Big Labor’s legacy of violence
Thugs-in-chief
My syndicated column today takes on the rise of President Obama’s best new Big Labor buddy, Richard Trumka — whose looming presence on the political scene I first flagged in April. As we noted last week, he’s got a combined $88 million war chest with his labor alliance and a Marxist get-out-the-vote force behind him. When they are through, they’ll make the SEIU Purple Army’s political expenditures (and its thuggery) look like a pittance.
On a related note, the NLRB (with SEIU attorney Craig Becker recess-appointed onto the catbird’s seat) is set to launch an assault on workers’ rights to a secret ballot to remove an unwanted union. See here. Card check through the back door. Who needs the legislative front door?
And yesterday on Megyn Kelly’s show, I noted that union members can opt out of having their hard-earned dues used for political purposes. Several readers e-mailed that they had never heard of the process by which this was possible and wanted to know how they could do it. Here are your rights as a union worker. Here is a backgrounder on the permissible use of forced dues. Here’s my 1999 column on how public school teachers in Washington state challenged their union over their political dues power grab. Free speech not only means the freedom to voice your political views, but also the freedom from being forced to pay for someone else’s. U.S. Supreme Court precedent established by the D.C.-based National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation guarantees the right to full financial disclosure from a union and a right to challenge the figures in court if they disagree. Spread the word.
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Big Labor’s legacy of violence
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2010
To mark Labor Day 2010, President Obama will join hands with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Milwaukee and pose as champions of the working class. Bad move. Trumka’s organizing record is a shameful reminder of the union movement’s violent and corrupt foundations.
The new Obama/AFL-CIO power alliance — underwritten with $40 million in hard-earned worker dues — is a midterm shotgun marriage of Beltway brass knuckles and Big Labor brawn. Trumka warmed up his rhetorical muscles this past week with full-frontal attacks on former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He indignantly accused her of “getting close to calling for violence” and suggested that her criticism of Tea Party-bashing labor bosses amounted to “terrorizing” workers.
Trumka and Obama will cast Big Labor as an unassailable force for good in American history. But when it comes to terrorizing workers, Trumka knows whereof he speaks.
Meet Eddie York. He was a workingman whose story will never scroll across Obama’s teleprompter. A nonunion contractor who operated heavy equipment, York was shot to death during a strike called by the United Mine Workers 17 years ago. Workmates who tried to come to his rescue were beaten in an ensuing melee. The head of the UMW spearheading the wave of strikes at that time? Richard Trumka. Responding to concerns about violence, he shrugged to the Virginian-Pilot in September 1993: “I’m saying if you strike a match and you put your finger in it, you’re likely to get burned.” Incendiary rhetoric, anyone?
A federal jury convicted one of Trumka’s UMW captains on conspiracy and weapons charges in York’s death. According to the Washington, D.C.-based National Legal and Policy Center, which tracks Big Labor abuse, Trumka’s legal team quickly settled a $27 million wrongful death suit filed by York’s widow just days after a judge admitted evidence in the criminal trial. An investigative report by Reader’s Digest disclosed that Trumka “did not publicly discipline or reprimand a single striker present when York was killed. In fact, all eight were helped out financially by the local.”
In Illinois, Trumka told UMW members to “kick the s**t out of every last” worker who crossed his picket lines, according to the Nashville (Ill.) News. And as the National Right to Work Foundation (pdf), the leading anti-forced unionism organization in the country, pointed out, other UMW coalfield strikes resulted in what one judge determined were “violent activities … organized, orchestrated and encouraged by the leadership of this union.”
Trumka washed off the figurative bloodstains and moved up the ranks. As AFL-CIO secretary, he notoriously refused to testify in a sordid 1999 embezzlement trial involving his labor boss brethren at the Teamsters Union. No surprise. Thugs of a feather: Trumka’s violence-promoting record echoes the riotous Teamsters strikes dating back to the 1950s, when the union organized taxicab companies to target workers with gas bombs, bottles and fists.
And now, Trumka is spearheading a Democratic Party get-out-the-vote campaign by far-left groups — publicized in the revolutionary Marxist People’s World — to “energize an army of tens of thousands who will return to their neighborhoods, churches, schools and voting booths to prevent a Republican takeover of Congress in November and begin building a new permanent coalition to fight for a progressive agenda.”
Take those as literal fighting words. The bloody consequences of compulsory unionism cannot be ignored.
