Edwards Saddled with Toussaint Endorsement (NY Chapter Transit Workers Union)

[NYCGirl]

Yesterday, John Edwards "won" the support of the New York Chapter of the Transit Workers Union. He even showed up in the city to rejoice with Roger Toussaint, who represents up to 34,000 union votes in the region. We can't help but think, though, that this public display of affection might not have been the best idea. In a city where Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton already have an edge — why affiliate yourself with a shyster who is most famous for inconveniencing millions of New Yorkers for no legitimate reason with the illegal transit strike in 2005? Hillary's lucky she dodged this bullet. Edwards probably assumed that New Yorkers who feel good about unions outnumber those who are still irritated about the strike, forgetting, of course, that we city people are like elephants. We have long memories, and we think it's a real bitch to walk from the Upper East Side to Wall Street.

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/09/edwards_saddled_with_toussaint_1.html

[KaptBunnyPants]

1. Rich crybabies. A strike is the only effective tool workers have.

If you don't like it, then maybe you should actually consider improving the conditions of the underclass you've been screwing for the last 30 years. And that goes double for the fake left found in neoliberal centers in New York.

[NYCGirl]

2. So where do you live? And, BTW, I've been a lefty since probably before you

were born.

[KaptBunnyPants]

6. I live in the most anti-worker state possible, Texas.

As the old saying should have gone, I was born in Texas, but I'm getting away from here as fast as I can. I can't afford school anywhere else because state schools only offer tuition breaks to long term residents. So I'm here until I'm done, which will be mercifully soon. And I wouldn't doubt that you've been a Lefty since before I was born, I am young, and have no reason to doubt your politics. I was commenting on the tone of the article you posted, which showed a lot more concern for their personal convenience than in ensuring that working people are justly compensated for their efforts. Since you didn't comment on the article, I have no idea what your opinion is of it. The only reason to take offense to my post is if you self identify with the neoliberal left which abandoned workers a long time ago.

[NYCGirl]

7. Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I am not a fan of Roger Toussaint

and how he handled the strike. I am a long time union member...they're entertainers' unions, but AFL-CIO nonetheless.

[Adelante]

11. I have a nephew who is TWU

He's probably to the left of Toussaint. Anyway, he can't stand the guy and says Toussaint sold them out in their last contract. I don't live in NYC anymore and am not too up on this, so I don't know what the contract issue was about. I do remember when Mike Quill was the most hated man in New York; however, a true blue labor leader who had the respect of that membership.

[saracat]

3. Interesting spin by the competition. And I do not think this hurts in the least!

It is just one more labor union for Edwards and before you say my opinion isn't worth sqat, I was a born and bred NYer.76th St and Central Park west is where I used to live.When I was young, I commuted with my parents from Westchester.My family still lives in both NYC and the burbs. You are wrong in this being hurtful!

[NYCGirl]

4. I didn't say it, NY Magazine did. But I do think Toussaint is a scammer. NT

[Adelante]

5. I got a kick out of this one

TWU president James Little said that the more than 200,000 national active and retired members of the union–including about 36,000 in the New York local, led by Roger Toussaint of MTA-strike fame–were endorsing Edwards because he would not “triangulate” and would be a clear voice for labor.

During a short question-and-answer period after the announcement in the Broadway headquarters, a Daily News reporter asked the seemingly straightforward question of whether TWU members and other public workers should be sanctioned if they strike. The champion of labor dodged the question.

He said the law should be changed in America to make it easier for workers to organize. He said the collective bargaining process should be strengthened. He said he had walked on 200 picket lines in the last two years.

“Those are the things that I would focus on,” he said.

But, the reporter insisted, should public workers be allowed to strike without fear of sanctions? “I stand by my answer,” said Edwards.

He took another question. It was the same one, this time from a New York Post reporter.

“I’ll stand by my answer,” he said.

http://www.observer.com/2007/edwards-dodges-striking-workers

I don't know about "triangulating" but he sure can talk out of two sides of his mouth. :D

[skiddlybop]

8. Ummm, short memories on this thread.

Bloomberg was trying to wedge pensions out of EVERY city contract by starting with the mainly African-American TWU, and rightly figured that no one would ever come to the defense of that union. By striking, they saved every other uniformed worker's pension...but still got attacked by the media and Bloomberg and even other stupid union members.

Once again, black people took the hit in a racist set-up, and everyone else put them down in a racist way.

[Adelante]

12. But back to the question ...

This is a candidate receiving a labor endorsement and has no answer when he's asked about a no strike clause in a labor law?

[Cameron27]

13. Ridiculous.

Dodging questions on a no strike clause isn't smart even if he didn't just get the endorsement. His answer was absurd.

[benny05]

10. I don't blame JRE for repeating his stance

I wouldn't want to talk with a NY Post or Observer one either since they twist things constantly.

[Orangepeel]

9. I don't think Edwards was going to win the NY primary anyway

and any union endorsement is going to help among union members in the rest of the country.