By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 8:09 AM
We're a little late posting this video, shot Saturday outside the America's Convention Center in downtown St. Louis.
Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Brotherhood of Union Support Staff (BUSS) picketed outside the convention center, where the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (Pro-Vote) was holding its 12th Annual Progressive Awards Dinner.
SEIU has filed a formal complaint against Pro-Vote with the National Labor Relations Board charging the organization with "union-busting" and "constructively firing" workers who tried to organize.
According to union members, the United Auto Workers, which was scheduled to receive an award from Pro-Vote for "Outstanding Labor Union" refused to cross the SEIU/BUSS picket line and boycotted the awards dinner.
Earlier Story:
VIDEO: Beef Between SEIU and Pro-Vote
Subscribe to our video feed: http://pubdef.blip.tv/rss/itunes
16 Comments:
Actually the UAW leadership was busy negotiating new contracts for their membership with Chrysler and Ford. Perhaps you saw a few stories on that this weekend.
I assure you, though, its tables were filled with a number of UAW members who felt just fine crossing the "picket" lines. Who do you get these junk "tips" from anyway, Antonio?
10/16/2007 10:18 AM
Is it really union busting if no one wants to join the group?
Funny how none of the "fired folk" were on the picket line - just the ridiculous members of BUSS, with a bunch laughable, handwritten, non-union printed signs.
It's a good thing you're so high on organized labor, Antonio. I assume your membership card to the CWA is in the mail?
10/16/2007 10:29 AM
So are you saying a UAW representative did receive the award?
10/16/2007 10:38 AM
Why so much focus on this non-story? If my quasi-Republican client raised $100K less than he did the quarter before and spent $25K more than what he actually took in, I think I'd be focusing on better fundraising - not poking the eyes of the progressive supporters of my main opponent.
10/16/2007 10:38 AM
Wow, look at all the "progressives" coming out to attack the reporter of a perfectly factual story. So when exactly are "progressives" progressive?
10/16/2007 10:49 AM
"spent more . . ."
The point of political fundraising is to spend it, not save it. cf., Brewster's Millions (1985).
10/16/2007 11:25 AM
The point of political fundraising is not to raise $13K and spend $42K 10 months before your election takes place. cf., Campaign Financing for Dummies (2007).
10/16/2007 12:00 PM
While I was at this dinner, I saw a tv crew come up to the nametags table. I overheard they were from channel 4 and the press releases of that day had confused them and they thought the brew-ha-ha was inside. Then, I saw the exact same tv crew outside taping this interview. I would not trust pub def, given that they will misrepresent themselves as channel 4. Who's water is pub def carrying?
10/16/2007 1:11 PM
Have you ever seen a Channel 4 news camera? Now have you ever seen my camera? Believe me, anyone with any common sense would know I'm not shooting for a TV station.
Channel 4 was there. They interviewed the protesters outside. I don't know what they did inside, because I never went inside.
What I do know is that Channel 4 decided not to air this political story in favor of a busy night of shootings and car chases.
10/16/2007 5:15 PM
There were Union Rep.from Kansas City SEIU NEA,Representatives Sen Jeff Smith, special appearance by Con Russ Carnahan to let us know He's standing up for Kids Healthcare with the Override effort..Devoted volunteers no matter how the unions are going as they have dropped to maybe %12 unfortunately for them in this Red state. Ask the labor board what they think about John Hickey and his former staffers and yes you can refuse a union but management has no say do they? Its really shame after all the battles I see in St Louis few choose to build unions but many fired ..Negotiation is the key to success and believe me Nick Robinson fights hard for his UAW members..Why not target the non progressive former union (Local 2) for example Steve Gregali for his local efforts against truth and his kiss assin to stay elected as Alderman as what union hired him asfter pusted from Local2 and his Uncle Balfi forced to retire ...5 people did not Represent Unions I know..Thanks Antonio and lets get on with Progessive Minds not small ones..
10/16/2007 10:51 PM
so SEIU reps crossed their own pickets? That doesn't say much for the Local 2000 pickets does it? Who is BUSS and what do they represent? Are they a chartered union? Who are they affiliated with? AFL-CIO? Change to Win? Why did they get decertified from AFSCME? I thought AFSCME were the ones that started BUSS?
10/17/2007 5:34 AM
How nice to see union members crossing picket lines!
Is this a suggestion that pickets are now considered pesky by unions, and that other union members can cross other pickets in the future?
Or do you suppose that this "inconvenient picket" was being ignored by the other unions because it didn't fit into their agenda?
I love irony!
10/17/2007 8:33 AM
Is it possible that the picket was just an 'informational' picket and not a plea not to enter the event?
I don't know at all, but it would fit the facts as presented.
10/17/2007 8:55 AM
You got the information wrong. SEIU did not file any charges at NLRB. It was BUSS who fil the charges.
BUSS UNION are not made up of SEIU members.
It's always important to get the facts and truth out there. It is important for the community to understand this -Truth always matter.
10/17/2007 11:55 AM
Who is BUSS? Was that one of their Reps on the video who looked like he just crawled from under a bridge? Didn't BUSS form after the a bunch of funds came up missing? Pro-Vote should be organized if they want, but they can't be bullied by any small group who calls themselves a Union. Organize Pro-Vote but do it with a real union. One that puts a real picket together and contributes to the building of Organize Labor not the demise.
10/17/2007 2:02 PM
is Tony Condra a member of BUSS or SEIU Local 2000? I saw the previous BUSS video and he appears to be a spokesperson for BUSS? I don't think of BUSS as a true union.
Despite what President Black says SEIU Local 2000 and BUSS are joined at the hip. They picketed together and all 7 members of BUSS are employees of SEIU Local 2000.
Which brings another question, how can you be a union representative and NOT pay dues to the union you represent? Both Perry Molens and Elson McCowan (BUSS union leaders) work for SEIU as a Union Representative and as a Public Sector Director yet pay dues to BUSS.
10/18/2007 6:37 AM
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