk into a busy VA Medical Center and demand to be the next person seen. After all, you're the boss. As to the rest of your statement, smells like a cop-out to me.
By the way "genius", you never did answer my question about the terrible laws.
Ol_Doc - livingbarefoot doesn't have a clue, which might explain why they are living barefoot!
Obama/Biden 2012
Ol Doc said: No, ignoring the threat was Bush's fault. ("Bin Laden Determined to Strike Within the United States", a briefing GW Bush ignored)
So you claim that a briefing that was short on facts, to include time, method and means is somehow Bush's fault that he didn't respond to? Tell you what... I'm coming to your house. When I get there if you aren't prepared for my stay, I'm going to blame you. You've been fully briefed.
By the way, why did 33 Republican held states pass voter suppression laws?
STOP? How in the world did requiring identification to vote EVER become voter suppression? If your 21 year old son wants to buy beer is he being suppressed if he fails to bring his ID?
Doc, I do not have time to educate you, your union protected teacher should have. Card check and open ballot are a couple.
How could one single American support a group that does not support a secret ballot?
Answer that and I will see if you are worth any time.
Where is the CEO come in moron and insanity?
By the way, a little additional sand in your mental wound...CEO also stands for "Chief Elected Official" in government, so yes...in effect they do work for CEOs.
What an idiot you are, ignore!
Yes, please educate me. My understanding is that Card Check is the method by which if a majority of employees sign an authorization card to unionize then no election process is necessary (majority already voted by signing). The only ones who would be identified would be the ones who signed the care (you know, pro union)...so what's your problem?
One of the purposes of Card Check is to prevent the companies from intimidating workers (you know, threatening their jobs).
Secret ballots only apply to elections. If the majority express their desire to unionize, no election is held...hence, no ballot.
Brianb-999431
"Pennsylvania House Leader, Republican Mike Turzai admitted the true object behind the new voter ID laws. In a now-famous video, Turzai said strict new voting laws would help Republicans "win the state," in the 2012 elections.
That goal is best achieved by blocking votes by as many Americans as possible who might cast a vote for a Democrat.
In the past 30 years, there have not been so many obvious efforts to stop Americans from voting. This is what democracy has been reduced to in the United States of America in 2012."
Don't take my word for it...google "Mike Turzai voter ID"
Why are workers who are not union fail to realize that unions have raised the standard of living for all workers? You would not of had yesterday off. Union and proud.
Obama/Biden
Who's the idiot?
"If you can't attack the message...attack the messenger."
JoAnne, can you please name a company that is actually repealing safety regulations? Sorry to disagree here, but I've worked in Safety and Environmental Departments, and if anything, the regs are getting more stringent, to avoid lawsuits. Granted, I have never worked in a Union facility... are they the ones repealing these regs?
The Unions may have been useful 60 years ago, however, now they not only do not represent the working people, they disregard them. The greedy Union bosses care only about increasing the membership so they can collect more money and raise their salaries. In the process, they stagnate the economy and for companies to OUTSOURCE jobs!
Here is an example of some Union bureaucrats salaries:
NameTitleGross SalaryBenifits & Other CompensationTotal Compensation
JAMES HOFFA
Gen President
$294,285.00
$73,715.00
$368,000.00
C KEEGEL
Gen Sec-Treasurer
$267,080.00
$81,523.00
$348,603.00
FORREST JOHNSON
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$188,095.00
$35,961.00
$224,056.00
CHARLES DEANER
Assistant To General Pres
$203,234.00
$14,473.00
$217,707.00
ROBERT BOUVIER
International VP
$213,475.00
$3,882.00
$217,357.00
GARY WITLEN
Department Director
$201,606.00
$13,891.00
$215,497.00
RICHARD BELL
Exec Asst To The GST
$197,228.00
$14,363.00
$211,591.00
RICHARD HALL
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$153,835.00
$48,631.00
$202,466.00
JAMES MCCALL
Spec Counsel
$185,000.00
$14,995.00
$199,995.00
WILLIAM SMITH
Exec Assit to GP
$150,000.00
$48,358.00
$198,358.00
JOHN WILLIAMS
Trade Division Director
$161,154.00
$27,068.00
$188,222.00
GORDON SWEETON
Intl VP/Asst to Dir
$155,570.00
$31,850.00
$187,420.00
MANUEL VALENZUELA
Organizing Coord.
$102,490.00
$84,352.00
$186,842.00
SCOTT HEGLAND
International Rep
$132,000.00
$53,368.00
$185,368.00
FRED GEGARE
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$160,155.00
$22,990.00
$183,145.00
DAVID BOURNE
Trade Division Director
$150,000.00
$27,254.00
$177,254.00
JEFFREY FARMER
Department Director
$149,071.00
$27,807.00
$176,878.00
BRET CALDWELL
Department Director
$147,749.00
$20,014.00
$167,763.00
STEPHEN NAGROTSKY
Assistant To Director
$150,000.00
$16,369.00
$166,369.00
MICHAEL McGAHA
Spcl Asst to Package Dir
$126,752.00
$36,751.00
$163,503.00
EDWARD KEYSER
Admin Asst to Gen Pres
$141,910.00
$20,119.00
$162,029.00
EDDIE JACOBSON
Trade Div Director
$132,834.00
$28,202.00
$161,036.00
LAMONT BYRD
Dep Director/Pr Inv For G
$143,822.00
$16,881.00
$160,703.00
EDWARD GLEASON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$15,630.00
$158,726.00
LOUIS BANIECKI
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$40,317.00
$157,747.00
MICHAEL MANLEY
Staff Attorney
$145,994.00
$11,740.00
$157,734.00
IAIN GOLD
Department Director
$140,661.00
$16,864.00
$157,525.00
TODD THOMPSON
Coord. of Spec Projects
$138,262.00
$18,353.00
$156,615.00
JOHN MURPHY
Intl VP/Conf Dir
$121,155.00
$34,227.00
$155,382.00
NEIL DITCHEK
Ast-Inter Un Aff Gen Cnsl
$141,769.00
$13,066.00
$154,835.00
MARK JOHNSON
Dir of National Training
$126,296.00
$27,804.00
$154,100.00
RICHARD GIBSON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$10,398.00
$153,494.00
ANTHONY MATHIS
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,947.00
$153,377.00
SCOTT HILTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,416.00
$152,846.00
EDWARD PRATT
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,333.00
$150,763.00
HEATHER WIEKER
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,058.00
$150,488.00
$129,926.00
$20,540.00
$150,466.00
MICHAEL FILLER
Associate Director
$128,825.00
$21,278.00
$150,103.00
FREDERICK McLUCKIE
Deputy Dir Of Legislation
$135,580.00
$14,127.00
$149,707.00
JOAN DEMAN
International Auditor
$114,060.00
$35,169.00
$149,229.00
KIMBERLEE KELLER
Deputy Director
$114,900.00
$34,137.00
$149,037.00
RONALD SCHWAB
International Rep
$103,175.00
$45,535.00
$148,710.00
RICHARD HUNTINGTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$30,372.00
$147,802.00
CYNTHIA IMPALA
Department Director
$131,664.00
$16,013.00
$147,677.00
JOSEPH POLO
International Auditor
$110,689.00
$35,177.00
$145,866.00
JOHN SLATERY
Department Director
$127,308.00
$18,147.00
$145,455.00
CHRISTINE BAILEY
Department Director
$121,053.00
$24,224.00
$145,277.00
REBECCA HANSCOM
Organizing Coordin. - Cen
$102,476.00
$41,662.00
$144,138.00
DAVID SMITH
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$25,238.00
$142,668.00
it is really funny to watch the libs run so scared!!!
