Comments on: Blagojevich’s SEIU Contact NOT Andy Stern

By: CharlieR

CharlieR — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:26:52 +0000

I am a strong union supporter, so I’m not coming at this from an anti-union place.
You may love everything Andy Stern says.
You may want to learn more about what Andy Stern actually does. His corrupt and anti-democratic practices are disturbing to say the least.
The autocratic and dictatorial way he runs the SEIU are reminicsent of third-world dictatorships.
He condones corruption, retaliates against those who disagree; he’s openly disdainful of union democracy; he’s engineered poorly plnned, forced mergers without democratic votes af the affected members, causing chaos; he has a team of publicists paid for by dues dollars to polish and promote his phony image as visionary media darling. He’s wrecking the union!
Whether he himself, or his top lieutenant Balanoff, is the union official identified in the Blagojevich complaint is immaterial. Balanoff would NEVER make a move like this without Stern.
The sad thing is that most in the progressive community and most SEIU members don’t get to hear about he stuff because the Stern propaganda machine doesn’t talk about it, and the MSM don’t really cover it. Go to www.seiuvoice.org to learn about one local union’s struggle for reform.

By: Nell

Nell — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:04:47 +0000

Including the part where he’s taking over locals and putting his own people in leadership? Including the part where he’s sending goons to the Labor Notes conference?

Andy Stern is a problematic figure.

By: gottasaythis

gottasaythis — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:45:39 +0000

So when is Andy Stern going to say “the buck stops here”?, or is it OK for everyone around him to do as they please while he preaches lofty ideals?

By: JohnLopresti

JohnLopresti — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:27:29 +0000

Maybe some elements of the strategy we are seeing are the irritation of reviewing SEIU’s stature, as a wedge issue to do the usual Republican things to unions. At the dendrite level, is the HAVAacorn turmoil guaranteed to be part of obstruction Republicanism in the 111th congress. Like the management angst in hearings last week concerning the auto industry, there is change in store for unions, though I would wait to characterize that more than some of the good outfits are going to be stronger by showing leadership. There is always Chicago’s historic place in the development of unions to ponder as a sure rankling memory for the historically bent among Republicans. There may be factual ways to bring Seiu into issue-specific critique in the Blago matter, however, I glimpse those wider issues in the outset of this paragraph, as well. Election is past, and Republican strategies are rolling out while the machine is still as energized as it can be after the kind of clueless presentation their campaign represented. I think they like their lame duck served right away, as later fare is going to be more embarrassing. If leading cabinet nominations are garnering sufficiently ample support among Republicans in congress, talking to the press as they are already the configuration of the administration entering seems to have scoped its aims and implementations well.

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:57:44 +0000

I’d like to know how much her and her husband’s net worth has increased since the Rethugs took over Congress in 94. Not including the current disaster.

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:53:23 +0000

It’s going to be very interesting when the showdown for the other $350B occurs. We’ve seen that Paulson, Bernanke and the banks are not interested in resolving the mortgage meltdown. My perspective is that when these people talk about “the economy” they’re talking strictly about Wall Street. As long as the biggest players in that shell game don’t suffer the losses that the little fish do then “the economy” is on the right track to recovery. If the Rethugs can keep Congress from re-regulating the financial sector Wall Street, Citi, et al can continue to siphon wealth from the great unwashed masses. Wealth doesn’t trickle down, it’s hoovered up out of our pockets.

By: eCAHNomics

eCAHNomics — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:48:14 +0000

Remember how optimistic we were just 2 years ago? What a difference 2 years make.

By: Leen

Leen — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:47:29 +0000

The Republicans have been doing a damn good job at being “obstructionist” the last two years that the Dems have been pushing back a bit.

It takes lies under oath about a bj to get the Republicans Justice juices flowing. Thousands of dead and injured Americans and Iraqi’s just does not stir it up for them.

By: eCAHNomics

eCAHNomics — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:44:12 +0000

And Pelosi acts like a flaming a-hole.

By: nahant

nahant — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:43:36 +0000

Be back later… Dinner..