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angrychair

(8,593 posts)
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 04:34 PM Oct 2015

AFSCME Lied

As a AFSCME member and shop steward, we were lied to regarding this endorsement.

We were told that there would be no early endorsement of any canidiate. The endorsement vote was made toward the end of the executive board's meeting by the board member from New York.
As a AFSCME member and shop steward, I do not support this endorsement and I am not alone. Not by a long shot.

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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AFSCME Lied (Original Post) angrychair Oct 2015 OP
Had the endorsement gone to Bernie ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #1
Would I? angrychair Oct 2015 #6
Okay ... Just asking. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #15
well Robbins Oct 2015 #2
K & R AzDar Oct 2015 #3
I hope that this is the year that Union members will be jwirr Oct 2015 #4
from link... spanone Oct 2015 #5
No, it didnt. angrychair Oct 2015 #7
that is just wrong. union members need to address this. leadership needs to mobilize. spanone Oct 2015 #8
When teachers' unions did the same...we protested, but there is no way to address it. madfloridian Oct 2015 #16
You protest the only you can angrychair Oct 2015 #19
I did see this... BlueCheese Oct 2015 #18
K & R !!! WillyT Oct 2015 #9
more union brass endorsing the pro tpp, pro h1b, anti minimum wage candidate Doctor_J Oct 2015 #10
So how did they lie? If this endorsement went to sanders the supporters would be shouting FloridaBlues Oct 2015 #11
according to the op, the union rank and file were told there would not be an early Doctor_J Oct 2015 #14
This is my union. I am pleased. Evergreen Emerald Oct 2015 #12
Please see response #6 angrychair Oct 2015 #13
I'm not a union member... BlueCheese Oct 2015 #17
Yes, they will angrychair Oct 2015 #20

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
6. Would I?
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:04 PM
Oct 2015

Am I going to shy away from advocating for my chosen candidate and hold my union to their word, not to do an early endorsement, in support of my chosen candidate? No. I am not going to apologize or make excuses or split hairs.
I am not so particular that I would not see the other point of view though. I get it is a big win for HRC. I realize it will be a big deal for her supporters.
Also realize that it wasn't done fairly and makes it a harder pill to swallow. Why do during the primary?

If she ends up the general canidiate, I would have supported that endorsement. That is not what happened.

Robbins

(5,066 posts)
2. well
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 04:49 PM
Oct 2015

if you like me support bernie you better get used to this.there will be rush among unions to endorse her now.

of course members don't have to support her in primarys.

The attempted fix by establishment is in.come february we will see if it works.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
4. I hope that this is the year that Union members will be
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 04:59 PM
Oct 2015

as independent as they want to be. Being a member should not require one to follow in any way they do not want to go in an election.

It really seems to me that they are running scared when they oppose the TPP and then turn around and want members to work for a corporate candidate. I have trouble understanding it.

spanone

(135,633 posts)
5. from link...
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:03 PM
Oct 2015

is this not true? curious, because i'm a union member...AFM local 257

The decision came after the union had conversations with all candidates, including Clinton, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. All three candidates participated in town hall meetings with the unions in Iowa earlier this year and the union used three member polls to gauge which candidates their members we backing.

Polling, according to Saunders, showed that nearly two thirds of AFSCME members would vote for Clinton in the Democratic primary.


http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/23/politics/afscme-hillary-clinton-endorsement/index.html

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
7. No, it didnt.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:08 PM
Oct 2015

I am a WFSE employee in the state of Washington. No one asked us. No survey. Even today, our own union leadership came out as opposed to this early endorsement.

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
19. You protest the only you can
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:38 PM
Oct 2015

With your money and time.
I will likely resign as a shop steward. Cancel the money I have going out of my check to the political arm of my union. I will stop participating in union functions and meetings.
I will do so through the balance of the election cycle. There has to be a price to pay. They are not going to change their minds so I use they only things of value I can, me.

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)
18. I did see this...
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:25 PM
Oct 2015
The national endorsement does not mean that AFSCME state chapters are compelled to endorse Clinton, but the national endorsement is the only backing that comes with organization and money, according to union spokespeople.
 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
10. more union brass endorsing the pro tpp, pro h1b, anti minimum wage candidate
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:35 PM
Oct 2015

And after they told the rank and file that they wouldn't. Sounds suspicious.

FloridaBlues

(3,993 posts)
11. So how did they lie? If this endorsement went to sanders the supporters would be shouting
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:41 PM
Oct 2015

All over the Internet . Isn't 2/3 majority?
Good for her and her campaign we need all boots on the ground in the general.

 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
14. according to the op, the union rank and file were told there would not be an early
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:08 PM
Oct 2015

endorsement. So that was a lie.

As for your second part, the "if...." part, what are you talking about? Any statement that starts with "if" is almost certain to end with bullshit. I'm pretty sure that after Hillary has enacted a corporate friendly agenda, her fan club here will explain, "if we had 65 democratic senators, it would have been New Deal II"

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
13. Please see response #6
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:46 PM
Oct 2015

" I get it is a big win for HRC. I realize it will be a big deal for her supporters.
Also realize that it wasn't done fairly and makes it a harder pill to swallow. Why do it during the primary?

If she ends up the general canidiate, I would have supported that endorsement. That is not what happened."

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)
17. I'm not a union member...
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:23 PM
Oct 2015

But I've always been curious. When a union endorses someone, what does that mean for the rank-and-file? You always read about how this means the union's members can now be mobilized to make phone calls and knock on doors, but I imagine individual union members will follow their own consciences on this, right?

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
20. Yes, they will
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 06:41 PM
Oct 2015

But this endorsement comes with money and official mobilization of people power in the form of phone banks, use of the unions name and logo in campaign material and so on.

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