Hillary wins endorsement of District council 37, largest labor union in NYC - 121,000 workers

[bigtree]

Tom Watson @tomwatson
NY political wonks know this: the @DistCouncil37 endorsement is yuge http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/03/31/1508291/-Hilary-wins-endoresement-of-District-council-37-largest-labor-union-in-NYC-121-000-workers … #NYPrimary

Awesome boost for Hillary in her quest to win New York. The largest labor union in New York City has endorsed Hillary, and they are ready to put lots of boots on the ground for her:


DC 37 Is With Hillary Clinton

DC 37 PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR HILLARY CLINTON

Union endorsement puts an army of activists behind Clinton for NY Primary

With the New York State Democratic presidential primary election weeks away, District Council 37 vowed yesterday to mobilize its army of activists on behalf of former Secretary of State/NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The union’s delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse her candidacy during their monthly meeting at union headquarters.

“We are proud to endorse Secretary Clinton as the next president of our great nation,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “We supported her first run for office back in 2000, when she was elected to the U.S. Senate. We know her serious commitment to public service and her history of fighting for others, especially children and working families. She can count on this union to work diligently to get out the vote for the April 19 Primary in New York.”

In a show of solidarity, former President Bill Clinton will join union leaders and activists at a rally in support of her candidacy at union headquarters tomorrow, March 31.

DC 37 is New York City’s largest public employee union, with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.

DC 37’s national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees – which represents 1.6 million public service workers across the country – has endorsed Clinton

That’s an awesome endorsement for Hillary to bring New York home for her. New York is going to be awesome for Hillary, I feel it in my bones.


read: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/03/31/1508291/-Hilary-wins-endoresement-of-District-council-37-largest-labor-union-in-NYC-121-000-workers

[Herman4747]

1. Hillary did NOTHING to promote unionization at WalMart...

...for six long years. Link: Clinton Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions

Not just that, but she actually owned stock in the company, and would go on to praise the company.

Some unions support her because certain union leadership COMPLETELY FAILS TO THINK DEEPLY.

[Hoyt]

6. I suspect they thought deeply and decided she is better for the membership.

[Herman4747]

15. Well then, you should have no problem at all...

...detailing all the splendid things Hillary has done to promote unionization within the United States since her days at WalMart.

[Hoyt]

16. Lots of unions think she's best, they are the ultimate arbiters. Maybe they just think she'll

be a good Prez for unions and the economy. Unions don't do well when the broad economy sucks. Maybe you ought to trust them to know what is best for their membership, since the membership elects them.

[Herman4747]

19. You couldn't show what Hillary has done to promote....

...unionization, could you?

Doesn't surprise me.

[Hoyt]

25. She's impressed the union leadership, elected by the membership to represent their interests, that

is all she has to do and what she's supposed to do. Sanders ranting, complaining, waving his arms around, etc., won't do much.

[rjsquirrel]

9. Yeah you tell em

Those stupid ignorant (mostly women of color) union workers must not know what is in their own interests. Good thing the privileged white Bernie supporters are here to tell them how they should be voting if they only knew about the real Hillary.

/sarcasm

[Herman4747]

13. union workers are "mostly women of color"????

Where the hell do you come up with this complete crap? Do tell!

[geek tragedy]

72. here are photos of DC37's vice-presidents.

This isn't Vermont.

http://www.dc37.net/about/vicepresidents.html

[Herman4747]

75. I count 26 people in the photo....

...17 were men.
I do not know where you received your education, but your education truly is a "geek tragedy" if 9 out of 26 being female -- with one of these 9 clearly being white herself -- leads you to believe that most of the membership consists of women of color.

[geek tragedy]

78. "some 60% of DC 37's membership are black women."

https://books.google.com/books?id=k78wjoTW-iQC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=dc+37+membership+women+percentage&source=bl&ots=TwsY68roTm&sig=eby_DBreff_l8czPR1l1sHetv0A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz6Mmbp-vLAhUJ9x4KHchdCPMQ6AEITTAI#v=onepage&q=dc%2037%20membership%20women%20percentage&f=false

Shall I cite exit poll data from 2016 indicating whom black women prefer between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton?