News today...obama is "struggling" with the question of ARE U BETTER OFF NOW OR 4 YR. AGO!!
That is a yes or no question!! How do you struggle with a yes or no question??
Clint Eastwood summed it all up in 10 minutes!! No One can afford another 4 years of this Craziness!!
BozoHussan==NBC=GE= Chicago MOBpolitics=lie,cheat, steal ,twist every crises to benefit your Pravda Press PROPAGANDA!!
Ol Doc
Thanks, you summed up everything I had to say. If the worst disaster on US soil happens on your watch, less than 30 days after a daily briefing telling you it's coming AND when the previous outgoing administration said that should be your number one priority,...
It's not an UNFORESEEABLE event,...Incompetence is me putting it mildly and truthfully!
I'm sure North Carolinians appreciated being called "ignorant" at the DNC. I'm amazed NBC even printed it.
CEO = Chief Executive Officer
Never worked for a union, never had to - I've worked in restaurants, entertainment companies and corporate America and in a right to work state, have never felt oppressed by my employers - so I can't comment on unions from any experience, but to stay on topic of the actual story, I think it is unfortunate that the DNC 'imported' labor into Charlotte rather than utilizing the talents of the locals in the city. It is a bit of a slap in the face of your host city to import tradespeople from outside the local workforce - especially when NC and Charlotte has abysmal unemployment rates. Shame on you DNC amd shame on Charlotte's Mayor for allowing that to even happen to his constituents. He was so instrumental in getting the convention to the city, he should have considered standing up for his community to ensure that jobs came with the clusterF that the convention has brought to the city. Don't get me wrong - it's great that this is putting Charlotte on more of a national map, and hopefully has given the local economy a big, much needed boost. But the DNC has essentially put the city on lockdown, making it difficult for the community to go about their day to day activities.
These are the people who care so much for the middle class. Truth is, they have no class.
.
Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital
By Matt Taibbi, August 29, 2012 7:00 AM ET
A man makes a $250 million fortune loading up companies with debt and then extracting million-dollar fees from those same companies, in exchange for the generous service of telling them who needs to be fired in order to finance the debt payments he saddled them with in the first place. That same man then runs for president riding an image of children roasting on flames of debt, choosing as his running mate perhaps the only politician in America more pompous and self-righteous on the subject of the evils of borrowed money than the candidate himself. If Romney pulls off this whopper, you'll have to tip your hat to him: No one in history has ever successfully run for president riding this big of a lie.
http://Bruce-1628250.newsvine.com/_news/2012/09/04/13660654-greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital
If Republicans get elected, and we know they won't Americans will come to understand how important Unions were in their competitive wages, pensions, health care, because Republicans plan to take all that away, implement Right to Work States all over this country meaning that in those states Americans Have Absolutely No Rights and you can get Fired if the Employer doens't like the way you walk.
As the old saying goes "You don't miss your water until your well runs dry"
These arguments are so funny, Republicans killing unions is as likely as Democrats taking people guns.
People like to scream this, but in the end, it is just BS. Neither will ever happen.
How can you expect our leaders to show balance and moderation when they typically mimic so many of you on this board (on both sides).
spdockery:
Were you sleeping when the Wisconsin unions were outlawed?
not in the private sector liar liar pants on fire.
No, you were. Public employee unions were outlawed from collective bargaining, just like FDR wanted.
If FDR wanted it that way, you can't claim right wing conspiracy.
@blearyeyed:
Really they were outlawed??? In other words, union members are actually being arrested? REALLY??
That is how you chose to make your point, by a stupid lie that is not even in the same zipcode as the truth??
Really???
I can't wait until you post the source for that BS! Let me hit Refresh....
Nope not yet, but of course I'm sure you will.
NameTitleGross SalaryBenifits & Other CompensationTotal Compensation
JAMES HOFFA
Gen President
$294,285.00
$73,715.00
$368,000.00
C KEEGEL
Gen Sec-Treasurer
$267,080.00
$81,523.00
$348,603.00
FORREST JOHNSON
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$188,095.00
$35,961.00
$224,056.00
CHARLES DEANER
Assistant To General Pres
$203,234.00
$14,473.00
$217,707.00
ROBERT BOUVIER
International VP
$213,475.00
$3,882.00
$217,357.00
GARY WITLEN
Department Director
$201,606.00
$13,891.00
$215,497.00
RICHARD BELL
Exec Asst To The GST
$197,228.00
$14,363.00
$211,591.00
RICHARD HALL
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$153,835.00
$48,631.00
$202,466.00
JAMES MCCALL
Spec Counsel
$185,000.00
$14,995.00
$199,995.00
WILLIAM SMITH
Exec Assit to GP
$150,000.00
$48,358.00
$198,358.00
JOHN WILLIAMS
Trade Division Director
$161,154.00
$27,068.00
$188,222.00
GORDON SWEETON
Intl VP/Asst to Dir
$155,570.00
$31,850.00
$187,420.00
MANUEL VALENZUELA
Organizing Coord.
