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Did Union Feuds Cause DNC Convention Planners to go Union-Free?

Money, Support & GOTV Aside, DNC Picks Least Unionized State For 2012 Convention.

By: LaborUnionReport (Diary)  |  February 2nd, 2011 at 02:30 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

After spending hundreds of millions to ensure they owned the party, Lefties and union members have got to be feeling just a little betrayed after the Democratic National Committee’s convention planners chose Charlotte, North Carolina—the least unionized state in the nation—as the site to hold the 2012 convention. While progressive activists’ heads are still spinning, you can bet that, if union bosses in Washington did not agree with the move, and with other “union” cities in the running (including such illustrious hotspots as Cleveland, Minneapolis, and St. Louis), Charlotte would not be having the convention. So, what’s the real reason Charlotte—a city without a single unionized hotel, as well as a union-free convention center—was chosen?

Well, it could be a purely political play like DNC Chairman Tim Kaine tried (rather unsuccessfully) to spin it to MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell. However, given the fact that Ohio may be a bigger swing state than North Carolina in 2012, why not go to Cleveland? [That city could certainly use the boost.] Unless, of course, the real reason has to do with union politics and Charlotte has been chosen precisely because it is union-free.

The AFL-CIO Hatfields vs. the C2W McCoys

You know, when one of your main constituencies is unions, having a convention in a city where there are a lot of unions can be more trouble than it’s worth since at any given moment, a feud between unions can cause a very embarrassing situation occur on national TV. Further, keeping in mind that there are two union federations, the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, with feuds going on between the unions in both, it is very likely Charlotte was chosen as a sort of DMZ so as not to anger the union bosses on either side.

Between the cities in the running, UNITE-HERE (an AFL-CIO affiliate) has Minneapolis and St. Louis, whereas Workers United (which used to be part of UNITE-HERE, but is now part of the non-AFL-CIO SEIU) has Cleveland. This has been a point of contention for quite some time.

UNITE HERE urged the DNC to consider only Minneapolis and St. Louis, cities where the union has a significant presence.

While Charlotte has no union hotels at all, Cleveland has them — but they are organized by a rival union, Workers United, which split with UNITE HERE in 2009 after a nasty leadership battle.

To further complicate matters for St. Louis is the turf war over jurisdiction raging between the IBEW (AFL-CIO) and the Carpenters (Change to Win). While it is possible, that the fight between those two might be wrapped up by 2012, the negotiations for the convention-related work that would, by necessity, take place beforehand (in the midst of the feud) would likely exacerbate the situation.

That leaves Charlotte, the only choice that could be made, where there are no unions to fight over turf and no union bosses’ egos to be bruised. Charlotte has become the union-free Switzerland.

Besides the irony that the union-controlled DNC has likely chosen to go union-free because union bosses can’t get along with each other, there is the real impact on those union members in one of the three other “union cities” who will not be getting the work because of their union bosses’ own egos.

Now, ain’t that somethin’!

_________________

“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

X-posted.

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COMMENTS

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  • Deskpilot

    This takes the DNC most prostituted constituency, UNIONS (doesn’t matter which one) and relegates them to the equivelency of Cinderella’s horse poop outside the ball. Useless and stinking not what what happens to it.
    One of the several considerations that Gov. dared not disclose, is that by going to a UNION-FREE ZONE, the NDC will be saving millions of dollars by paying the going area wages without union cost premuims, the ability to make things happen is short order without the union framework to negotiate around.
    i.e. If a carpenter has to plug in a drill to make a stage, he doesn’t need to get a electrician who then has to get permission from a foreman.
    The facilities will take on the staff necessary to accomplish the mission in the most cost effective manner in order to make a profit AND serve the needs of the customer (the DNC attendees)

    • Deskpilot

      “Useless and stinking not what what happens to it.”
      Useless and stinking, no matter what happens to it.
      – Thanks for understanding

    • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

      is a topic for a whole other post.

      The price of union labor at the Convention Center has cost Philadelphia’s hotel industry 400,000 nights of business between 2007 and 2009, according to a new report that takes a broad look at the center’s operations, management, marketing, and business plans.

      Labor costs were the single biggest reason for the lost business at the center during those years, the report said, with three dozen groups deciding to take their thousands of conventioneers somewhere other than Philadelphia.

      [snip]

      The state-ordered report made no outright recommendation about reducing the number of labor unions used to set up and break down convention and trade-show exhibits. It did, however, point out that no other facility has as many unions, with some engaging three or four at most.

      http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-21/news/27041000_1_ahmeenah-young-susan-sieger-conventioneers

  • uselogic

    And your comment so hits home, Deskpilot.

    “i.e. If a carpenter has to plug in a drill to make a stage, he doesn

  • dsmurf

    nt

  • steve010

    to vote for Barry, even if he has his convention here. NC at best with all the stars in alignment for Barry is 50/50. The State only has 15 electoral votes. Compare this to FL, PA, OH and MO. The Gop convention is in FL, so I guess Barry doesn’t want to compete there, but this 2012 election is going to come down to OH. It is amazing to me that he wouldn’t have his convention in OH because his people should camp out in this state if he wants to be re-elected. This is Barry’s first snub of OH and MO. there will be many more.

