[typoon]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/..._picket_lines/

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff | October 19, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Last summer, John F. Kerry refused to cross a police picket line and address the US Conference of Mayors meeting in Boston. Last night he rode in a motorcade that crossed two Florida police picket lines en route to a get-out-the-vote rally in vote-rich Orlando.

Aides said the demonstration, staged by members of the Orlando Police Department represented by Fraternal Order of Police Local 25, was sprung on the campaign without prior notice in an effort to embarrass the city's Democratic mayor, Buddy Dyer. Local media describe the union as Republican-leaning, the same label aides to Mayor Thomas M. Menino attached to the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association in the midst of its dispute before the Democratic National Convention in July.

''It was a surprise demonstration by an organization that supports President Bush," said David Wade, a spokesman for Kerry.

The officers' contract expired Oct. 1. The city has offered the membership a 2 percent raise, as it did all city labor unions. The union is seeking 4 percent.

One of the pickets, Officer Paul Bruning, said the union notified Democratic officials in Miami last week of its plans to picket Kerry both at Orlando International Airport and at the Barnett Park Recreation Center.

''It's not against John Kerry; it's our mayor that's treating us poorly," Bruning said. ''Boston police were at an impasse for two years, and after he refused to cross, they had a contract in two weeks."

On June 26, the day before he had been scheduled to address the mayors' conference, Kerry told the Globe: ''I don't cross picket lines. I never have." Nearly a month later, on July 22, a state-appointed arbitrator settled the dispute by awarding the Boston officers a 14.5 percent raise over four years.

Nice to see Kerry doing what he says again.

[Spliffdaddy]

Republican-leaning labor union???

LMFAO

There is no such animal.

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by Spliffdaddy:
Republican-leaning labor union???

LMFAO

There is no such animal.

The FoP has almost always supported the Rep. candidate. AFAIK, it's the only national "traditional" union which does.

[Spliffdaddy]

interesting. I wasn't aware of that.

300,000 union members that aren't Democrats.

How refreshing.

I didn't find any affiliation with the AFL-CIO at the FOP national website. Even more refreshing.

Doesn't take much to make my day, I reckon.

[RAILhead]

...but remember: he's for the middle-class so it's okay. he can also change his mind, being adaptive to the situations and circumstances rather than remaining steadfast in a position.



Oh, and Bush has doubled his standing in the black community, if anyone else is watching this trend. What trend? Kerry's base is fall-ing down, fall-ing down, fall-ing down...

Maury

[Scientist]

Originally posted by Spliffdaddy:
interesting. I wasn't aware of that.

300,000 union members that aren't Democrats.

How refreshing.

I didn't find any affiliation with the AFL-CIO at the FOP national website. Even more refreshing.

Doesn't take much to make my day, I reckon.

It's still a nasty commy union though, right?

[Spliffdaddy]

oh yeah