$102,490.00
$84,352.00
$186,842.00
SCOTT HEGLAND
International Rep
$132,000.00
$53,368.00
$185,368.00
FRED GEGARE
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$160,155.00
$22,990.00
$183,145.00
DAVID BOURNE
Trade Division Director
$150,000.00
$27,254.00
$177,254.00
JEFFREY FARMER
Department Director
$149,071.00
$27,807.00
$176,878.00
BRET CALDWELL
Department Director
$147,749.00
$20,014.00
$167,763.00
STEPHEN NAGROTSKY
Assistant To Director
$150,000.00
$16,369.00
$166,369.00
MICHAEL McGAHA
Spcl Asst to Package Dir
$126,752.00
$36,751.00
$163,503.00
EDWARD KEYSER
Admin Asst to Gen Pres
$141,910.00
$20,119.00
$162,029.00
EDDIE JACOBSON
Trade Div Director
$132,834.00
$28,202.00
$161,036.00
LAMONT BYRD
Dep Director/Pr Inv For G
$143,822.00
$16,881.00
$160,703.00
EDWARD GLEASON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$15,630.00
$158,726.00
LOUIS BANIECKI
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$40,317.00
$157,747.00
MICHAEL MANLEY
Staff Attorney
$145,994.00
$11,740.00
$157,734.00
IAIN GOLD
Department Director
$140,661.00
$16,864.00
$157,525.00
TODD THOMPSON
Coord. of Spec Projects
$138,262.00
$18,353.00
$156,615.00
JOHN MURPHY
Intl VP/Conf Dir
$121,155.00
$34,227.00
$155,382.00
NEIL DITCHEK
Ast-Inter Un Aff Gen Cnsl
$141,769.00
$13,066.00
$154,835.00
MARK JOHNSON
Dir of National Training
$126,296.00
$27,804.00
$154,100.00
RICHARD GIBSON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$10,398.00
$153,494.00
ANTHONY MATHIS
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,947.00
$153,377.00
SCOTT HILTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,416.00
$152,846.00
EDWARD PRATT
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,333.00
$150,763.00
HEATHER WIEKER
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,058.00
$150,488.00
$129,926.00
$20,540.00
$150,466.00
MICHAEL FILLER
Associate Director
$128,825.00
$21,278.00
$150,103.00
FREDERICK McLUCKIE
Deputy Dir Of Legislation
$135,580.00
$14,127.00
$149,707.00
JOAN DEMAN
International Auditor
$114,060.00
$35,169.00
$149,229.00
KIMBERLEE KELLER
Deputy Director
$114,900.00
$34,137.00
$149,037.00
RONALD SCHWAB
International Rep
$103,175.00
$45,535.00
$148,710.00
RICHARD HUNTINGTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$30,372.00
$147,802.00
CYNTHIA IMPALA
Department Director
$131,664.00
$16,013.00
$147,677.00
JOSEPH POLO
International Auditor
$110,689.00
$35,177.00
$145,866.00
JOHN SLATERY
Department Director
$127,308.00
$18,147.00
$145,455.00
CHRISTINE BAILEY
Department Director
$121,053.00
$24,224.00
$145,277.00
REBECCA HANSCOM
Organizing Coordin. - Cen
$102,476.00
$41,662.00
$144,138.00
DAVID SMITH
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$25,238.00
$142,668.00
Some in labor might not be happy but they know if Romney gets the job, labor will be no more.
Pres Romney will bring confidence back to the economy and businesses will start hiring again and UNION Jobs will be among them.
Monitor clean-up! Stat!
Romney couldn't create jobs or improve the economy of a state when he was governor. He even whined and claimed it wasn't his fault, it was the fault of the bad economy. (average unemployment at the time was 4.9) Romney state was 47th in job creation.
Why am I to believe he can bring confidence when he was such a failure as governor?
Romney is not even a good enough businessman to allow the public to see his tax returns. He has to hide them to even try and get elected.
VOTE FOR AMERICA...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
Unemployment in his state was in the 4% and is why job creation was not happening because almost everyone had one.
Are you really that ignorant or do you willfully mislead?
livingbarefoot ...
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/11/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-massachusetts-unemployment-hit-47/
In my book, a half-lie is still a lie, which in this case - HE DIDN'T GET THERE ON HIS OWN!!!!
We definitely need unions and a civilized platform to negotiate. It is like a democratic system, if you have a ruling party, you need oppositions to contradict. The democracy and economy both can not survive without unions. GOP supporters, read history a bit.
Get some civilized people to run the unions and then we can speak.
"The Democratic Convention is $27 million in debt. They had to cancel the kick-off event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. A speedway is the perfect place for the Democratic Convention. You go around in circles, turn left every few seconds, and you end up right where you started." –Jay Leno
Funny, but sad. If the Democrats can't even manage the finances of their own convention....why the hell would we want them managing the finances of OUR country??
OBAMA = FAILURE
HopeisGone - Not a word of truth.
Next?
Obama/Biden 2012
How come the only workers Democrats are concerned for are the ones that are bought and paid for?
If the R's are for the rich and the D's are for the worker, shouldn't all the D's be fired?
Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital
By Matt Taibbi, August 29, 2012 7:00 AM ET
Four years ago, the Mitt Romneys of the world nearly destroyed the global economy with their greed, shortsightedness and – most notably – wildly irresponsible use of debt in pursuit of personal profit. The sight was so disgusting that people everywhere were ready to drop an H-bomb on Lower Manhattan and bayonet the survivors. But today that same insane greed ethos, that same belief in the lunatic pursuit of instant borrowed millions – it's dusted itself off, it's had a shave and a shoeshine, and it's back out there running for president.
http://Bruce-1628250.newsvine.com/_news/2012/09/04/13660654-greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital
Amy B, if you are want a better salary or benefits, then take the personal responsibility to educate yourself, and then get a different job. No one is forcing you to work where you are now. That's the beauty of America - if you don't like where you work, find somewhere you do like.
Did Obama import SEIU workers from Vegas to hand out the goody bags to the delegates when they arrived? You know, the ones that included 8 talking points to respond to questions they may be asked since the delegates don't have the ability to think for themselves.
Rocco - No!
The republicans really do want you to have more jobs - at Starbucks, McDonald's, 7-11, Arco, etc. Minimum wage jobs that keep you stressed out about paying the bills so you can't enjoy life and you need to get two jobs and forget about doing all the things you've dreamed about in life. THAT'S the republican platform.
Do you want a serious explanation of why labor is so underpaid?
Wages trickle up, remove the artificial bottom and every worker gets a raise.
Wages trickle up? Remove minimum wage and every worker will get a raise? What? Do you live next door to a glue factory or something?
Remove illegals from the factor and every worker, every single one, gets a raise and takes money from the rich the proper capitalistic way, in the form of a bigger paycheck.
Americans First . . .
PERFECT!
cascadia ...
