Employees say they were told to contribute to GOP

[luaneryder]

Posted on Tue, Sep. 14, 2004

Parking Authority employees say they were told to contribute to GOP - or else

PHILADELPHIA - Employees of the Republican-controlled Philadelphia Parking Authority said they were told by their superiors to contribute to the GOP, or risk losing their jobs, a newspaper reported.

Five employees said they were pressured on the job to contribute $275 per year, the Philadelphia Daily News reported for Tuesday editions. Campaign finance records show dozens of $100 contributions this year from workers making $25,000 or less.

State law forbids demanding political contributions from public employees or contractors.

"It's extortion," said Michael J. Vecchione, who was hired two years ago to work in the authority's impoundment lots. The four other employees spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity.

www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/9659740.htm

[tom_paine]

1. This goes on all over the nation

I wonder if this has seen an upswing recently or if it has been going on all this time.

I wonder...considering we are breaking so much uncharted ground on all fronts as we descend into Imperial Tyranny.

[CrispyQ]

2. This makes me want to puke.

Years ago I worked at a company that wanted so badly to advertise that they had 100% participation in their United Way campaign that anyone who declined was called into the office & pleaded with to give, even it it was only $5. I personally can't stand UW, but I gave my obligatory $5. That is so wrong! However, for the GOP, I would not have back down. I would have taken the afternoon & visited a lawyer. I hope the ACLU is contacted, just like the story of the woman who was let go becasue of a Kerry/Edwards sticker on her car.

Does the average repub know how awful their party has become? Are they completely in the dark or do these kinds of stories not bother them? I like repubs less & less.

..edited for grammar

[napi21]

4. I had the same experience of coertion to contribute to the United

Way when I worked for the Fed. Reserve Bank, and my husband had the smae thing happen where he works NOW.

NOw, I don't think this is AS BAD as forcing a contribution to a political group, it is still very wrong! I suspect it's also illegal, but apparently no one will persure the fight.

[Lerkfish]

6. They don't think long term...

>>Does the average repub know how awful their party has become? Are they completely in the dark or do these kinds of stories not bother them? I like repubs less & less.<<


they don't think long term. They think its hunky dory NOW to have coercion to make people vote for their candidate. They don't think past the present election to consider that allowing that to happen NOW in favor of their candidate allows it to happen LATER in favor of a candidate they wouldn't choose.

[Killarney]

3. This story plus the Kerry bumpersticker lady have me so pissed!

People should be protected from this shit.

[sniffa]

7. what bumper sticker Lady?

i missed that

[Killarney]

8. Yesterday there was a thread about a news story

where a woman got fired because the company owner demanded she remove her Kerry bumpsticker from her car and she wouldn't. She worked at a factory. Her car had nothing to do with the job.

[Mandate My Ass]

5. Philly is a patronage city

Everybody pays to play. This doesn't surprise me at all.

[spinbaby]

9. Very common in private industry

Where do you think all those Republican "pioneers" and "rangers" come from? They're all corporate owners/CEOs/ persons of power who insist their underlings...and sometimes even their vendors...contribute or else. I know an Ohio-based energy company that explicitly tells its employees how much they're expected to contribute based on their salary and who won't do business with any company that doesn't contribute to their cause.