Protests May Delay Convention Construction

[Freddie Stubbs]

By JENNIFER PETER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON (AP) - City police started picketing outside the site of July's Democratic National Convention early Tuesday to call attention to their lack of a contract and a long-simmering dispute with Mayor Thomas Menino.

In a show of solidarity Monday night, the Greater Boston Labor Council overwhelmingly rejected a project labor agreement that promised no union strikes in exchange for an agreement from convention organizers to use only unionized labor on construction projects at the FleetCenter, site of the July 26-29 gathering.

On Tuesday, the Democratic National Convention Committee was to begin about $14 million worth of construction projects at the arena to accommodate thousands of convention delegates and working journalists.

But acrimonious contract negotiations between the Boston patrolmen's union and the city, coupled with the unwillingness by other unions to cross police picket lines, threaten to complicate the already daunting task.

more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-elect/2004/jun/08/060809997.html

[mhr]

1. Is The Mayor Republican? If So, Is This Rove's Handiwork?

eom

[MallRat]

2. Tom Menino is a Democrat.

Our Republican governor (Mitt Romney) has done his fair share of meddling with the DNC plans, but this mess is all on Menino's shoulders. He's been unusually heavy-handed in dealing with the unions, especially public safety unions.

If I were Kerry, I'd tell Menino to fix this problem NOW. He needs to swallow his pride and negotiate some kind of agreement for the best interests of the party.

-MR