No kidding to that one! and lvngbarefoot..... you're joking ... right ??????
UNION BOSSES SALARIES
NameTitleGross SalaryBenifits & Other CompensationTotal Compensation
JAMES HOFFA
Gen President
$294,285.00
$73,715.00
$368,000.00
C KEEGEL
Gen Sec-Treasurer
$267,080.00
$81,523.00
$348,603.00
FORREST JOHNSON
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$188,095.00
$35,961.00
$224,056.00
CHARLES DEANER
Assistant To General Pres
$203,234.00
$14,473.00
$217,707.00
ROBERT BOUVIER
International VP
$213,475.00
$3,882.00
$217,357.00
GARY WITLEN
Department Director
$201,606.00
$13,891.00
$215,497.00
RICHARD BELL
Exec Asst To The GST
$197,228.00
$14,363.00
$211,591.00
RICHARD HALL
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$153,835.00
$48,631.00
$202,466.00
JAMES MCCALL
Spec Counsel
$185,000.00
$14,995.00
$199,995.00
WILLIAM SMITH
Exec Assit to GP
$150,000.00
$48,358.00
$198,358.00
JOHN WILLIAMS
Trade Division Director
$161,154.00
$27,068.00
$188,222.00
GORDON SWEETON
Intl VP/Asst to Dir
$155,570.00
$31,850.00
$187,420.00
MANUEL VALENZUELA
Organizing Coord.
$102,490.00
$84,352.00
$186,842.00
SCOTT HEGLAND
International Rep
$132,000.00
$53,368.00
$185,368.00
FRED GEGARE
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$160,155.00
$22,990.00
$183,145.00
DAVID BOURNE
Trade Division Director
$150,000.00
$27,254.00
$177,254.00
JEFFREY FARMER
Department Director
$149,071.00
$27,807.00
$176,878.00
BRET CALDWELL
Department Director
$147,749.00
$20,014.00
$167,763.00
STEPHEN NAGROTSKY
Assistant To Director
$150,000.00
$16,369.00
$166,369.00
MICHAEL McGAHA
Spcl Asst to Package Dir
$126,752.00
$36,751.00
$163,503.00
EDWARD KEYSER
Admin Asst to Gen Pres
$141,910.00
$20,119.00
$162,029.00
EDDIE JACOBSON
Trade Div Director
$132,834.00
$28,202.00
$161,036.00
LAMONT BYRD
Dep Director/Pr Inv For G
$143,822.00
$16,881.00
$160,703.00
EDWARD GLEASON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$15,630.00
$158,726.00
LOUIS BANIECKI
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$40,317.00
$157,747.00
MICHAEL MANLEY
Staff Attorney
$145,994.00
$11,740.00
$157,734.00
IAIN GOLD
Department Director
$140,661.00
$16,864.00
$157,525.00
TODD THOMPSON
Coord. of Spec Projects
$138,262.00
$18,353.00
$156,615.00
JOHN MURPHY
Intl VP/Conf Dir
$121,155.00
$34,227.00
$155,382.00
NEIL DITCHEK
Ast-Inter Un Aff Gen Cnsl
$141,769.00
$13,066.00
$154,835.00
MARK JOHNSON
Dir of National Training
$126,296.00
$27,804.00
$154,100.00
RICHARD GIBSON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$10,398.00
$153,494.00
ANTHONY MATHIS
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,947.00
$153,377.00
SCOTT HILTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,416.00
$152,846.00
EDWARD PRATT
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,333.00
$150,763.00
HEATHER WIEKER
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,058.00
$150,488.00
$129,926.00
$20,540.00
$150,466.00
MICHAEL FILLER
Associate Director
$128,825.00
$21,278.00
$150,103.00
FREDERICK McLUCKIE
Deputy Dir Of Legislation
$135,580.00
$14,127.00
$149,707.00
JOAN DEMAN
International Auditor
$114,060.00
$35,169.00
$149,229.00
KIMBERLEE KELLER
Deputy Director
$114,900.00
$34,137.00
$149,037.00
RONALD SCHWAB
International Rep
$103,175.00
$45,535.00
$148,710.00
RICHARD HUNTINGTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$30,372.00
$147,802.00
CYNTHIA IMPALA
Department Director
$131,664.00
$16,013.00
$147,677.00
JOSEPH POLO
International Auditor
$110,689.00
$35,177.00
$145,866.00
JOHN SLATERY
Department Director
$127,308.00
$18,147.00
$145,455.00
CHRISTINE BAILEY
Department Director
$121,053.00
$24,224.00
$145,277.00
REBECCA HANSCOM
Organizing Coordin. - Cen
$102,476.00
$41,662.00
$144,138.00
DAVID SMITH
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$25,238.00
$142,668.00
I do not think union and public employees are overpaid, I think the rest are underpaid!
UNION BOSSES SALARIES
NameTitleGross SalaryBenifits & Other CompensationTotal Compensation
JAMES HOFFA
Gen President
$294,285.00
$73,715.00
$368,000.00
C KEEGEL
Gen Sec-Treasurer
$267,080.00
$81,523.00
$348,603.00
FORREST JOHNSON
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$188,095.00
$35,961.00
$224,056.00
CHARLES DEANER
Assistant To General Pres
$203,234.00
$14,473.00
$217,707.00
ROBERT BOUVIER
International VP
$213,475.00
$3,882.00
$217,357.00
GARY WITLEN
Department Director
$201,606.00
$13,891.00
$215,497.00
RICHARD BELL
Exec Asst To The GST
$197,228.00
$14,363.00
$211,591.00
RICHARD HALL
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$153,835.00
$48,631.00
$202,466.00
JAMES MCCALL
Spec Counsel
$185,000.00
$14,995.00
$199,995.00
WILLIAM SMITH
Exec Assit to GP
$150,000.00
$48,358.00
$198,358.00
JOHN WILLIAMS
Trade Division Director
$161,154.00
$27,068.00
$188,222.00
GORDON SWEETON
Intl VP/Asst to Dir
$155,570.00
$31,850.00
$187,420.00
MANUEL VALENZUELA
Organizing Coord.
