Huge union rally Saturday to send message to Democrats
Union leaders from Philadelphia gathered this morning to preview their "Workers Stand for America" rally, expected to pack 30,000 organized labor members on the Ben Franklin Parkway Saturday.
Huge union rally Saturday to send message to Democrats
Union leaders from Philadelphia gathered this morning to preview their "Workers Stand for America" rally, expected to pack 30,000 organized labor members on the Ben Franklin Parkway Saturday.
John Dougherty, leader of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, made clear that labor is feeling taken for granted by traditional Democratic political allies but denied that the rally is a "shadow convention." Unions are furious that the Democratic National Convention will start in union-unfriendly Charlotte, North Carolina on Labor Day.
"I want to thank the DNC for waking us up," Dougherty said. "The days of taking the labor movement for granted are over."
Dougherty said he does not know if President Obama or anyone from his reelection campaign will address the rally. "By Saturday, we'll know," Dougherty said.
This morning's news conference made clear Saturday's event could be an unfriendly atmosphere for Mayor Nutter. Pete Matthews, head of the city's blue-collar union, railed about Nutter's stance on contract negotiations but also noted how few local elected officials were in the room.
"Where are our political friends?" Matthews asked. "They knew about this meeting. Where are they at?"
City Councilmen Bobby Henon and Bill Green were there along with state Rep. Bill Keller.
Yeah, like these Democratic drones will vote for some other party. LOL!— Commentdant_Klink
Comment removed.- The Tonner will be there. Sounds like a good place to pick up chicks. Soccer goupies are hot.
- "I want to thank the DNC for waking us up," Dougherty said. "The days of taking the labor movement for granted are over."
boy, these union guys really are morons. of course the democrats take you for granted, since you vote for them like mindless automatons. you supported clinton and got NAFTA. you supported obama and got no help recalling scott walker in Wis., couldn't pass card check even when reid had a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the senate, etc.
keep giving to the democrats, though - I'm not surprised. The MLS All Star was a huge success. The US Women's team is on a great run again. Abby Wambach continues to dazzle and is getting some major endorsement deals. The Sons of Ben are always increasing their presence. PPL Park is probably the 4th best sports arena in the city behind the Palestra, CBP and Franklin Field. And Hackworth has really instilled a sense of excitement into the younger players. Good work guys.— AreaMan
- Comment removed.
- I'm not anti-union by any stretch but I am anti-all of the bully meatheads that compose our cities unions. To anyone who missed the excellent piece regarding the bullying going on at a local construction site, I encourage you to do a search on this site and read the article(s).
When you resort to knocking down fences, pushing security guards, pouring oil on fences and blocking delivery trucks, you should be thrown in jail but I guess money and strong arm tactics work well for you. How many lucrative conventions have you cost the city as a result of your methods and price gouging?— SourMath - What has the great Union man Bob Brady done for the fire fighters or District Council 33 and 47? The dope Union heads in the city should unite and run a candidate for Mayor in 2015. Bob Brady would soil his pants if they did.— Michael T. Welsh
Reagan Democrats from Wisconsin to give the keynote speech.
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If these Reagan Democrats, who DON'T use union labor to build their New Jersey homes, if Reagan Democrats don't realize that they have been voting against the very government that would have given them contracts to restore our water mains, if Reagan Democrats don't realize that, then they deserve Wisconsin and a second generation rich guy.
— Cuddles- do thses unions allow in african-americans, yet, or are they still all-white, subrurban men?
- If these Reagan Democrats, who DON'T use union labor to build their New Jersey homes, if Reagan Democrats don't realize that they have been voting against the very government that would have given them contracts to restore our water mains, if Reagan Democrats don't realize that, then they deserve Wisconsin and a second generation rich guy.
— Cuddles - MY DADDY IS AFRICAN AMERICAN! HOW DARE YOU BE SUCH A JERK! YOU RACIST PIG
YOU ARE MEAN AND HURTFUL. I HATE YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT A JERK YOU ARE
MY DADDY NEEDS THIS MONEY AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE MAKING US LOOSE OUR MONEY WITCH LEADS TO OUR HOUSE AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE. SO JUST SHUT YOUR STUPID JERK MOUTH AND GET A LIFE.— edesigner100 - AreaMan are you serious or was that a joke?— fbrookes
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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