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On Bended Knees-Pres of SFLC And SF Unite-HERE Local 2:Nancy Too Busy To "Indulge us"
Mike Casey, the president of the SF Labor Council and Unite-HERE Local 2 argued against a debate of the Congressional candidates in San Francisco arguing that Nancy was too busy to have a debate and she should not "indulge us" with a debate. Instead she should spend her time elsewhere according to Casey.
On Bended Knees-SF Pres Of Labor Council And Unite-HERE Local 2: Nancy Too Busy To "Indulge Us"
Minutes Of San Francisco Labor Council Meeting
September 22, 2008 Page 3 Of 3
"President Mike Casey said he called Pelosi's office and asked if she would attend a debate and the answer was no because she was too busy. He said her schedule is not public because she is third in line to the presidency, but what he hopes it includes is raising money for battleground states and getting Barack Obama elected. President Casey said he does not want Pelosi returning to San Francisco to indulge us when her time should be spent elsewhere. He said he is all for raising these issues with Pelosi, but the most important task in the next few weeks is to elect Obama. There is nothing more important than that and Pelosi needs to be out raising money for our candidate. In addition, President Casey said if Pelosi doesn't attend this debate the headlines in Matier and Ross will read "Pelosi Snubs SF Labor Movement" and this is the last kind of distraction we need. He urged people to vote against the motion."
A motion had been submitted by over Labor Council 20 delegates to have a debate between all the Congressional candidates in District 8 sponsored by the SF Labor Council.
Minutes Of San Francisco Labor Council Meeting
September 22, 2008 Page 3 Of 3
"President Mike Casey said he called Pelosi's office and asked if she would attend a debate and the answer was no because she was too busy. He said her schedule is not public because she is third in line to the presidency, but what he hopes it includes is raising money for battleground states and getting Barack Obama elected. President Casey said he does not want Pelosi returning to San Francisco to indulge us when her time should be spent elsewhere. He said he is all for raising these issues with Pelosi, but the most important task in the next few weeks is to elect Obama. There is nothing more important than that and Pelosi needs to be out raising money for our candidate. In addition, President Casey said if Pelosi doesn't attend this debate the headlines in Matier and Ross will read "Pelosi Snubs SF Labor Movement" and this is the last kind of distraction we need. He urged people to vote against the motion."
A motion had been submitted by over Labor Council 20 delegates to have a debate between all the Congressional candidates in District 8 sponsored by the SF Labor Council.
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This is a good example of why the labor movement makes little, if any, progress for labor's causes or anyone's needs. Labor unions are so beholden to the Democrats and fearful of Republicans that they make no demands on their endorsed candidates. Despite the fact that Pelosi is a millionaire with no connection to working class people, other than to take their votes for granted and offer crumbs like raising the minimum wage to where it should have been 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, the arrogant political hack has worked with her party to undermine democracy and ignored constituents who want Bush impeached, Iraq war funding cut, and a real debate on single payer health care, repeal of Taft-Hartley, and electoral reform. Obviously Pelosi is afraid of a debate with Cindy Sheehan because Pelosi would have to actually answer to her constituents and be exposed as the fraud she really is. She has done as much damage to the US Constitution by taking impeachment off the table as Bush & Cheney have done with their impeachable offenses.
The forces within the labor movement who are sick and tired of selling out to the Demopublicans need to keep pushing and demanding more from their so-called leaders than accepting the status quo.
Meanwhile, the arrogant political hack has worked with her party to undermine democracy and ignored constituents who want Bush impeached, Iraq war funding cut, and a real debate on single payer health care, repeal of Taft-Hartley, and electoral reform. Obviously Pelosi is afraid of a debate with Cindy Sheehan because Pelosi would have to actually answer to her constituents and be exposed as the fraud she really is. She has done as much damage to the US Constitution by taking impeachment off the table as Bush & Cheney have done with their impeachable offenses.
The forces within the labor movement who are sick and tired of selling out to the Demopublicans need to keep pushing and demanding more from their so-called leaders than accepting the status quo.
Mike Casey has been the President of HRE #2 (Now Unite-Here) for at least 12 years . But was he even elected to that position ? I have spoke to several members of that local and no one can remember if and when a election occcurred . Another question is if and when was he a rank and file member of Local 2. I have asked people was he formerly a cook, Bartender, waiter, bell hop, sous chef , etc. No one knows . All revelant questions because if he wasn't a rank and filer that won a democractic election then perhaps that helps explain (besides his and other officials idelogical ties to the Democrats ) why he is opposed to a democratic debate .
Mike Casey was first elected President of Local 2 in 1994 as I recall. And he's been re-elected overwhelmingly every 3 years since - the last time in 2006 during our union's very difficult and prolonged contract fight with the huge corporations which now own and/or operate most all hotels in SF.
And our union not only endorsed but worked very hard for Matt Gonzalez when he ran against Gavin for Mayor. That's Matt Gonzalez of the Green Party.
And our union not only endorsed but worked very hard for Matt Gonzalez when he ran against Gavin for Mayor. That's Matt Gonzalez of the Green Party.
The fact that Local 2 has endorsed Matt Gonzalez in a past election does not justify their leader's opposition to a democratic debate for those running for Congress in San Francisco. In fact the Local 2 management operate a autocratic union that violates it's own constitution by refusing to hold regular monthly meetings for the members although this is required by the bylaws. Instead the insiders make all the decisions. Who decided that Local 2 would support war monger and union buster Pelosi. Was this a membership decision or a decision made by the officers without any imput from the members. Of course if you refuse to hold monthly union membership meetings you are free to make all the decisions for the members whether they are good or bad and this method of operation is not a method that puts the membership in power. Saying that it would be "indulgent" of the labor movement to have a debate of the Congressional candidates is a statement of contempt for the membership and for democracy in this corporate controlled charade called an election.
me and a few select delegates(including an executive committee member) have been pushing for a debate/labor council presence for cindy sheehan since march of this year. the case of mike casey and tim paulson (who told me when i asked him to sign the petition to get cindy on the ballot that she should 'move to texas and run against a republican') just personifies the classic 'wait-until-it's too-late' methodology used by labor hardliners too willing to spit-shine nancy pelosi's gavel. power is as power does, gumponian two party politics of power will always prevail and leave a general sense of malaise within what's (not) left (enough)of the movement; for people are now way too complacent to the power structure that really doesn't serve our interests like they used to..
For all it's ''progressive '' rhetoric the SF Bay area (not just SF ) Labor movement is sorely lacking . Practically all Union officials support any and all Democrats (not just Pelosi ) in a knee jerk fashion . (Only a few honorable exceptions . Gloria La Riva of the ITU/CWA . the woman who is the president of the Sign and Display workers union(her name escapes me ) , and Clarence Thomas , Trent Willis and Jack Heyman of the IlWU are the only ones that immediately come to mind . )
Not only has it been left to mostly non union Immigrant workers and ILWU to revive marching in the streets on May Day there are no Labor day marches anywhere in the Bay area .
In contrast i was in Toledo Ohio , less than half the size of Sf, a couple of years ago and there were almost 10, 000 workers marching (and on a week day no less ! )
Not only has it been left to mostly non union Immigrant workers and ILWU to revive marching in the streets on May Day there are no Labor day marches anywhere in the Bay area .
In contrast i was in Toledo Ohio , less than half the size of Sf, a couple of years ago and there were almost 10, 000 workers marching (and on a week day no less ! )
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