$102,490.00
$84,352.00
$186,842.00
SCOTT HEGLAND
International Rep
$132,000.00
$53,368.00
$185,368.00
FRED GEGARE
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$160,155.00
$22,990.00
$183,145.00
DAVID BOURNE
Trade Division Director
$150,000.00
$27,254.00
$177,254.00
JEFFREY FARMER
Department Director
$149,071.00
$27,807.00
$176,878.00
BRET CALDWELL
Department Director
$147,749.00
$20,014.00
$167,763.00
STEPHEN NAGROTSKY
Assistant To Director
$150,000.00
$16,369.00
$166,369.00
MICHAEL McGAHA
Spcl Asst to Package Dir
$126,752.00
$36,751.00
$163,503.00
EDWARD KEYSER
Admin Asst to Gen Pres
$141,910.00
$20,119.00
$162,029.00
EDDIE JACOBSON
Trade Div Director
$132,834.00
$28,202.00
$161,036.00
LAMONT BYRD
Dep Director/Pr Inv For G
$143,822.00
$16,881.00
$160,703.00
EDWARD GLEASON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$15,630.00
$158,726.00
LOUIS BANIECKI
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$40,317.00
$157,747.00
MICHAEL MANLEY
Staff Attorney
$145,994.00
$11,740.00
$157,734.00
IAIN GOLD
Department Director
$140,661.00
$16,864.00
$157,525.00
TODD THOMPSON
Coord. of Spec Projects
$138,262.00
$18,353.00
$156,615.00
JOHN MURPHY
Intl VP/Conf Dir
$121,155.00
$34,227.00
$155,382.00
NEIL DITCHEK
Ast-Inter Un Aff Gen Cnsl
$141,769.00
$13,066.00
$154,835.00
MARK JOHNSON
Dir of National Training
$126,296.00
$27,804.00
$154,100.00
RICHARD GIBSON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$10,398.00
$153,494.00
ANTHONY MATHIS
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,947.00
$153,377.00
SCOTT HILTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,416.00
$152,846.00
EDWARD PRATT
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,333.00
$150,763.00
HEATHER WIEKER
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,058.00
$150,488.00
$129,926.00
$20,540.00
$150,466.00
MICHAEL FILLER
Associate Director
$128,825.00
$21,278.00
$150,103.00
FREDERICK McLUCKIE
Deputy Dir Of Legislation
$135,580.00
$14,127.00
$149,707.00
JOAN DEMAN
International Auditor
$114,060.00
$35,169.00
$149,229.00
KIMBERLEE KELLER
Deputy Director
$114,900.00
$34,137.00
$149,037.00
RONALD SCHWAB
International Rep
$103,175.00
$45,535.00
$148,710.00
RICHARD HUNTINGTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$30,372.00
$147,802.00
CYNTHIA IMPALA
Department Director
$131,664.00
$16,013.00
$147,677.00
JOSEPH POLO
International Auditor
$110,689.00
$35,177.00
$145,866.00
JOHN SLATERY
Department Director
$127,308.00
$18,147.00
$145,455.00
CHRISTINE BAILEY
Department Director
$121,053.00
$24,224.00
$145,277.00
REBECCA HANSCOM
Organizing Coordin. - Cen
$102,476.00
$41,662.00
$144,138.00
DAVID SMITH
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$25,238.00
$142,668.00
Methinks the unions protesteth too much. Yes, unions have been a vital force in creating the middle class. Without unions we'd still have sweat shops and children working side by side with their parents for pennies. That said we have also seen unions getting way too many consessions from companies and governments. While most of us pay for our medical insurance with the companies contributing some amount of it Unions want it all to be coming from the companies. They want folks making a good wage and that is good but when the average person makes 19 an hour and the unions want 25 and then protect dead wood from being fired because they won't work it is too much. Unions have and still do serve a purpose but like greedy company owners and leaders the union has its own greedy people. Somehow they seem to want more and more goodies in shorter and shorter contracts. So both sides have been going too far. When union members have to start paying a little more for their health insurance premiums as in California they whine and complain but they still have it better than most people.
Of the two major parties the Democrats are much more favorable to unions and always will be as the Democrats want the unions to exist where Republicans would as soon dismantle every union and go back to their good old days of robber barons and child labor, a period they wax nostalgically about.
Chicago newspapers are beginning a call for decertification of the Teacher Union if the corrupt thugs strike the children. Obama will have a choice: unions or kids. He will select unions and the kids will suffer just like the rest of America under the Obama policies of division, poverty, and destruction of employers!
If Barack Hussein Obama had kept his campaign
promises, he would have closed the Guantanamo
Bay detention center. Two thousand of the worst
terrorists in the world would be eating
American food on American tables in air conditioned
comfort on Rykers Island in NY City. If left to
Biden and Obama, they would be watching cable
television and waiting twenty years for their
lawyers' motions and objections to clear the
American judicial system, before they ever saw a day
in court.
If left to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, District
Attorneys wouldn't be able to interview Sheik Khalid
Mohammed and the terrorists without their lawyers
present, to say nothing of FBI and CIA
interrogation. If left to Biden and Obama, Mohammed
would never have given the CIA the name of the
Kuwaiti who lead them to bin Laden. Over the
strident objections of Barack Obama, Joe Biden and
the entire Democratic Party, Guantanamo remains
open, Mohammed was interrogated and did give up the
Kuwaiti, and the Navy Seals, despite the objections
of Biden, Obama and all the Democrats, took out
Osama bin Laden.
If Barack Obama had been President of the United
States on 9/11, Saddam Hussein would still be
running Iraq, the Taliban would still be running
Afghanistan, and the United States would still be
running from Osama bin Laden.
If we could roll back the time bubble, Jerry, we would be living in the 1950's and have a chance to stop Rumsfeld from selling the nerve gas to Saddam, who used it to kill 40,000 Kurds. If we could roll back the time bubble, Jerry, we could stop Rumsfeld and the republicans from ousting the duly elected President of Iran and putting our choice, the Khomeini, into power!
If you want to play games with timelines, why not fix things your party perpetrated. A little self inspection is always a good thing! What say you, Jerry?
Jerry - If President Obama has been President on 9/11 the World Trade Center buildings would still be standing. The rest of your post would be moot!
Obama/Biden 2012
BS BS BS BS BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SpeekingInsanity strikes again ! So what is this .... a new conspiracy theory or just a wild-ass imagination that Barack Hussein Obama would jump into a telephone booth, spin it around a few times, pop out in his Superman suit ...... and magically stop jet aircraft "in flight" before they plunged into the world trade centers ?
Hell ! Since Obama "can do all" maybe he could have stopped that earthquake in Costa Rica !!
Whatever you're smoking, something other than Marlboros, is apparently depriving your brain of oxygen !!
Bull. The unions will be supporting the President and the Democrats because Romney and Ryan want to take away collective bargaining rights from all states and turn them into right to work states. If will NOT happen.
So you believe public employees should be unionized?
