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Edited on Wed Jun-30-04 06:38 PM by louis c
I'm a member of the Greater Boston Labor Council as president of my local. The GBLC is made up of over 100 locals from Boston and the surrounding communities that are affiliated with the AFL-CIO. We meet monthly at the IBEW 103 Union Hall in Braintree. The Boston Police Patrolman's Association is also a member.
The issue of the Boston Police, the Firefighters, and the School Teachers has been a hot topic at our meetings for over a year. These groups have worked without a contract for over two years. You must take note, that municipal employees cannot strike by law. Remember what happened to the PATCO workers twenty years ago. The same rule applies here. They're only recourse is this type of "informational picketing". The more high profile the event, the greater the impact of the action.
Tommy Nee represents the Police. I've spoken to him, although I don't know him well. He would be negligent as a leader of his Union if he didn't use these available opportunities to his Union's advantage. He holds his position by being elected, too. He has members to answer to, and he has a job to do.
For the last few months strong Labor personalties have tried to settle this dispute, including former State Senate President Tom Birmingham, who is now a Labor Attorney, and the President of the National AFL-CIO John Sweeney.
In addition the Mass. AFL-CIO has an active role is supporting the Boston unions that are still without a contract,including the Police. I've been to meetings in which Mass.AFL-CIO President Bob Haynes and GBLC Executive Directer Rich Rogers have called upon our group to demonstrate unwavering solidarity with the Police.
In addition, the International Police Association, the parent group for the Boston Police, which endorsed Bush in 2000, has publicly endorsed Kerry for this election. As a matter of fact, it was done with much fanfare in June. If Kerry crossed that picket line, it could have caused divisions in our group which would have had a negative impact nationally.
John Kerry made the correct decision, and did it like a man. No excuses about scheduling conflict or sudden illness. Straight out, he doesn't cross picket lines. From what I understand, the police now won't embarrass him at the convention, and will not set up a picket line, so he can accept the nomination.
Menino is a politician, he should know better and understand. Kerry was caught in the middle and had to make a choice. Kerry did the correct thing, and Mayor Menino should not let his pride obscure the big picture. Big cities, both in this state and across the nation, are in financial crisis because Republican policies are intentionally starving the cities and states of financial resources. If the Mayor thinks that Bush and Romney are his friends, than he's even more stubborn than I thought.
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