[Herman4747]

93. Before that, though, you want to try again...

...and not cite something from 1987. You know, not use something three decades old?

[geek tragedy]

94. do you think NYC and the union have gotten whiter since then?

This is not Vermont or Iowa.

[Herman4747]

97. Do you have any proof that the proportion of

women to men has remained the same since then? If not, perhaps it is better not to cite something three decades old.

[geek tragedy]

100. we're splitting hairs at this point.

this is New York City, not Scranton or Youngstown.

Union members here are not a bunch of angry white guys.

[Herman4747]

104. I find it incredible how obsessed you are with...

...the color of the skin of the union member.

Be that as it may, it appears as though you have no recent proof.

[geek tragedy]

107. really. you've missed every single exit poll and story about the demographics

of the 2016 primary electorate?

[Herman4747]

98. I am glad you gave up...

...in trying to have us all believe that a mere photo of 26 people or so is enough to establish that a majority of the particular union you now focus on are "women of color."

You're improving!

[geek tragedy]

102. are you familiar with this union at all?

Have you ever been to New York?

[Herman4747]

105. Yes, I have been to New York. n/t

[geek tragedy]

106. Outstanding. How many union people did you interview? nt

[whatchamacallit]

99. You a poc?

Or do you just play one on the Internet?

[workinclasszero]

80. Maybe Bernie can get 1%er Susan Sarandon to come out from one of her many mansions to give a presser

and explain to these ignorant workers why they should hate Hillary?

[DanTex]

64. You should write them a furious letter.

[Jitter65]

2. Wonder how they will be demeaned? I know it is coming. nt

[auntpurl]

3. You didn't have to wonder long.

The post above you already did it.

[hrmjustin]

4. All the local unions will go all out for Hillary and unlike in other states Unions are a powerhouse

here. I believe this is my brothers union but not sure.

[SidDithers]

5. DU rec for all kinds of reasons...nt

Sid

[livetohike]

7. K&R

[Uponthegears]

8. I see DC37's DELEGATES

voted "overwhelmingly" to endorse Secretary Clinton, just like the BOSSES at the national, the AFSCME.

I wonder what its MEMBERS think?

Well, never mind on that . . . Someone else loves Hillary, therefore she "deserves" your vote REGARDLESS of her policy priorities.

Say, did DC37 ever give its MEMBERS the right to vote on it leaders or do they still have no say?

https://www.uniondemocracy.org/UDR/101-One%20Person%20One%20Vote%20On%20DC%2037%20Delegates%20Agenda.htm

[rjsquirrel]

10. Yeah cuz those delegates

aren't democratically elected by the members. N wait what?

Goddamn the butthurt.

[Uponthegears]

11. Actually not

But since you're too busy trying to make snide remarks about anyone who questions fat cats purporting to speak for WORKERS, you probably didn't bother to educate yourself on LC 37's history of autocratic governance.

[rjsquirrel]

12. So now it's anti-Union talk

Lovely.

I'm sure those delegates must not represent their membership being fat cats and all.

Really a parody of yourselves and progressivism.

[Uponthegears]

45. Oh my

And the smears begin . . .

IF you think that union members complaining about the bosses at the national caring more about maintaining their own power than fighting for the membership, you don't know jack about unions and have never been in one.

Try following the link in my earlier post . . . tell us, genius,

Are those "right to work"-ers talking OR are those MEMBERS speaking out?

You've never worked an hour under a union contract.

You're not a parody, friend. You're a PRIME EXAMPLE of the autocratic attitude of YOUR BOSS.

[Smarmie Doofus]

57. +1. It's true of AFT/UFT.

>>>IF you think that union members complaining about the bosses at the national caring more about maintaining their own power than fighting for the membership, you don't know jack about unions and have never been in one.>>>>

My impression is its true generally. ( Not universally; but *generally*.)