I believe you should pay my taxes, both statements are equally stupid. You should not pay my taxes and my taxes should not pay union fees and yes they do.
But we can hope it will - now there would be some Hope and Change I could live with. Wow, no more Obama AND no more unions!!!
The policies of Obama's failed administration and the criminal Unionistas are long overdue for the dungheap pile of history. We'll use that to fertilize real progress.
NYC/Union town citizen.
Yes I think public employees should be unionized. I would much rather my tax money going to American workers and their families while improving the economy. But, I am against war and my taxes paying for guns and bombs and war. What is your point?
So my tax dollars should pay union dues which go to politicians. If you do not see a problem with that, then you have no concept of freedom.
It's called "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" It is what's wrong with this country. Union coverups and protectionism have driven away jobs to other countries. Their pay and "bennies" now exceed their productivity.
But they vote Democratic, so that is why Obama protects them and coddles them. The GM bailout was nothing more than a federally-funded bailout of woefully underfunded cadillac health plan for union retirees. GM went bankrupt anyway.
A story : Dave was the sole electrician (up to 4280 volts) at a small paper manufacturing company who agreed they owed Dave back wages. Company (Caxton) said they would pay Dave when he signed an employment contract they wanted. Dave - an IBEW electrician walked to the middle of the road between Caxton and their competitor across the road. The union delegate from the big company across the road looked at Dave's case and spoke to his radio. Fifteen IBEW electricians marched out onto the road. The telephone wires hummed and the Caxton HR manager came out and gave Dave his check.
Employers lie cheat and steal from their workers and the only recourse is a strong, honest union.
Bill Past member Insurance workers union, stage hands union. IBEW.
Until unions stand against the bad ones, just like Muslims, they won't get any respect.
When the biggest pushes they make are stealing money from taxpayers, card check and voter intimidation all unions get a bad name.
Just like the Muslim community, the powerful political vocal faction of your group is a piece of crap and brings the rest of you down. Until you guys stand against the crap you will be tied to it.
Come to NYC and see the union pride you speak about. It's common knowledge that at the world trade center rebuild the union night team (IBEW) makes a differential that means of course more money for them. This infuriates the day time shift so they deliberately perform such shoddy work the night shift needs to rip it out and start over.
I see no union pride , not even in their own ranks. Despicable people stealing from a sacred site.
Why does the American Taliban always invoke Muslims?
Are you talking about Barack "Hussein" Obama ? Why do you clowns always invoke the Mormon religion ?
Hahahaha! '...'some' labor discontent?'...
This is the calm before the yoke of oppression, and a century of wage suppression is thrown off.
What I want to know is 'why' has the Department of Homeland Security recently purchased close to one billion, yes, that's 1,000,000,000, rounds of hollow point, and wall-piercing ammunition? Who are they planning to protect the Homeland from...us? Check it out!
Don't worry, the probably bought Chinese rounds.
i think we need a fact checker here i read it was social security and it was 174,000 rounds but they were hollow points i 'm not even think why they need the rounds but they do arm the guards who read magazines while on duty.
Unions, with the power to negotiate wages and benefits, make corporations compete with similar wage structures, whether union or non-union. If Corporations offer wages too low, the best people will seek the jobs with the Unions! If we do away with the Unions, as Republicans, who serve only big business interests, proclaim we must, then our wages will further stagnate, while Corporate profits, already up 240 times, will still not find it in their hearts to give Americans Living Wages.
The puropse of every Corporation is to maximize profits at the lowest wages and benefits possible. I cannot understand why no Republicans seem to be able to grasp the ugly reality of this statement!
Union labor is trained labor, with specific apprenticeship training programs that take up to 5 years to go from Apprentice to Journeyman. This does not occur with the workforces of non-union Corporate Profit Centers. They scrimp on the training, and rarely provide the same level of craftmanship. They minimize the quality workers and stuff the workloads with un-trained personnel, while I have many times seen them require their temporary employees to wear Company Clothing that is normally worn by the certified labor they swore to the customers they would provide!
Anyone with questions should ask to see the union cards or Company Id cards and the date of hire of the employees, or ask for the name of the company representative that checks training proficiency, or how long the employee has worked for the company he is representing today. Before allowing one person to set foot on your worksite, this should be done to stop the Corporations from sneaking the scabs in.
There are many companies, like Volt, who have labor on the standby, to stuff a job, bid at union wage labor guidelines, with underpaid personnel that provide the proper number of employees on a worksite without any of the certifications to make them qualified to do the jobs the customer is paying for! The businesses who pay 25 bucks an hour for these Volters, while charging their customers union scale costs is illegal!
For North Carolinians, and any non union states with Right to Work laws,who whine about Union Labor being brought in to support the Democratic Convention, maybe you should look into joining a Union and getting a chance to negotiate for real wages, not a twenty dollar salary cap!
Have the Democrat party enforce our immigration laws and there would be no $20 salary cap!
You can't have it both ways. Either you are for wage protection or not.
Obama has deported more illegals and built more fence, and doubled the number of border agents since he has been President. Your failure to yell at the failures of the Bush Administration shows how stupid your allegiance is to the truth! Creating lies to support your position may be convenient, but, like the lies we hear from the lips of Romney and Ryan, they are still lies! SHOW US YOUR TAXES, ROMNEY!
If corporations hire illegals, how is that Obama's fault and not Bush's? Do you know that the immigration into the United States is now at a net zero? Do you know that Net Zero means we are deporting as many illegals as there are illegals coming in! Why not support the Unions who allow our citizens to make better wages than the scab companies that hire the illegal labor? Why don't you whine at your own State governor, or your own city council if you know of illegals who are taking your jobs? If you won't do that, then why complain and point fingers at the Democratic President that is actually doing something about it? Isn't that just a little disengenuous on your part?
This is where the membership dues go, Union bosses salaries:
NameTitleGross SalaryBenifits & Other CompensationTotal Compensation
JAMES HOFFA
Gen President
$294,285.00
$73,715.00
$368,000.00
C KEEGEL
Gen Sec-Treasurer
$267,080.00
$81,523.00
$348,603.00
FORREST JOHNSON
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$188,095.00
$35,961.00
$224,056.00
CHARLES DEANER
Assistant To General Pres
$203,234.00
$14,473.00
$217,707.00
ROBERT BOUVIER
International VP
$213,475.00
$3,882.00
$217,357.00
GARY WITLEN
Department Director
$201,606.00
$13,891.00
$215,497.00
RICHARD BELL
Exec Asst To The GST
$197,228.00
$14,363.00
$211,591.00
RICHARD HALL
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$153,835.00
$48,631.00
$202,466.00
JAMES MCCALL
Spec Counsel
$185,000.00
$14,995.00
$199,995.00
WILLIAM SMITH
Exec Assit to GP
$150,000.00
$48,358.00
$198,358.00
JOHN WILLIAMS
Trade Division Director
$161,154.00
$27,068.00
$188,222.00
GORDON SWEETON
Intl VP/Asst to Dir
$155,570.00
$31,850.00
$187,420.00
MANUEL VALENZUELA
Organizing Coord.
