Posted on 10/21/2016 5:09:51 AM PDT by far sider
I had an on-line exchange with a friend who works for a local union organization a few days ago. We discussed how union members will really vote. It started with my observation that the local union offices around here do not have Hillary signs on their property, even though they have plenty of other democrat signs.
I bet when these guys are polled they tell the pollsters one thing, but they will vote differently.
ME. Just wondering why the union hall isn't putting Hillary signs out. Usually you have more than one sign for pres election.
HER. We did have a yard sign out there - someone stole it. We still have a yard sign over on the other side of the bldg. But I will tell you they all liked Bernie better.
ME. Most people did.
HER. You are correct, we usually have bunches.
ME. Don't see them at the other union halls either. I'm surprised.
HER. I'm not really. More union people than usual seem willing to vote trump, even though he's said clearly he wants right to work.
HER: My personal opinion? You won't agree. I think it's because she's a woman.
HER: that's not to say she doesn't have issues. I know she does. but I don't think the biggest problem is anything other than sexism.
HER: just my personal opinion tho.
ME. I dont know your coworkers so you would know better than me. Personally I absolutely don't care if she's a woman.
HER. well, not really my co-workers. Just watching and listen to general union talk, posts, stuff like that.
ME. Just like I didn't care about Obama's skin color. I would gladly vote for a black woman if she was conservative.
HER. I believe that about you. I don't get sexism from you.
HER. I'll express another opinion. If the Rs had put up someone other than trump they would have won.
ME. You mean another R could have beaten Hillary but not Trump.
HER. yes.
HER: I think so.
HER: someone more middle of the road.
ME. Who will get more union votes? Trump or Romney (2012)?
HER. hmmm
HER: I'd be guessing but I think trump gets more union cross over.
ME. Have you seen the Project Veritas video?
HER. I read something about it but have not watched it. I have read some of the founder's background, which isn't good. But no I haven't.
HER: This election is almost making me physically ill. I've been avoiding the news somewhat.
HER: It's just too ugly.
ME. Its pretty sickening.
HER. let me go look.
HER: is this the one where they are talking about inciting violence?
HER: at rump rallies?
HER: trump
ME. Rump rallies? haha
HER. lol not intentional
HER: i swear
ME. ok. Yes.
HER. I read a story about that and it makes me mad and disappointed. There is no excuse for that, ever. none.
ME. The one from monday is about the violence. The one from yesterday is about busing "voters" from state to state and other stuff pretty high-up guys caught on video.
HER. I'll watch it.
ME. It's amazing
My aunt and uncle were super hard core Bernie people. They are both Union stewards, and posted tons of Bernie stuff on Facebook last spring.
Now? Nothing. No political stuff at all.
Dont know how they will vote.
Unions (besides maybe cops and firemen, and CERTAINLY not all) will vote for hillary.
I have friends that are union members and the majority of guys just care about their next raise and pension.
The teachers I know go yuge for hillary.
It is what it is.
Personally? I believe there are two tiers to all unions and collective group enterprises.
The top (largely political) tier are the management function - the one that does bargaining, aggregating of dues and the like, and the rank and file, many of whom are forced to join in order to get and keep their jobs. It is the same way for other organizations like the AARP.
In actuality, all of them are slaved to a political party/mentality that promotes largess and undue reward simply because of numbers. The top tier largely never listens to the rank and file membership and issues edicts, support statements, and also provides bribe and corruption money to politicians.
That tier is ALWAYS mostly a few individuals living large, high on the hog and there is ALWAYS money that has been secreted somewhere for them so they can lay on a beach in the Bahamas like a beached whale. It is a disgusting one-sided relationship with the members providing the means for the top tier to live like kings.
My union shop has maybe 2-3 votes for Trump for every Hillary vote. The only real support she has here is the non-white and non-male union members.
Hillary has a lot of enthusiasm among union members. I expect 100% turnout, all voting for her, among dead former union members.
Half of all union members work for governmemt, where unions should absolutely be prohibited.
I believe only Ohio is a ‘swing state’ with a high level of union members. Unions wouldn’t seem to matter except for there.
Far,
Thanks for that report. It’s always about sexism isn’t it?