[geek tragedy]

36. "history of autocratic governance"

funny, that's normally how the 'right to work" crowd talks

[Uponthegears]

46. See #45 nt

[geek tragedy]

47. did you complain when unions endorsed Sanders without letting their members vote? nt

[geek tragedy]

84. DC37 is very heavily women of color, especially black women.

in how many states have black women been feeling the Bern?

Answer: ZERO

Maybe you should respect the choice of one of the most progressive unions in the country.

[Uponthegears]

86. So having proved you don't

know ANYTHING about the how DC 37 is structured, you've decided to start "splaining" to ME about what black people think?

Excellent . . .

Anything else you want to tell me about?

[geek tragedy]

87. I see bitter, sour grapes from a Sanders supporter

trying to claim that every union vote belongs to Bernie Sanders despite the obvious evidence to the contrary.

Go ahead and tell us why the women who make up DC 37's membership are unlike the black women who have voted in every primary this year.

Berniesplain it to us.

[Uponthegears]

91. I never claimed that

And your straw man is no more effective than your ignorance about LC 37's structure and history, OR your -splaining what we think.

I'll admit these union endorsements mean a lot. Unions (and, yes, I mean even union bosses) put boots on the ground and boots on the grounds mean something on election day.

They just don't mean that Hillary, or her policies, are good for working people.

[obamanut2012]

59. "fat cats purporting to speak for WORKERS" = union members

To you.

Do you even hear what you're saying?!

[workinclasszero]

82. You people always miss the point that union leadership

is democratically elected by the workers!

Damn!

[Uponthegears]

85. Another Hillary supporter

who "shockingly" doesn't know diddly about the DC 37 power structure and its history of undemocratic rule.

Why is it you all have such a cozy relationship with the powerful (whether Union Bosses or Wall Street Bosses), yet know NOTHING about the workers?

[bigtree]

95. c'mon

...everyone knows that if Sanders had gotten the endorsement, we wouldn't hear the end of it from supporters.

Pure sophistry to suggest their membership, whose demographic, as it's been pointed out to you, is Hillary's most dependable vote in this primary, would reject her over Sanders.

Shocking this union would endorse their state's former Senator over the senator from Vermont.

[Uponthegears]

96. I pretty much admit that

somewhere on this string (I'm too lazy to look right now).

Even if it just came from the bosses, a union endorsement is a big deal because unions get out there and work, especially on election day.

I just have a problem with the meme that this shows that working people are lining up behind Hillary.

[pinebox]

14. Another union where members don't get to vote

Sad and undemocratic....

[Hoyt]

18. Membership doesn't elect the leadership? Darn, I wouldn't pay dues to a union like that.

[pinebox]

22. Darn is right

Members should be able to vote in situations like this. That is only fair. Problem with that?

[Hoyt]

23. Membership elects leadership to represent them. Sounds like leadership is doing that. If not,

membership should elect new leadership. Just more Sanders' supporters grousing because a union didn't endorse their candidate.

[pinebox]

26. You're wrong Hoyt. This isn't about Sanders. You are misreading.

This is about how a union isn't representing their members. I don't care if the union has endorsed Bernie or Hillary, members should be allowed to vote when an endorsement such as who a union backs for POTUS is present. That is only fair in such a big issue. Unions are supposed to represent people, correct? Correct. This is a big thing. Members should have a say in it otherwise your vote isn't much different than a presidential race in China.

If they would have endorsed Bernie I would be bitching the same way. Many of these unions aren't representing the people it seems in a way they should be.

[geek tragedy]

30. sure it isn't nt

[Hoyt]

34. Sorry, I don't agree. The leadership will be the one who works with the Prez and staffers,

leadership has met with Clinton and/or staffers, etc. They know things that the rank and file don't.

Sorry, people join a union expecting the leadership to do what is best for the membership. Pretty much like political elections. And sometimes voters just don't have the big picture.

Fact is, Clinton has their confidence. The leadership of a union that size is not going to sell the membership down the river, if for no other reason than they would not be re-elected.

Another fact is, the national American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees endorsed Clinton some time ago. Now the local union has done the same. The membership will get to vote for their favorite in a few weeks.

Did you complain when AFL-CIO endorsed Sanders?