$102,490.00
$84,352.00
$186,842.00
SCOTT HEGLAND
International Rep
$132,000.00
$53,368.00
$185,368.00
FRED GEGARE
Intl VP/Trade Div Dir
$160,155.00
$22,990.00
$183,145.00
DAVID BOURNE
Trade Division Director
$150,000.00
$27,254.00
$177,254.00
JEFFREY FARMER
Department Director
$149,071.00
$27,807.00
$176,878.00
BRET CALDWELL
Department Director
$147,749.00
$20,014.00
$167,763.00
STEPHEN NAGROTSKY
Assistant To Director
$150,000.00
$16,369.00
$166,369.00
MICHAEL McGAHA
Spcl Asst to Package Dir
$126,752.00
$36,751.00
$163,503.00
EDWARD KEYSER
Admin Asst to Gen Pres
$141,910.00
$20,119.00
$162,029.00
EDDIE JACOBSON
Trade Div Director
$132,834.00
$28,202.00
$161,036.00
LAMONT BYRD
Dep Director/Pr Inv For G
$143,822.00
$16,881.00
$160,703.00
EDWARD GLEASON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$15,630.00
$158,726.00
LOUIS BANIECKI
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$40,317.00
$157,747.00
MICHAEL MANLEY
Staff Attorney
$145,994.00
$11,740.00
$157,734.00
IAIN GOLD
Department Director
$140,661.00
$16,864.00
$157,525.00
TODD THOMPSON
Coord. of Spec Projects
$138,262.00
$18,353.00
$156,615.00
JOHN MURPHY
Intl VP/Conf Dir
$121,155.00
$34,227.00
$155,382.00
NEIL DITCHEK
Ast-Inter Un Aff Gen Cnsl
$141,769.00
$13,066.00
$154,835.00
MARK JOHNSON
Dir of National Training
$126,296.00
$27,804.00
$154,100.00
RICHARD GIBSON
Staff Attorney
$143,096.00
$10,398.00
$153,494.00
ANTHONY MATHIS
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,947.00
$153,377.00
SCOTT HILTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$35,416.00
$152,846.00
EDWARD PRATT
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,333.00
$150,763.00
HEATHER WIEKER
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$33,058.00
$150,488.00
$129,926.00
$20,540.00
$150,466.00
MICHAEL FILLER
Associate Director
$128,825.00
$21,278.00
$150,103.00
FREDERICK McLUCKIE
Deputy Dir Of Legislation
$135,580.00
$14,127.00
$149,707.00
JOAN DEMAN
International Auditor
$114,060.00
$35,169.00
$149,229.00
KIMBERLEE KELLER
Deputy Director
$114,900.00
$34,137.00
$149,037.00
RONALD SCHWAB
International Rep
$103,175.00
$45,535.00
$148,710.00
RICHARD HUNTINGTON
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$30,372.00
$147,802.00
CYNTHIA IMPALA
Department Director
$131,664.00
$16,013.00
$147,677.00
JOSEPH POLO
International Auditor
$110,689.00
$35,177.00
$145,866.00
JOHN SLATERY
Department Director
$127,308.00
$18,147.00
$145,455.00
CHRISTINE BAILEY
Department Director
$121,053.00
$24,224.00
$145,277.00
REBECCA HANSCOM
Organizing Coordin. - Cen
$102,476.00
$41,662.00
$144,138.00
DAVID SMITH
International Auditor
$117,430.00
$25,238.00
$142,668.00
as!ho%e you are giving teamster wages but yet i dont see any of them earning as much as your corporate friends you are a fool.let me ask,are you an old druggie who failed a drug test AFTER you wrecked or killed somebody in a vehicle cause it seems you have the royal ass against the teamsters,i'm tired of reading posts that are redundant,go get your girlie magazine and go in the bathroom.
All unions are now are just Organized crime syndicates, They protect those willing to pay and bully everyone and everything else, They are for a political party that caters to foreigners Illegal or not, Illegals have lowered wages across the Board in all forms of Services and Construction, Unions do not care as long as they get theirs.
Dick (Ernst Rohm)Trumka is at the White House Three Days a week rubbing Elbows with the President, They are Obama's brown shirts, it is grease my palm I will grease yours relationship, Why does a union president visit the White House three times a week, Because they are in collusion together,Those summer of recovery payments? Where do you think they went? That's right Unions, They are all Criminals
if thats the case then they should be charged under rico laws but only after they clear congress and senate floors of all those crooks.oh yeah and that freaking texas judge who says he is gonna revolt if my president wins another 4 years in wonderland,reason i call it that is because you wonder what those clowns are on,besides money and whores
Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital
By Matt Taibbi, August 29, 2012 7:00 AM ET
Mitt Romney, it turns out, is the perfect frontman for Wall Street's greed revolution. He's not a two-bit, shifty-eyed huckster like Lloyd Blankfein. He's not a sighing, eye-rolling, arrogant jerkwad like Jamie Dimon. But Mitt believes the same things those guys believe: He's been right with them on the front lines of the financialization revolution, a decades-long campaign in which the old, simple, let's-make-stuff-and-sell-it manufacturing economy was replaced with a new, highly complex, let's-take-stuff-and-trash-it financial economy. Instead of cars and airplanes, we built swaps, CDOs and other toxic financial products. Instead of building new companies from the ground up, we took out massive bank loans and used them to acquire existing firms, liquidating every asset in sight and leaving the target companies holding the note.
http://Bruce-1628250.newsvine.com/_news/2012/09/04/13660654-greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital
CBS’ Scot Paulsen on "2016" movie!