  • lane

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/us/politics/02dems.html

  • darjon38

    For such an alleged intelligent person, this potus and his minions are disturbing to say the least. It is my sincere hope that the folks will see thru his arrogant facade for the devious person he truly is.

  • republicanconscience

    Democrats are trying to impose unions on everything. Reasonable people know that unions raise the cost of everything while bringing down the quality of the products or services provided. Now that Democrats are buying a product, they want the best bang for their buck like everyday people do.

    Now is the time to repeal the Davis-Bacon Act so that any contracted government services can be purchased at lower prices. Strike while the iron is hot.

  • http://www.voteforteri2010.com teridavisnewman

    Florida, the location of the GOP convention, is ALSO a right-to-work state. Repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act is LONG overdue. Illinois and other union states can no longer compete with right to work states and jobs and businesses are leaving union states at an amazing pace. Only 12% of the workers in America belong to a union in the 21st century and the unions are in an increasingly desperate fight for their very existence–which is why they are frantically working to get “card check” laws passed. How do they compete with Chinese workers who are working 12 hours a day 7 days a week for $130 a month? The answer is obvious: they can’t, and they know it. In order to keep their political power–power that was paid for by the sweat of their members who are forced to pay up continuously in order to finance the power grab of their leaders. The union rank-and-file members are watching their leaders visit the White House and eat steak and lobster while they are wondering if they are going to have their jobs next week. Right-to-work states are going to continue to take jobs and businesses from Illinois and other union states. The more that leave, the worse it becomes as the fewer people and businesses that remain will have to pay increasingly higher taxes which will eventually lead to the implosion of the State–which is headed that way now after years of tax and spend liberal Democratic rule. Illinois is doomed by the profligate spending of her legendarily corrupt politicians, who are owned by the unions. Illinois continues to be the punch line of every joke about corruption. She has lost yet another Congressional seat as in the previous two (1990 and 2000) decennial counts because of the mass exodus of the population that can afford to leave–and it is the ones who can’t afford to leave that stay behind and pay the ever-rising cost of life in the “Land of Lincoln”. The greed of Illinois politicians is dooming the future of the wonderful people of Illinois. The policies of Chicago area are implemented while the rest of the state gets stuck with the bill and the only thing that will save Illinois is bankruptcy and conservative state government legislators with restraint in spending programs and getting rid of the illegal aliens living in the “sanctuary city” of Chicago and costing Illinois taxpayers billions of dollars for medical care, education, housing. food and all the other freebies they receive; courtesy of Illinois taxpayers. Illinois is on the wrong path and has been for 30 years and unless the corrupt bought-and-paid-for politicians are voted out of office, there is no hope for my home state–a state that has seen the birth of four generations of my family.

  • gumbeaux

    The Charlotte media is all ga-ga over the convention coming here. All they can do is sing wonderful songs about it. Here in the ignorant south we are going to get the Democratic Party Convention. The beast has a dark underbelly too. Unpaid hotel rooms, unpaid meal tickets and restaurant tabs, unpaid transport bills from the airport to the hotels, unpaid bar tabs just to name a few things this group is noted for courtesy of campaigns for office as well as conventions. Ask Hillary, she stiffed a lot of people when she was running against Barry Soetoro. Not to mention other candidates and cities that had to eat the bills. One thing for sure, I will stay as far away from Charlotte as I can when that circus starts in 2012.

  • brooklyncon

    The Dems know they’ll save money by going union free. (And the unions not complain publicly about it as long as the Obama administration keeps showering them with other gifts.)

    Meanwhile, I heard from a participant in last year’s CPAC that you if you wanted to bring in more than what you could carry in one trip, you were required to hire a Teamster union member to carry it in. I can’t personally verify, but since DC is overrun with unions I certainly believe it.

  • whimsley

    “The People’s Convention”. Doesn’t the very name have a socialistic (or, dare I say it, a communistic) ring to it?

    • capeconservative

      and I agree wholeheartedly with your statement!

      It’s as if the cat is out of the bag now and the Dems are free to speak of their socialist intentions whenever they please!

      Do so at your peril, Dems!!!!

      As an aside, I believe if I were a business in Charlotte, I’d be asking for some very good deposits up front!!!!!

  • tex41lb

    Far be it for me to see this glass as half full. Could it be the unions agreed to SC because it is nounion and thus in their minds ripe for organizing new members. The case can be made for the endless opportunities that will arise for all the union folk at the convention to point out to the non union workers how much more in wages and benifits they could be making were they to unionize and similer lies that appeal to the lazy and greedy. Joe the electrician might be swayed into signing a card if the sweettalk is oozing enough honey.

  • edwlstr

    please turn out the lights?