Posted on 08/20/2004 11:17:41 AM PDT by MindFire
Border Patrol union says new rules 'muzzle' critics of the agency
BEN FOX
Associated Press
TEMECULA, Calif. - New labor rules proposed by the Department of Homeland Security would muzzle internal critics of the Border Patrol by making it easier to punish and fire agents, who have often been vocal critics of management policies, union officials said.
The new regulations would take effect upon their release, expected in late summer or early fall. As proposed, they would make significant changes to rules covering some 50,000 Homeland Security employees, including immigration, agricultural and customs inspectors on the border.
Homeland Security officials say the regulations would give the agency the flexibility necessary to fight terrorism, but unions representing federal employees say the proposals rules are unfair to workers and would stifle whistleblowers. "People aren't going to be willing to talk. It's going to have a very chilling effect," T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said Wednesday.
More recently, the union urged Homeland Security officials to allow a mobile patrol unit to resume apprehensions of illegal immigrants in inland cities. The 12-agent group, based out of the Temecula station, made more than 400 arrests in June before the operations were halted amid an outcry by activists and politicians.
Union leaders defended the mobile patrol at a town hall meeting in Temecula on Friday, but Bonner and others said agents would be afraid to be so vocal "It would be career suicide, and if you get fired from a law enforcement job it's a stain," he said. "It's the kiss of death for getting another law enforcement job or even menial work." The proposed regulations allow the government to fire people for national security reasons under an expedited process; create new mandatory firing offenses and eliminate arbitration for removal,
(Excerpt) Read more at sanluisobispo.com ...
ping
99% of American union leadership does, IMO.
There were a few posts about this town hall meeting here at FR, but they didnt turn up in a search. if i find them i'll post the link. The group at the town hall wasn't 'led' by John and Ken,. They are just vocal critics who reported on it. Yes, they have the leading talk show on a 50k watt station (KFI is the #1 station in America); so of course that gets the story (whatevere story KFI deems fit to publcize) great exposure.
I will agree with you that they're 'yahoos'! ;-) But they do some great work.
They are by no means 'leaders' of this movement/sentiment; they're actually just reporting on it and are an outlet for southern californians
So...you don't think unions should have freedom of speech?
I hardly think TJ Bonner would support john kerry! from all i've heard, he is a patriot who believes in the Constitution and sovereignty. This is about D Vs R bah bah bah bah nonsense. you think anyone who criticizes the immigration policy in the USA is somehow 'liberal'? come on, get real. leftist, for the most part, don't even believe in borders
They called in an announced that on George Putnams show. i have friends who went to the one several weeks ago, and know several people who went to the town hall meeting. Personally i thought the town hall was just going to be a staged, scripted event, so i didn't bother going. Once i heard the coverage on KFI and how wild it was, it sounded like it was great, LOL.
You don't remember the PATCO strike of 1981 do you, where a govt. union illeagally struck and shut down the nations air system.
And where did I say anything about their free speech? I was just mentioning that it is highly likely that the union leadership is behind kerry, just like 99% of the union leadership in this country.
Remember gang, this is coming from a Republican administration. When we the people rise up against the illegals we fight the "Two-Party Cartel" that keeps us under their control. GW nor Kerry will change the status-quo. While we argue the swift boat vets they are turning out counrty into a 3rd world nation. Just think that to be president all one has to do is outflank the idiot Kerry. Sure seems like a cartel in politics to me.
I saw that reply and also her response in the follow up report. Wth all due respect, the fact that one tried and true Bush loyalist 'freeper' was there and is hoodwinked By Asa's illegal-alien loving nonsense, has no bearing on the issue. I know plenty of people who were there too and heard the entire thing on audio.
Beleieve me, they see through Asa's PR nonsense, as do most all people in CA.
I heard it all from both George & KFI. I had an appointment that couldn't be broken otherwise I was going.
you're right; all this endless chatter about the swift boat vets, etc. while it certainly has its relevance, is not addressing any of the current real issues facing the USA.
I will trust Asa Hutchison, who I believe is a good person trying to do the best job he can with the legal and political obstacles in front of him, over a union leader and socially liberal talk show hosts grandstanding to the press.
We now have a few peoples attention & this crusade in its infancy is beginning to grow. By the next off election this will be front & center. By the next general election it will be the main issue & I will go out & predict that if the Republicans do not take this issue on headstrong it will be captured by non other than the Hildabeast & will win her the election. Remember you heard it 4 yrs prior.
Hutchison is a traitorous scumbag and ned to be thrown out of his job like the rest of the illegal lovers.
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