[pinebox]

39. Disagree completely

Unions solely exist to represent their members, without members there is no unions. Some unions allow their members to vote in who they endorse for POTUS and I firmly believe that is the right thing to do.

Allowing members to vote IS democracy defined. Why shouldn't peoples voices be heard and why should they not have a process in everything? They pay their dues after all. If that is the case where people aren't allowed to vote, they should stop paying their dues.

It really isn't that much different than the whole taxation without representation thing going on.

[Hoyt]

42. Did you complain when Postal Workers, AFL-CIO, Dock Workers, etc., endorsed Sanders?

[pinebox]

113. Again, people should be allowed to vote

As I said above, this isn't about Bernie or Hillary, it's about unions not representing their members. Let them vote!

[Hoyt]

114. They get to vote at the primary, and don't have to vote for the union's endorsee.

[pinebox]

115. Hoyt, people should be able to vote for who their union endorses

Why are you sounding like a Republican with wanting to suppress peoples from voting? Think about that for a minute.

[Hoyt]

117. Suppress? They get to vote, and are not bound by who the leadership

endorsed. What is Republican about that?

[pinebox]

121. As a general rule of thumb, union members don't get to vote for who their union backs

This is sad. Union members should be allowed to vote and voice who they think would be the best choice. This is not representation by any form

[Scuba]

17. Wonder who they would have endorsed HAD THE MEMBERS BEEN ALLOWED TO VOTE???

[colsohlibgal]

21. Exactly

Bernie would won easily.

[geek tragedy]

35. are you a member of DC 37? nt

[geek tragedy]

29. Probably the person who represented them for 8 years

in the Senate and was diligent in her advocacy for New York State and New York City while in the Senate.

Probably not for the guy who never did anything for New York City.

[Scuba]

31. We'll never know, but that won't stop Hillary's supporters from claiming all the member's support.

[geek tragedy]

33. I don't think anyone is going to be claiming that.

union members aren't unanimous on very much, some of them even vote Republican

[Scuba]

37. You know that when union members have voted they've picked Bernie every time?

It's only when union leaders decide that Hillary gets the nod.

[geek tragedy]

38. how many unions hold plebiscites to determine

political endorsements?

[Scuba]

40. Bernie Sanders Gets Group Endorsements When Members Decide; Hillary Clinton When Leaders Decide

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/22/bernie-sanders-gets-group-endorsements-when-members-decide-hillary-clinton-when

In the war for endorsements in the Democratic presidential primary, there is a clear trend.

Every major union or progressive organization that let its members have a vote endorsed Bernie Sanders.

Meanwhile, all of Hillary Clinton’s major group endorsements come from organizations where the leaders decide. And several of those endorsements were accompanied by criticisms from members about the lack of a democratic process.

It’s perhaps the clearest example yet of Clinton’s powerful appeal to the Democratic Party’s elite, even as support for Sanders explodes among the rank and file.

[geek tragedy]

43. according to your chart, exactly ONE union endorsed Sanders

based on the votes of all union members.

The ones that endorsed him:

American Postal Workers Union--Executive board vote
National Nurses United-Executive council vote
Communications workers of America--Three month process involving meetings and discussions culminating in an online vote.

Funny, no crocodile tears about democracy when two unions endorsed Bernie in exactly the same manner that this union endorsed Clinton.

And there were multiple unions who did outreach to their members before endorsing Clinton, including AFGE, LIUNA, AFSCME, AFT, and UFCW.

That's a VERY useful chart!

[Scuba]

49. The chart is clear: Hillary has not gotten a single union endorsement when members voted.

[geek tragedy]

52. and Sanders got a grand total of one.

But you breeze over the fact that multiple Clinton-endorsing unions did consult their members before making the decision.

and why didn't a single Sanders person object to the Nurses Union endorsing without letting their members vote on it?

Please. This is sour grapes, nothing more.

[Karma13612]

63. Thank you! Eom

[geek tragedy]

81. also, people who assume Sanders would get a majority of DC37's members' votes

should probably familiarize themselves with the union's membership, particulary its racial and gender composition, before making such statements

[Uponthegears]

88. Thank for "-splaining"

We really need you to do that for us.

