It is looking increasingly likely that the Union community (of which I am a paying member) is going to jump into bed with Elwyn Tinklenberg.
Over at Beyond Soundbites & Headlines, they have the story:
Friday, November 30, 2007
A Faulty Process.
The fix is on in the endorsement race between Elwyn Tinklenberg and Bob Olson to see who will be the Democratic standard bearer in the race against Michele Bachman.
Elwyn Tinklenberg the transportation lobbyist who is running to serve under Jim Oberstar in the House transportation committee is gaining the endorsements of all the heavy hitters in the Labor movement.
Tinklenberg who in last nights AFSME screening, admitted that he would not abide by the DFL endorsement should he not win, was none the less picked as the endorsed candidate.
At the DFL Forum earlier last month Tinklenberg made this statement:
"You have had an opportunity to see how I would respond"
"I will certainly do that again."
What changed sir?
The Labors, Hotel workers, UAW and Pipe fitters endorsed Tinklenberg without even screening or having a conversation with anyone but Tinklenberg. This despite the fact That Olson is a former member of the Hotel workers union. In fact Olson was a member of 4 different unions, yet that counts for little when the leadership has already made up its mind before hand.
I was a Laborer for local 563 for 8 years. I was a Union steward and afterward was a member of SEIU as a window washer for almost 7 years. I love the Unions and agree with Bob Olson that the public education system and Unions are the main reasons we have had such a strong middle class.
I too love my Union and in talking with Bob Olson, I have heard nothing but support for our principles and our goals for the future. The man even tapped a strong Union man for his Campaign Manager. If these Unions believe making a top down decision will create something other than resentment amongst the very people they will need to pound the pavement, they are sadly mistaken.
Clearly the powers that be, The DCCC, Union bosses and Oberstar have decided that this process should be taken out of the hands of those of us who endorsed Patty last election. To endorse without a screening or even a meeting seems incredible to those of us who are naive enough to believe in our Democratic system.
On the 29th of this month Oberstar is hosting a fund raiser for Tinklenberg in Washington DC with all of his Transportation lobbyist supporters.
It must be noted that Bob Olson is trying to bring 3 new manufacturing plants to our area.
Two wind turbine and one Hydrogen powered bus plants. Currently only one turbine plant exists in this country and it is represented by the Steel workers in Pennsylvania. The rest come from Europe.
You would think that Unions would want to expand the manufacturing base here in the 6th. You would think that the UAW would be worried about where its Ford workers are going to find jobs next year. It may have been nice if they had at least talked to Bob.
I guess it was too much to ask.
My message to the Union bosses, you might want to listen to those of us paying our dues and my message to Bob, keep working to get your message out and know that there are those of us out here willing to help in any way we can.
