NYC Police, Fire Unions appeal to Bush

[JoFerret]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4446029,00.html

NEW YORK (AP) - Days before the Republican National Convention, the city's police and fire unions are asking President Bush to intercede with Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg to help them win raises in their contract dispute.

At a news conference Monday with the World Trade Center site as a backdrop, the unions said they sent a letter to the president on Aug. 17 seeking his ``help and support.''

``This mayor does not respect the uniformed workers of the city ... and we want the president to understand what is going on,'' said Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

The unions, which have not ruled out staging an illegal strike or sickout during the convention, have been working without a contract for more than two years. The four-day convention, in which Bush will be renominated, begins Aug. 30.

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[denverbill]

1. Sorry, but Shrub doesn't really give a damn about the heroes of 9-11.

Oh sure, he likes to stand side-by-side with them in photo-ops once any danger is long, long past. But he'd just as soon they risk their lives for less money so he can keep more of his 'hard-earned' money.

To him, police and firefighters are just two more unions that need busting.

[JoFerret]

9. But here is a golden opportunity

to do a one-time meaningless symbolic act. Let's hope that on this issue at least Bush shows "resolve" and stands "hard"(or is it firm? he is so wishy this and then washy that it is hard to know how turgid he is.)

[proud patriot]

2. I wish them the best of luck , but doubt bush will lift a finger

he can't be bothered with all that now as he must
practice his speech at the ex pig farm.

[Hobarticus]

3. Sorry, no...but can you pose for a photo op?

[Nimrod]

4. Yeek

Let me see here. RNC, God knows how many protesters, and police and firefighters on strike...

It'll make some fascinating TV at the very least.

[Bluebear]

5. No, but he'll be happy to use your buddy's corpse in a TV ad

nt

[Hobarticus]

6. Jesus, that's right...I forgot about that...

[Bluebear]

8. There's too much slime to remember

It keeps piling on!

[chelsea0011]

7. Are they kidding? Bush is pissed that he couldn't take away their OT also

Bush wishes that all overtime was abolished.

[schultzee]

18. He is trying to impoverish those who would dissent his establishment

of a feudalistic style economy. He has no respect for anyone who is not rich and priviledged. And he thinks he is worthy. lol He is so uneducated. His diploma is worthless because he bought it.

[Sugarbleus]

10. I saw them on the tube today.

Was a powerful display; unfortunately Bush doesn't give a damn about citizens of this country unless they are Billionaires.

I hope their protests bring more attention to the fact that Bushco NEEDS TO GO!!

[Spinzonner]

15. Now that's not fair

He cares about the multi-millionaires too.

[Sugarbleus]

16. Oops........... =o) n/t

[proud patriot]

11. I imagine bush's response to this plea

"damn them leftist union thugs trying to push me around."

[tom_paine]

12. LOL. They have EXACTLY the same chance as a Jew petitioning Hitler

for aid.

NONE.

ZIP. ZILCHO. NADA.

They should have saved their efforts for something which had a better chance of getting through.

Like the NAACP petitioning the Klan for assistance.

[annabanana]

13. Police and Fire Union don't appeal to Bush nearly as much as they think.

(Sorry..old joke....couldn't help myself)
:P

[hughee99]

14. I thought the IAFF

endorsed Kerry already (firefighters union)? I'm not sure about the police union. This seems to me more like a political thing than an actual request for help. As politics go, it's a pretty smart move, though.

[schultzee]

17. If they would strike during the convention, GW would have all of them

fired if he could do that. Coulg he?

[Nimrod]

19. Well...

That would be one way to ensure a revolt against the administration. While * is probably dumb enough to pitch the idea, his handlers would put a stop to that one.

[struggle4progress]

20. There's a touching act of faith. King George hates unionists and ...

... in Colombia his brutal clients are busily killing the unionists off: King George's friends need low wages abroad to maximize their outsourcing profits.


August 22, 2004
Colombia's Unions: Under Attack and Fighting Back
By Meredith Aby

<snip>
In addition to extralegal violence, the Colombian government is also waging a war by 'legal' means. The Colombian Congress passed the new Democratic Security Act, similar to the U.S. Patriot Act. It legalizes the indefinite detention of people the government labels 'suspected terrorists,' these people then lose their rights to formal accusations, to bail and to being considered innocent until proven guilty. Every trade union and social movement organization the delegation talked to expressed concern about this new law. They explained while these acts of repression were standard practice for the armed forces and police in the past, but at least when such activities were illegal, activists could use the legal system to fight the unlawful detention and imprisonment of their fellow compañeros and compañeras. Now the government has given itself these new powers legally under the guise of 'anti-terrorism' legislation.

Activists and trade unionists in Colombia specifically blamed the Bush administration for these new repressive policies. They said that post 9-11, the Colombian government, especially under the current president Alvaro Uribe, has been given clear direction from the U.S. to use whatever means necessary in order to fight against both leftists and rebels.

Domingo Tovar, director of human rights for the CUT (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), layed out the political situation for us on our first day in Bogota, "There’s an annual 30,000 dead each year. Only 7% are killed in combat between the two forces. One hundred sixty kids die daily due to poor health and nutrition and the rest of the deaths are the responsibility of the state. The government is the primary violator of human rights. There are more than 12,000 members of the armed forces who are devoted to violating human rights and paramilitarism."

He continued, "Colombia is the country with the most assassinations of union members in the world. Under the administration of Uribe, the current president, there's been more than 160 union deaths. This year there’s been 29, including a compañero this morning. Under Uribe there's been more than 700 illegal arrests. Under the new anti-terrorism statute it gives judicial police the power to investigate, capture and condemn. The CUT has more than 100 members in jail and more than 500 are in exile. The violation of human rights will increase due to the application of Plan Colombia or Plan Patriotica, and the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. Because of that, please send a message to the U.S. to not continue this war on Colombia."
<snip>

http://colombia.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/15932.php