And this is the way labor behaves with each other? I think not. Someone here has no interest at all in the plight of the worker and should be outed for their subversive motives. If Labor is going to blaze the path of a brave new world, we need to clean ourselves up. And management organizations must not be allowed to masquerade as workers' unions. The line of division must be clear.
And when we are physically attacked in lieu of civil discourse, I see no alternative save self-defense with equal or greater force than that of the attackers. We must not be "brought down to their level". But we must not be trampled under, either.
And when we are physically attacked in lieu of civil discourse, I see no alternative save self-defense with equal or greater force than that of the attackers. We must not be "brought down to their level". But we must not be trampled under, either.
Dearborn, MI-The Service Employees International Union turned their dispute with the California Nurses Association violent by attacking a labor conference April 12, injuring several and sending an American Axle striker to the hospital.
A recently retired member of United Auto Workers Local 235, Dianne Feeley, suffered a head wound after being knocked to the ground by SEIU International staff and local members. Other conference-goers- members of the Teamsters, UAW, UNITE HERE, International Longshoremen' s Association, and SEIU itself-were punched, kicked, shoved, and pushed to the floor. Dearborn police responded and evicted the three bus loads of SEIU International staff and members of local and regional health care unions. No arrests were made.
The assault took place at the Labor Notes conference, a biennial gathering of 1,100 union members and leaders who met to discuss strategies to rebuild the labor movement.
David Cohen, an international representative of the United Electrical Workers, asked protesters why they came. He said one responded, "they told us just to get on the bus."
The protesters included several members with young children, who had to be ushered away when SEIU tried to force their way into the conference banquet hall. Protesters were targeting Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the AFL-CIO-affiliated CNA. DeMoro was scheduled to speak but declined to appear after threats were made against her union's leadership.
Despite being welcomed to the conference earlier in the day-and given space to debate supporters of the CNA and the National Nurses Organizing Committee about neutrality organizing agreements-SEIU international and regional staff shouted down speakers at workshops and panels throughout the event.
"Labor Notes has always been a space for open debate, but when a union decides to engage in violence against their brothers and sisters, we draw a line," said Mark Brenner, director of Labor Notes. "Violence within the labor movement is unacceptable and we call on the national leadership of SEIU, including President Andy Stern, to repudiate it."
The SEIU International has a policy of 'Partnership with Capital" at
the expense of its own members and other unions. The SEIU thugs attack
a meeting workers and assault people and 'no arrests were made'. These
thugs have the protection of the boss' government through the open
collaboration of the SEIU International Union. When was the last time
that the SEIU International Union defended a picket line? Hell most of
them have never been on a picket line.