No, ma’am, it’s about those union guys, many of whom are vets, and most of them get the lies and disinformation spewing from Hillary’s mouth. And all vets know that divulging classified information would have landed them a several years stay at Leavenworth.
But she can continue her delusion about Hillary’s unlikeability by men as being due to sexism.
It’s really interesting to me that women often claim sexism as a reason why someone doesn’t like Hillary and isn’t voting for her. On the other hand, a lot of women will vote for her simply because she’s a woman. So who’s actually being sexist?
You are referring to NY City union members, a group that has been protected, both by politicians as well as the mob, because they provide funds to both camps.
The union members in MI, IN, PA, OH, WI, WV the rust belt have seen their jobs disappear...to mexico, china, etal, thanks mostly to NAFTA and also automation.
70,000 plants have closed since klintoon signed NAFTA {pushed by both pubbies and demonRATS}, think about the millions of families that have been affected by that series of events.
NY City union members work in the city {mostly construction and trades} and their jobs, like teachers, can't be sent to foreign countries {yet} so they are less likely to respond to Trump's America First message.
Can’t argue there.
Got the SEIU “voter guide” in the mail yesterday (for Washington state) and will use it as a guide to vote opposite their endorsements.
Our union guys seem to be embracing Trump overwhelmingly (Pipefitters and IBEW). I don’t see Hillary stickers on work trucks or tool boxes, but I do see some Trump stickers (much to the chagrin of union bosses I am sure).
As far as polling, we union guys know the tricks. The unions often use push polling, and in the past have used phone polling to intimidate. That is to say, some Joe Schmoe will call your house (claiming to be just a regular old pollster) to ask you how your voting and to ask if you are getting out to the polls. WE union contractors know how that works, so we answer the way we are SUPPOSED to. Guys that don’t answer the way they are supposed to often find themselves going hungry. You learn pretty quick how to play the game.
Usually at union meetings they would be pushing the dem candidate. They don’t dare this year in my halls. Of course the bosses and the union hierarchy are for the Hillary, but you won’t see any organization to that end during stated meetings. My Laborers union hall is different though, I had to swing by there a few weeks ago and I noticed they had a bunch of Hillary (and down ballot like Duckworth) signs and placards against the wall for the taking, but I haven’t seen any on lawns, and I’m near Chicago, and go through Chicago nearly every day. I don’t see Trump signs either, people are keeping their thoughts wrapped up.
The Laborers Union is a horse of a different color though, during the primary many of those members had Bernie stickers on their boxes, but now the members seem to be for Hillary (or at least that’s the impression I got from my trip to their office). I seldom have many words with our Laborers, and wouldn’t engage them in politics anyways.
Teachers here are lock-step in line with Hillary, the teachers parking lots are jam packed with Hillary bumper stickers, I know the cops are pro Trump, but I’ve heard the firemen around here are pro-Hillary for some reason (cop friend told me that).
SEIU cut their deal with Hillary a long time ago.
Many will vote Democrat. Many will vote Republican. Same as always.
It doesn’t matter how the union members vote, it only matters how the union leaders count those votes.
People that work in MANUFACTURING will vote Trump whether they are in a union or not. Only 10% of the manufacturing sector workforce is unionized. There is a big misconception that the USA’s workforce is highly unionized. Overall only 7% of the USA’s workforce is unionized.
Good point. Pubic school teachers, effectively government workers and the largest work group in many cities, are largely to blame for America's decline. I hold teachers (and the N.E.A. which leads them) personally accountable for America's slide into ignorance, queerness, violence, poverty, racism and family brokenness.
I deal with union people in my work and by and large they are not interested in thinking but prefer to be told how to vote (D) by their union bosses. Sure makes life easier.. not having to read or watch anything about politics. More time for life’s fun things.
Of course, when the jobs shrivel up and die, and their bosses have moved on to greener pastures. They will sit around the union hall waiting to be told when it is time to pay their dues again. They will watch the tv over the bar and see things circling the commode in this country and say astute phrases like, ‘That thar ain’t right!’ careful to make sure no one takes it as a complaint about the candidates they were told to pull the lever for.
At election time, they do it again.
Mining and manufacturing union members who vote D are voting for financial ruin.
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