By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Chevron, Boeing and other companies whose fortunes are heavily dependent on government action or inaction were among the companies that gave $23 million to President Obama for his inauguration party, with the politician who ordinarily demonizes corporate money relying primarily on such sources, rather than individuals, for the $44 million gala in January.
There can be riches in standing up for the working class: The Boilermakers union president earned $506,000, plus hundreds of thousands of dollars more for travel expenses, while the Laborers union president made $441,000. The Transportation Communications Union leader made $300,000, bumped up to $750,000 with business expenses.
Verizon and unions representing 43,000 employees have reached tentative, three-year agreements covering job security, retirement and other issues.
Three weeks before the Democratic National Convention this summer, union leaders plan to hold their own "shadow convention" to promote labor issues they think too many elected officials are ignoring.
The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., is shaping up to be a rickety display of party unity, with labor boycotts, fundraising shortfalls, scheduling changes, official snubs, a major gay-rights embarrassment, a sex scandal and a Republican resurgence in the host state.
As 9.1 percent unemployment plagues America this Labor Day, major unions are clashing with a Democratic administration with which they normally would march in lockstep. Echoing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at least seven unions are begging Team Obama to abandon regulations, statements and procedures that prevent jobs from being created or saved.
Thousands of striking Verizon workers will return to work starting Monday night, though their contract dispute isn't over yet.
Reading from prepared scripts and calling at predesignated times, retirees of the Communications Workers of America are the newest recruits in the union's strike against Verizon Communications, asked to flood service centers with complaints and questions to — in the words of one leader — "tie them up."
Union members are so mad at their employer, Verizon, that they've been on strike for nearly two weeks. Wireline division employees, who are paid up to $91,000 a year with overtime and $50,000 a year in benefits, are irate at being asked to contribute a nominal sum toward their own health insurance coverage.
Striking Verizon landline workers say they laid the foundation for the company's booming wireless business and shouldn't be expected to give up contract benefits just because they work on a less profitable side of the business.
Labor and management representatives say Verizon Communication Inc. negotiators are meeting in New York.
Thousands of Verizon landline workers took to picket lines Monday from Massachusetts to Virginia, fighting management demands for contract givebacks and disputing that their work is unprofitable.
Some 45,000 unionized Verizon Communications Inc. workers from Massachusetts to the District of Columbia went on strike Sunday after negotiations with the telecommunications company over a new labor contract fizzled.
Verizon Communications Inc., the region's top telephone service provider, is facing a 12:01 a.m. Sunday strike deadline, at which time 45,000 union employees in nine states, including Maryland and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C., may walk off their jobs.