[geek tragedy]

89. Apparently you Sanders supporters really do need this sort of thing explained to you.

You all constantly react to people supporting Clinton over Sanders as if it's not possible, and that it's all a giant corrupt conspiracy.

You are not the majority.

Learn.

Consider exit polling from the dozen states where there were enough African-American Democratic primary voters to adequately survey both how white men and women voted and how black men and women voted. African-American women supported Clinton at between 66 percent (Michigan and Illinois) and 93 percent (Alabama) in those dozen states, according to data on CNN’s Website. -

http://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/clinton-owes-her-commanding-lead-to-african-american-women

Numbers don't lie.

[Uponthegears]

92. Yes,

We black voters do need you telling us what we think.

I was appalled by this patronizing when Sanders supporters were doing it. It isn't any better coming from Hillary supporters.

Find another argument.

[Karma13612]

62. +1000000000000000. My Union SEIU1199

Endorsed Hillary and I didn't get a say.

In fact my Union organizer is Pro-Bernie, but she has to remain neutral and stick to the union position.

But, in the voting booth she will let her voice be heard!

[cosmicone]

20. They are endorsing the most qualified candidate n/t

[brooklynite]

24. Maybe Unions are more informed than online bloggers when it comes to political campaigns...

...and they worry that nominating Sanders would put union gains at risk.

[pinebox]

28. Uhhhh how so? Bernie has fought for labor more so than Hillary

[brooklynite]

41. ...because they think he'll lose to the Republican candidate.

[pinebox]

51. I don't buy that

and I don't think union bosses are so stupid to believe that when every poll out there shows Bernie crushing a Republican challenger by a much larger margin than Hillary who actually loses in some cases to them.

It's probably more about money and how much more in taxes they'd have to pay. Union bosses are often members of the 1%

[geek tragedy]

54. LOL, so now you're bashing unions as corrupt, because they endorsed the person who represented

them in the Senate for 8 years, rather than a guy who never did anything for the city.

Bitter, sour grapes.

[brooklynite]

55. Thank you for making my point...

..."every poll" is a meaningless metric at this point (other than to indicate whether the GE is competitive); then it moves to fundraising, campaign tactics and message. I think Unions (and the hundreds of Democratic candidates who've endorsed her) have a more comprehensive view of the election.

[pinebox]

112. Polls aren't exactly meaningless

Sorry but campaigns pay very close attention to them and market from there, it's how strategics works.
I think people deserve to vote who their union should endorse, that is only fair.

[geek tragedy]

44. he's never fought for New York nt

[mcar]

27. Nice!

[michealgordons]

32. Hilary on time

Hillary on time

[Herman4747]

48. Union leadership has endorsed REPUBLICAN candidates...

...at times.

I know, I was a member of a union whose leadership did precisely that when Democrat Ed Rendell was running for governor of Pennsylvania. I left that union immediately.

So Hillary getting an endorsement from the leadership of a particular union DOES NOT IMPRESS ME.

What I find notable is that when Hillary was a member of the WalMart Board of Directors for six years, not only did she DO NOTHING to promote unionization within WalMart, but she actually praised the company and chose to own its stock!!!

[geek tragedy]

50. so, NYC unions should care more about Hillary Clinton's tenure as First Lady of Arkansas than

about her 8 years representing New York in the Senate?

[Herman4747]

53. Okay, do tell what precisely Hillary did...

...in those 8 years to expand unionization within this country. Go on, I dare you.

[geek tragedy]

56. you mean during the Bush administration, when Republicans controlled Congress? nt

[Herman4747]

60. Oh, so those...

"8 years representing New York in the Senate," that you speak of didn't amount to much, and therefore SHOULD NOT EVEN BE MENTIONED?
What should be mentioned, though, is that for six years she was on the WalMart Board of Directors, and did absolutely nothing to promote unionization within the company. Not just that, but she praised the company and chose to own its stock!!!

[geek tragedy]

66. she did plenty for the people of New York while in the Senate.

including a lot of union members who faced health difficulties after the WTC attacks.