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Related Labor Day weekend reading: Compulsory Unionism as a Fraternal Conceit? Free Choice for Workers: A History of the Right to Work Movement by Harry G. Hutchison, UC Davis Law Journal.
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Does this imply that I can withhold congressional and presidential pay that my taxes go for?
All public sector unions must be decertified. Their existence is illogical and dangerous. I also advocate the decertification of all unions that are indicted on charges of violence. Unions are nothing more than cover for Marxist shock troops.
When the union said that they donated $60 million to Obama and now they expect their payback, why was that not considered bribery? Obama has given the unions a whole bunch of sweetheart deals. That is pure bribery.
In terms of practical effect, withholding dues from being used for political purposes is just an accounting gimmick. They use your dues to pay for plant/personnel, and somebody else’s to pay for their PACs. It all works out the same, unless virtually the entire membership withholds – and then they’d probably just cook the books.
Trumka is exactly the kind of thug you’d expect to see with Obama. Here’s hoping Trumka finds himself in a situation where he gets the s**t beat out of him as retribution for his actions.
Excellent commentary Michelle. Hear, hear. The noble purpose of unions, going back 60-70 years ago, has been bastardized by Big Labor criminals like Trumka, and the scores before him. Now all that can be said about most unions is that they exist only to pilfer their members for political contributions for liberals, and to make their organization’s officers wealthy. Thanks to unions we have many in the workforce who, though incompetent, are untouchable; the “Peter Principle” on steroids. Unions have bargained for work days that are inefficient and non-productive; creating a country full of tradesmen diva’s; and a poisonous distrust between the worker and management.
As to the obvious hypocrisy of Trumpka accusing Palin of instigating violence, while being neck deep in blood during his union leg-breaker days, we expect that from liberals. They have not a moral or honest bone in their bodies, and prove that to us daily.
I seem to remember der Fuhrer saying “if they bring a knife to a fight, we’ll bring a gun”. Chi-town politics now running the whole country. I hope the sheep who believed his hoax and chains message are so proud.
I don’t see money as doing much in this election. … People saw what the promises brought, and what the liars are now doing.
Character, character, character
zero and union crud ball trumka, just two parasites who reside in the same septic tank.
Sadly, no.
That’s very similar to the argument made by America-hating protesters in the late 60s/early 70s, who demanded that none of their taxes go towards paying for baby-killing, or for an illegal/immoral war, or however the hell they described the Vietnam War.
For some Americans, the realization that we live in a real world…not a movie…populated with people who will use guns, dynamite and gasoline in a labor dispute…AND GET AWAY WITH IT…seems too incredible.
It has be a fact of life for many decades now.
That we have a labor boss who OPENLY joins with overt Marxists to champion Deemocrats is also incredible. (EVERYONE should know about this.)
That this thug refers to Sarah Palin as a “new McCarthy” just puts the icing on the cake.
Our fathers would not believe what we are living.
Forensics 101: When you examine the dead body, be sure to look for the Union label.
Is it just me, or does that picture look like Øbama and Trumka making “the beast with two backs”, demonstrating the nature of their relationship?
In their classic (1st 5) years, SNL would have led “Weekend Update” with that photo, and with exactly the caption you came up with!!
Good one!!!!
GUYS!!!
Basic anatomy…!!!
The two-back beast is NORMAL.
This is the belly-back-belly-back beast.
NOT NORMAL.
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I remember the good job the Department of Justice did to take down Jimmy Hoffa’s corrupt Teamsters Union long ago. Pensions looted, shooting and dynamiting non union trucks, etc. And it probably resulted in Jimmy sleeping with the fishes to keep him from cutting a deal and testifying against the Mafia.
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Supposedly DOJ set up accounting and oversight of their Pension Fund and kept them straight. Maybe when we run Comrade Obama (PBUH) and his socialist / marxist / corrupt union ilk out of town a new DOJ and IRS can force Richard Trumpka types into orange jumpsuits and can make them disgorge the money they are wasting buying government cover.
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Jimmy Hoffa would be proud of this guy.
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Rocketman
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Trumka also supports an international stock trade tax and went to Alaska recently and attacked Sarah Palin’s marriage (because Todd’s a USW member and she’s criticized “union thugs” like Trumka).
If that were the case, Trumka would be behind.
Sucks to be them. We have AR-15′s, Glocks, ansd Mossberg’s.
They’re going to need a “bigger boat.”
Ever heard, “Turn-about’s fair play”?