The Right Politics This past week, “2016: The Movie” about President Barack Obama opened in the Chicago area, and I chose to get more of an education about Obama by seeing the movie. After the inundation of canned hype for the movie on conservative talk shows across the Chicago radio dial that sounded more like commercials than honest endorsements of the movie, I was skeptical of what I was going to see. While some talk show hosts sounded like they were genuinely impressed with the documentary and honestly endorsing the film, there were those who were obviously reading a commercial script which was not coming across as sincere to the regular listener – at least not to this often-skeptical listener. Perhaps, in future promotions of the film, it would be wise to have pre-recorded commercials done by the professional commercial-makers rather than having the likes of Mark Levin and Sean Hannity doing script after script to promote the movie. After all, the listeners aren’t stupid and resent any attempt at being conned. After many reads by the talk show hosts, the readings of the commercial script were no more enthusiastic than another Life-Lock commercial read – another commercial that ought to be professionally done. Yet, I’m glad I saw the hyped-film because it was more informative than I had thought it would be and included less propaganda than I had predicted. If anything, it was nearly too informative as there was an enormous amount of information condensed into the nearly one-hour-and-a-half documentary. Fact after fact is put forth which shows that President Obama definitely has many skeletons in the closet that have not been released prior to the nation’s trust in him with the Oval Office. To watch this movie and realize – or simply be reminded of – all that is unknown about President Obama is of concern. Much of the information has been ignored by the American media totally. When appropriately reminded as to what is still unknown about Obama to date, one has to ask: How can any logical-thinking person give a damn about Romney’s taxes while not asking any questions regarding our current president’s past? The man influences the entire globe, but liberal Americans want to know how much Mitt Romney paid in taxes in the past rather than learn about the man who they have entrusted with the country. Unbelievable. The movie undeniably links Obama to persons of suspicious-interest due to their past actions and statements, such as former radical activist and Chicago educator Bill Ayers. While the media and blinded-liberals cast such facts aside, the movie does not. No, this portion of the movie is not propaganda – it is the display of factual information about relationships between people that cannot be denied. Yet, the “left” does deny the facts that are right in front of them. Quite disturbing is the talk of the United States economy in the film. The current national debt which has increased two-fold during Obama’s presidency and the horrendous economy is suggested to be part of the plan to strip the nation of democracy – reasonable cause to make citizens totally dependent on the government. The “left” is aghast at this suggestion of the current economy. They actually believe that Obama is unintelligent enough to let this economy just happen. Ironically, it’s many of the people on the “right” who know Obama’s not stupid, and much of what has happened to the United States in the past four years is part of Obama’s plan. How could one so-highly educated and intelligent as Obama not know what he was doing when he incurred such debt? I left the movie thinking more strongly than I had in the past that the current debt and this economy was part of Obama’s plan all along. Increasingly making Americans dependent on the government is the plan. What’s more, he knew his blind followers would believe it was not the plan and, of course, was all Bush’s fault. He must be laughing at his blind followers all the way to the “new America ” they’re allowing him to create. My belief is that Obama continues to prey on his die-hard followers’ stupidity to accomplish his personal goals for America. The most disturbing part of the film to me was the interview with President Obama’s half-brother George Obama from Nairobi, Kenya . How can Obama claim to want to help people when he has done absolutely nothing for his own family? It makes me wonder if he really cares about anybody if he can’t find it in his heart to help his own family. As the closing credits started to role upward across the screen, the audience applauded. Me, I just walked out – reasonably upset. Those who have already decided to vote for Obama will probably not even see the movie. It’s sad but they probably don’t want to know the truth when it is laid out so clearly for them in this documentary. The independents who are still deciding who they are going to vote for ought to see this film. I’m quite confident that any undecided voter who sees this film will know who to vote for after viewing this documentary.
If you know you’re not going to support the “left” in this coming election, see the film out of interest if you like. But, fair warning, it’s disturbing – and quite frightening – to say the least.
About Scott Paulson Scott Paulsonwrites political news and commentary for CBS Local and Examiner.com and teaches English at a community college in the Chicago area. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CBS Local
FACTS ? Ok. Suppose we actually think we can trust the right wing to come up with actual FACTS. I think there are way too many intelligent Independent voters for this "film" to cause a real stir. It's more like one more pitiful and disgusting attempt by the right to spread more lies and fiction about their Nemesis.
As an Independent voter, I resent any attempt to make an ass of me with this fictitious piece of crap. The right wingers just won't give up will they. They will try every crooked trick their army of paid SHILLS can come up with. I'm not buying what they are selling this year. I've had enough.
Boy , no opinionated prejudgement in THAT review was there?
The fact is that unions are called Labor Unions because they are made up of those workers who work the hardest. The ones who do all the real labor. The workers you all completely disrespect and believe should be grateful to crawl around on their bellies in dark poisonous holes underground to bring up the coal and ore you need to supply your luxury and comforts. While the rest of us sit at desks drinking lattes and eating chocolates they are the ones working in the hot 150 degree mills 12 to 16 hours a day to make the steel for your expensive SUV. And you think they should earn so little that they shouldn't be able to purchase an SUV of their own because they are only laborers. Snobs. All of you. And you want them to work in horrific conditions because you've been told that their safety comes at your expense. That safe working conditions make the cost of your luxuries higher. If it weren't for the labor unions they would be making less than a street vendor! If it wasn't for OSHA and environmental protection, whom most of you hate, and the labor unions you dispise, they'd be dropping like flies from Mesothelioma because of asbestos in their lungs, and dropping from those rusty cat walks high above the molten steel, they'd be suffocated by gases underground.
But as long as they don't have these unions to protect them it's alright by you. As long as you benefit from it all. That's all that matters.
Scum.
Sounds like we could lose both the Unions and tackle over population at the same time.
and maybe you'll die a long painful death at the hand of alot of non-caring doctors.
Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital
By Matt Taibbi, August 29, 2012 7:00 AM ET
Mitt Romney – a man whose own father built cars and nurtured communities, and was one of the old-school industrial anachronisms pushed aside by the new generation's wealth grab – has emerged now to sell this make-nothing, take-everything, screw-everyone ethos to the world. He's Gordon Gekko, but a new and improved version, with better PR – and a bigger goal. A takeover artist all his life, Romney is now trying to take over America itself. And if his own history is any guide, we'll all end up paying for the acquisition.
http://Bruce-1628250.newsvine.com/_news/2012/09/04/13660654-greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital
We better learn how to compete in this world economy, before we run out of countries to borrow from. This applies to all of us.
A few questions for union supporters:
If unions are all so great, why must some people be forced into joining them? What about the "worker's rights" you like to trumpet about for the poor working man that does not wish to join a union?
Why should any company or entity be responsible for incurring costs by collecting union dues? Why can't the union collect their own dues? It couldn't possibly be that, like in Wisconsin, so many people would not pay up if not forced to?