The AFL-CIO’s Cold-Hearted Bastard
Posted on August 22, 2007 at 8:13 pm by Chuck Muth
If anyone wants to know why I have such disdain for today’s modern labor movement, here’s a prime example. As families, friends and co-workers continue to grieve over the loss of life in the Utah coal mine tragedy, John Sweeney - the heartless bastard running the AFL-CIO these days - saw an opportunity to use this sad event to further his political agenda. Read this sickening email he sent out today…
As you may already know, the underground rescue operation to save the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine has been halted. Tragically, the miners may be buried beneath the Utah mountain forever.
At this difficult time, I ask you for your thoughts and prayers for the miners and their families, as well as for the families of the three rescue workers who gave their lives trying to save the missing.
I also thank you for being someone who cares enough to take action to improve life for working families—on many fronts.
Last year, after 12 coal miners died in the Sago Mine in West Virginia, you helped convince Congress to pass the first major overhaul to mine safety laws in more than three decades, the MINER Act. Since the Bush administration came into office, it has been systematically dismantling workplace safety protections. But you wouldn’t allow corporate greed and Bush administration neglect and indifference to go unchallenged.
That neglect and indifference haven’t been isolated to workplace safety. Just look at our economy—workers’ paychecks are stagnant while our productivity goes up and up. Just think back to the administration’s catastrophic response to Hurricane Katrina, the poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, our health care crisis—many, many people are wondering, “What’s wrong with America?”
Fortunately, in our democracy, every four years we have a chance to fix what’s wrong—by electing leaders, including a president, who put working families first.
We have a very busy time ahead of us, fighting together for health care, good jobs and the freedom to form unions without employer interference—and fighting for a government led by people committed to make America work for working families.
Thank you for all that you’ve done so far in this fight and for all you will do in the months ahead.
In solidarity,
John Sweeney
President, AFL-CIO
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:31 am
A total of eight paragraphs. Paragraph three begins the attack on government. Now bear in mind that Mr. Sweeney does not stand in picket lines in sweltering heat, or work in a mine. He doesn’t necessarily send troops to protect you when you have employment issues, nor does he intervene when managements’ policy decisions affect you personally in your workplace. He does sit in a fancy office, does cash the paycheck comprised of workers fees, and does continually promote issues to further damage all workers such as secret ballot voting. I’m often asked about situations in which employees in a Union represented workplace are abused or chastised by their employers. My first reaction is always, ask the Union to assist, that’s why you pay dues, or in the alternative, start a decertification election. I would love to see Mr. Sweeney get out there and carry a picket sign with the employees who pay his lucrative salary. One problem, there is no air conditioning on a picket line. It’s an ugly place many times riddled with violence, threats and severe personal injury. Certainly not a place for a highly paid Union Boss. Way too dangerous. I am touched however that Mr. Sweeney could find at least a couple paragraphs out of eight in which to discuss the miners that likely will not be rescued. Some condolescence card he sent, huh?