[Herman4747]

68. Well, that applies to both union and nonunion folks...

...doesn't it buddy??? YES OR NO??? Or are you going to refuse to answer???

In short, she sought to ensure that people who had their health adversely impacted by the attacks got taken of.
As one might expect from a U.S. senator.
Big deal.

[geek tragedy]

69. union members in New York are still New Yorkers,

they don't stop being New Yorkers when they join a union, or vote in union elections

[Herman4747]

70. Of course not. But do explain how helping all...

...the injured, whether union members or not, can be labeled as fighting for unions.

[geek tragedy]

71. it's relevant to the union members nt

[Herman4747]

76. It's relevant to ALL PEOPLE. n/t

[geek tragedy]

83. yes, and union members vote as people.

[Smarmie Doofus]

58. Which Clinton will turn-up on the WH steps in Jan. 2017?

And how would one know?

That's the trouble w. multiple Clintons.

This ( nominating a candidate for president) shouldn't be like playing lotto.

[Starry Messenger]

61. K&R

[ieoeja]

65. There was a Union Representative in a Chicago bar the night Chicagoans shut down the Trump rally.

I was the only non-union patron in the place. Everyone was talking about how much they hate Trump when the retired fireman -- the only Republican in the bunch; everyone else was construction trades except one medical -- said, "but there is no way I could ever vote for Hillary either."

Aside from the Union Rep every single person in the bar echoed that sentiment. The Rep was in complete shock.

Where the Clintons are concerned there appears to be a major disconnect between union members and their representatives.

[geek tragedy]

73. here's a shockeroo, union members in NYC aren't all white people

the "Never Hillary" crowd who would prefer Trump aren't very diverse

[ieoeja]

77. Who said they would vote for Trump? You need to re-read that quote.

"but there is no way I could ever vote for Hillary either."

The word "either" means there is another person for whom the people, including the Republican, could never vote. Given that they were discussing their hatred of Trump at the start of the conversation, I'm surprised you did not realize that Trump was that other person.

[geek tragedy]

79. DC37 is mostly black women. Please don't act surprised

that a union dominated by the single most pro-Clinton demographic in the country endorsed Hillary Clinton.

[oasis]

67. Unions appreciate leaders who roll up their sleeves and go to work.

Hillary is such a leader.

[workinclasszero]

74. WOW! 121,000 workers!!!

Awesome union endorsment for Hillary!!

[whatchamacallit]

101. Most of whom will vote for Bernie

[lunamagica]

90. K&R. Go Hillary!

[Politicalboi]

103. They have no idea what they're doing

Supporting the one who would rather see unions gone. Where was Wal Mart's union when she worked for them?

[geek tragedy]

108. you tell em! You know everything! nt

[Kip Humphrey]

109. Please provide the rank & file vote totals for this endorsement.

[kstewart33]

110. Great news! Thanks very much for posting. nt

[Zen Democrat]

111. Hillary is about as anti-union as Democrats can get. Don't forget she was on the board of WALMART!

And Walmart is the epicenter of union-breaking in the USA.

[snowy owl]

116. Union endorsements not always what they seem...

for instance, my national union endorsed Clinton but every teacher I know is voting Bernie. Union leaders are often in bed with establishment and if they want to stay there or get any perks, they are going to remain in bed with establishment. But rank and file workers no so much. They get the difference. Bernie should work those union halls.

[bigtree]

119. I'll tell you what this means

...it's organization, mobilization, and activism from an experienced and influential NY organization.

You're no friend of unions if you're spouting that 'establishment bullshit about our elected union leadership.

'Work the union halls?'

For real?

[snowy owl]

120. You don't know what that phrase means?

It means get out and talk to rank-and-file workers. Perhaps I've more union experience than you. Ever stood in a picket line or protested while negotiations took place? I have.

And anybody who thinks that unions follow union bosses is crazy. They don't turn their brains off because a union boss tells them to. You have a low opinion of rank-and-file workers and little knowledge of the independence workers show when they want to.

[Lucinda]

118. KNR Thank you!