Rahm Emanuel Is a Union-buster. So Why Are Chicago Unions Backing Him?

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor & Socialist-Progressive


Despite Rahm Emanuel’s well deserved reputation as an anti-worker mayor, only a few unions have been willing to take him on. (Image via Rahm for Chicago)

http://inthesetimes.com/article/17548/rahm_emanuel_unions

FEATURES » JANUARY 28, 2015

Most of the city’s labor movement is laying low or supporting the mayor in the upcoming election, despite his well-known anti-worker policies.
BY DAVID MOBERG

When Rahm Emanuel strode into office as mayor of Chicago in 2011, one of his first targets was the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). He sought and obtained state legislation limiting the right of Chicago teachers to strike. But he lost doubly in the fall of 2012: The CTU successfully mobilized its members to go on strike, then won both a good contract and the battle for public support. Yet Emanuel still closed 49 public schools and expanded charter schools the following spring. Meanwhile, other public employee unions moved into the mayor’s crosshairs as he drastically cut and privatized city jobs and services, often with help from a Democratic governor and state legislature.

Emanuel stands for re-election February 24 in a non-partisan primary against four challengers (and if no one wins 50 percent of the vote plus one, there will be a run-off between the top two on April 7). Polls suggest Chicagoans are not satisfied with their mayor, but most observers give him the odds because of his financial advantage—as of early 2015, he had a $11 million war chest, 10 times that of any opponent.

In theory, labor could be an important part of these calculations. Chicago is a more unionized city than most, and union endorsements typically come with credibility, money and an army of campaign workers. But despite Emanuel’s anti-union record, unions are divided about how to deal with “Mayor 1%,” as Kari Lydersen’s biography of Emanuel is titled.

Emanuel earned that sobriquet not only for the millions he made working for an investment bank and his gift for convincing the rich to empty their pocketbooks for the Democratic Party, but also his disdain for unions. “Fuck the UAW,” he infamously said when serving as Obama’s chief of staff during the auto bailout. He also largely shares the worldview of the financial and corporate elite: Give the hard back of the free-market hand to Jane and Joe Sixpack, the soft palm of friendly government to needy businesses.

FULL story at link.

[ND-Dem]

1. cause they're corrupt or their leadership is? that would be my first guess.

[former9thward]

2. In Chicago the unions have always been part of the Democratic Machine.

The Machine gives out no bid contracts to developers and those developers hire union workers. In wards where progressives run unions send people to campaign against them. Been going on forever. I did not read the story at the link but I suspect the author, David Moberg, who I believe lives in Chicago, knows this very well.

[Starry Messenger]

3. I can understand AFSCME's dilemma and the building trades, cop and fire are usually status quo

I wish the others would throw in though.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Tons of these so called regrestive ideas

have come from what can be called the Chicago school of thought. One only has to look at present day politics. It is top down for the most part and in saying that,there is a small cluster of monied Elietest persons educated in Ivy League Schools who abandoned their roots. Look around and you will notice this,we are tribal society,meaning we select our working associates and social associates by our personal likes and dislikes. Fraternities and Sororities are a key player in how many institutions are organized,and in saying that,Emanuel,Duncan and others will shape Chicago to the liking of their social economic circle of friends. We have a White House dominated by Harvard,the previous person brought in his Yale cronies. In Chi-Town,it's the Cook County Machine that run the show and it is all about money power and keeping people within their Classes.

[Tatiana]

5. They foolishly think they will get more jobs/higher wages.

It's ridiculous. No self-respecting legitimate union would ever back Rahm. As a matter of fact, no self-respecting Chicagoan should ever consider voting for Rahm. He makes Daley Jr. look like the Messiah.