I know…that was ugly….
Doesn’t even have the courtesy to give him a reach-around!
The unions are sooo quick to point to the companies hiring Pinkerton agents to root out union terrorists who were destroying the company. But a look at history finds The Molly McGuires. Why would any business owner HIRE and pay for a group of people to stop problems if the problems didn’t exist? Ok, one or two business owners might be paranoid nutjobs, but by the 1930′s more people worked for Pinkertons than were in the u.s. military. There had to be a reason.
Hey, cheaps…
http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/09/01/union-uses-pinkertons-to-manhandle-union-employees-blocking-union-headquarters-to-prevent-union-managers-from-crossing-union-picket-line-got-all-that/
The wheel turns…
This administration keeps outing all the socialist/marxist/radical wackos. We need to know who they are and what they are trying to shove down our throats. Bullies have no good ideas and need to be separated from positions of power so that they can’t impose their tyranny.
Excellent column Michelle! This creep, Trumka, and his pack of dogs are not the first group of union punks to demonstrate their violent anti-American tendencies. I encourage you to read “Honorable Treachery” by George J. A. O’Toole, CIA historian, where early twentieth century union violence is documented by our intelligence agencies and directly connected to our WWI and WWII communist enemies.
Probably the most valuable information you have ever posted. Lots of people are in unions and don’t agree with policy. My mom said just last night (she was a teacher for 30 years) that she would have stayed in that union if they had endorsed ONE R in the 30 years she was with them. She needed their legal protections when she was working (dealing with kids as a counselor and all – ‘racist’ south is an accusation away from a lawsuit at all times, ie Duke LaCross).
I’m sure there are tons of union members who don’t agree with the union they support with dues. This information is likely as swept under the rug as the high percentages of incidents of AIDS among gay men.
Great post MM.
Unions, in concert with Democrat progressivism, socialism, and statism, will be the death of this country, unless they are made toothless, and unnecessary.
America no longer needs unions. They were formed to protect the “worker“, but now, it is “us” that needs protection…from them…NOT their membership, but their leadership.
The modern union is, plain and simply…EVIL.
Amen.
That’s why elections for state offices are just as important as for national offices. ALL states need to be ‘Right to Work’ states.
Another example of how deep America’s wounds are.
We have let the disease spread until it is affecting our basic functions.
We no longer need the details. If it is a Democrat, then you have a 99% percent chance that you are being lied to, deceived, taken advantage of, setup as a scapegoat or otherwise being harmed even if it appears you will benefit.
Since you can no longer trust anything a Democrat says and it is impossible to have an honest debate with one, it is time to “cut off” the conversation by using non-stop truth and call them what they are publicly – Liars.
Boot The Tyrants OUT.
Only if you still trust the election process… Washington State (governor election from awhile back) and Minnesota (Senator Clown-jerk) are two examples that make me completely distrust the election process. Money can by many trunks-full of ballots.
Read this earlier today on Townhall.com. And one of the first commenters had to bring race into the picture. I won’t dignify what this alleged person said by repeating it. Just know that the true racists are those who keep throwing stones at conservatives who think for themselves.
Having worked for a union (I won’t metion the name, but the initials are N.E.A.), I can tell you the intimidation is real. I never witnessed any violence. Just the unabashed wide-open intimidation by the employees who worked for the union — and they themselves were at the time organizing a union.
You read that properly, a union going union.
What a strange place…
One of the many reasons I high-tailed it out of there before the contract was put to a vote.
And judges.
Milwaukee? Shouldn’t they be in Detroit buying up rat-infested $1 homes – the lasting legacy of the auto unions?
Meanwhile, in Shenzhen, five people for every one of our union workers busts their butt cranking out useful products…
Can we caption the Photo?
“Dick – can I call you Dick – play ball with me and I can get you a membership in “Man’s World”.”
Don’t move, this may sting a little.
On September 3rd, 2010 at 1:39 pm, AlohaGuy said:
Can we caption the Photo?
You seem so tense. Let me help you with that.
mmmmm I’m not sure but your prostate seems to be just fine.
I wish Obama would stop that infernal, superficial habit of slappin’ everyone he meets on the back. He’s either pandering to others by bowing or patting them on the back. What a sleaze ball.
superficial habit of slappin’….. just as annoying as his knee poking.
The knee poking is a body language connecting device and the back slapping comes off more as a dominating gesture.
bho in the photo looks like “ownership” of Trumpka.
“Baby, baby, babeee…”
Betcha $100 they don’t have that picture up down at the Local…
Okay, you’re going to feel a little pressure…
Move a little more to the left, right there. Hey, has anyone ever told you how soft and supple your shoulders are?
You know, these 501(c)(3) non-profit unions sure do a lot of politicking, especially when you consider that it is illegal for them to do so.
Search The Beck decision.
Murders? Search Yablonski. They murdered the man, his wife, children and their pets.
The only part liberals probably lamented about were the pets.
Trumka’s nervous smile is because he just submissively urinated a little.
That did send a message; I do know some union officials were upset the state police and FBI actually investigated the murders-they weren’t the first. Little Tony Boyle tried twice to kill Yablonski and no one was particularity upset.
===
An Armed Society is a polite society.
The purple people beaters are not a danger to you as long as you go along with the wishes of the community organizer-in-chief. Go along to get along, ask John McCain and Lindsay Grahamnesty for pointers if you need them.
Bumper-sticker of the day.
Thanks Arizona.
Finally. Murders treated as murders, not “normal union organizing activity”
Next 1,000,000 innocent children’s lives to be investigated.
These people are thugs, pure and simple.
There’s a special hell for Lawyers,Politicians,and Union Leaders.
Liberals respect no one, not even themselves, they’re too busy discounting the value of individuals to preserve the collective.
Can someone explain to me why liberals are so crazy angry over the SCOTUS decision to allow corporations to donate money to candidates, but yet have no problem with strong arming, unlimited donations to democrats and this card check bs coming from unions? Liberals are the biggest hypocrites on the planet.
Ah yes. Beck employees. My mother chose to be one when she was a nurse in southern California. The union tried to pressure her into becoming a full member. Strangely, they stopped when she made it clear that she was not averse to fighting them legally and physically to get them to back off.
And the list of corruption goes on. Another Obama-moment.
What a surprise: Otumbo rubbing the shoulders of a man with blood on his hands.
Have you rubbed another part of his anatomy, O?
Happy Labor Day everyone!! And batton down the hatches. Big Labor has gotten this POS POTUS elected and they are getting their payback. This is going to get ugly. Big labor has always played rough and this will get worse. Scary times indeed for this country. I want this POS POTUS to pay for his treason. I want him in jail. Why isn’t he in jail?????
Great. More jobs for the labor unions. Why can’t EVERYONE see what this a-hole is doing? Does the infrastructure need updating? Yes!!! Can we afford 50 billion more to do it? NO!! What part of bankrupt doesn’t this idiot understand? He is paying back his labor union thugs with MY MONEY! And, MY CHILDREN’S MONEY! And, MY GRANDCHILDREN’S MONEY! I hate what he is doing to me and my loved ones. He is destroying us personally, along with the entire country. Wake up you morons out there who don’t seem to care!!
Today we had three parades to work. It was raining like hell everywhere, all but one parade was cancelled, so I ended up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, trying to convince a bunch of hostile union boys that my candidate was working on their behalf (the old man always gets the dirtiest jobs).
Barry-Hussein came to Milwaukee for the third straight-time today (Sen. Russ Feingold is going down big-time and that’s bad news for the Progressive Party). Needless to say, I didn’t attend his function as I was stuck talking to hostile union guys (they would never let me in his event anyway – I’m on the “list”).
However, I did attend the American Legion’s national convention parade last weekend where I got stuck among 15,000+ patriots and I had to leave to get to a function for my daughter’s birthday (for the second time this year I received a police escort to get where I was going – being on the Right side pays off; but I digress).
Obama, while speaking to a bunch of local government dependents; said, quote, “They talk about me like a dog…“ – VIDEO ABOVE.
Now, I’m only a small-time marketing guy but even a 10 year-old paperboy will understand that his comment will come back to hurt him like a spoiled corn-beef sandwich; how stupid can one guy be? He called himself a dog!!! He also admitted that his comment was not prepared (i.e. not on his tele-prompter).
This dork may be the biggest embarrassment we have ever encountered sitting in the White House. Wilson was bad, Hoover was bad, FDR was bad, Carter was bad; but let’s face-it, we may have had a few dopes; but this guy takes the cake, hands down.
In a way, it’s kind of sad. I was talking to a Black-guy last Friday afternoon; we had a beer together. He said, he wished that the first Black president would have been someone to be proud-of; funny thing, he was a union Liberal.