(ISSN 0023-6667) Romney letter to big giver$ slams unions By Mark Gruenberg President Obama and his party no surprise. During the PAI Staff Writer for the state of the economy, Democratic National Conven- Call it the battle of dueling but he stops just short of calling tion, Teamsters President mailers, with Republican presi- Obama a socialist – and James Hoffa told Huffington dential nominee Mitt Romney reminds his readers that labor News Romney’s website in one corner and the nation’s backs the president. boasts of his anti-labor views. unions, represented by the The federation’s mailer to “He wants to annihilate AFL-CIO, in the other. union members and supporters organized labor as we know it,” In a mass mailer to his big in swing states such as Ohio, Hoffa said. “It’s on his web- An Injury to One is an Injury to All! givers late last month, the for- Wisconsin and Florida, isn’t site. I’m not making this up. WEDNESDAY VOL. 119 mer Bain Capital tycoon not asking for money. It reminds He’s for a national right-to- OCTOBER 10, 2012 NO. 8 only slams Democratic them of Romney’s conde- work law. The Republican Par- scending comments in Boca ty has veered dangerously to Raton. There, he told big givers the right. It’s rather incredible, behind closed doors that 47% in 2012, if you think about it.” of the country is dependent on The AFL-CIO mailer, “Mitt government – and that he does- Romney…Wrong about Amer- n’t care about those people. ica again,” focuses on his Boca They include veterans and the Raton comments, where he elderly, but he did not say so. called about half the country The mailers are another “victims” who expect govern- indication of the state of the ment to provide everything two presidential campaigns, far from meals to health care. from the scripted speeches and Romney added that he doesn’t sound bites of the nominees. care about those voters. Romney’s mass-mailer, The AFL-CIO mailer ties robo-signed “Mitt,” seeks at Romney and the party platform least $1,000 and all the way up to GOP U.S. Senate nominees to $78,500 from each donor, in closely contested races in promising special dedicated Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin and access for each big giver. Massachusetts. Tammy Bald- “Remember, the president’s win is labor’s candidate in Erik Simonson, center, had a good day Oct. 3. The MN Supreme Court said his name campaign is expected to spend Wisconsin. could be on the Nov. 6 ballot, ending his need to conduct a write-in campaign. And he got a billion dollars and his liberal Romney’s letter repeatedly to sit down with many supporters at his spaghetti fundraiser at the All American Club. allies, special interests and hits Obama and congressional powerful unions are willing to Democrats on the state of the Erik Simonson will be on Nov. 6 ballot spend millions more to keep economy, which is recovering Don’t worry about how to Simonson said with a smile at Simonson and the state DFL the liberals in power,” Rom- from the Great Recession. spell Erik Simonson if you’re a his Fire Fighters Local 101 Party filed a suit with the court ney’s letter screams, using “lib- While decrying the slump and voter living on Park Point or fundraiser. He had just come after he got when in the race eral” as an epithet. His letter is joblessness, Romney blames the western half of Duluth. from doorknocking during the when Rep. Kerry Gauthier consistent with his prior denun- Obama for federal budget Simonson, the AFL-CIO and dinner hour. withdrew. Simonson will now ciations of unions and workers. deficits. Romney does not say DFL-endorsed candidate for Simonson said it’s amazing be on the ballot against a Romney has said he oppos- how he would solve any of Duluth’s Minnesota House of how much everyone knows Republican opponent and has a es extending collective bar- those ills, other than to “enact a Representatives District 7B about everything going on in great chance of winning. gaining rights for public work- pro-growth agenda,” and, in a seat, won’t have to wage his terms of the ballot and the race, Another write-in candidate is ers and would abolish project postscript, “conservative difficult write-in campaign any which makes them less inter- trying to get on the ballot after labor agreements on federally reforms to get our fiscal house more. On October 3, without ested in talking about the issues Simonson’s victory. funded construction, among in order.” comment, the Minnesota Sup- important to governing when Simonson is president of other anti-worker stands. And Romney’s letter says reme Court ruled in his favor he knocks doors. He said hope- Fire Fighters Local 101 and The GOP platform endorses Obama’s policies failed, with- and said his name can be on the fully that will all change now Duluth’s Assistant Fire Chief, both a national so-called “right out mentioning policies, ballot as the DFL candidate. because this is a critical elec- the highest position he can hold to work” law, to deprive unions imposed by former GOP “This is a good day,” tion in America. and still be a union member. of dues from workers they rep- President George W. Bush and resent, and so-called “voter ID” his Right Wing and business American Crystal Sugar boycott is on! laws aimed at killing the right backers that ran the nation into to vote by women, minorities, the ditch into the first place. It The AFL-CIO endorsed a AFL-CIO said the boycott will incomes and healthcare bene- workers, students, the elderly also does not mention that con- nationwide consumer boycott be called off if the management fits. The national labor move- and other foes of the GOP- gressional Republicans -- of American Crystal Sugar of Crystal Sugar returns to the ment endorses boycotts cau- Radical Right-business agenda. whom Romney’s letter also products to begin next Monday bargaining table in good faith tiously and only in instances of Romney’s statements shills for – have blocked other in response to ACS’s 14-month and concludes a contract. grave injustice. against unions in the letter are pro-worker recovery plans. lockout of its workers. The This consumer boycott is “The twelve million union part of the labor movement’s families of the AFL-CIO are Here’s why you’d better vote continued support for the proud to stand with the coura- locked-out members of Bakery, geous locked-out workers who your paycheck and wallet... Confectionery, Tobacco Work- are responsible for American ers and Grain Millers Crystal Sugar’s profitability “If I become President of the United States, I will International Union (BCTGM). and previously strong reputa- curb the practice of giving union bosses an unfair ACS has blocked 1,300 tion,” AFL-CIO President advantage in contracting. One of the first things I will workers from their jobs since Richard Trumka said. “As we do – and actually on day one – is I will end the govern- August 1, 2011, denying them See Boycott...page 6 ment’s favoritism toward unions and union contracting on federal construction projects and end project labor agreements. I will fight to repeal Davis Bacon...and I will fight for a national right to work law.” ~Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, from the The Insulators Union Journal 10-year anniversary of Wellstone’s death to be observed on Range, Duluth Thursday, October 25 will and in the Duluth Labor Tem- London Road life of progressive populism. To participate contact Zach mark the 10-year anniversary ple’s Wellstone Hall that day. (enter via In Wellstone fashion a at 409-9246, [email protected]. of the airplane crash that took At 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, South St. fac- phone bank and doorknock on Refreshments will be avail- the life of beloved Senator Paul Oct. 25 a remembrance will ing Lake behalf of Labor candidates will able in the Labor Temple that Wellstone and his wife, Sheila. take place at the Wellstone Superior) a take place from 4:30 to 7:00 night for political activists and Their daughter, Marcia Memorial, which is near the number of p.m. in Duluth before the those coming to remember Wellstone Markuson, Well- site of the airplane crash. Take activities are remembrance. Wellstone. stone campaign staffers Tom Highway 53 north of Duluth planned. “We’ll put Paul’s spirit into Macalester College in St. Lapic, Mary McEvoy and Will and immediately take a right on Duluth’s action,” said North East Area Paul is hosting a Wellstone McLaughlin, and two pilots the Bodas Road a quarter mile first Poet Labor Council field organizer remembrance this evening with also died in the crash near past the Highway 37 turnoff to Laureate Zach Sias. “This will be our Governor Mark Dayton. An Eveleth, MN. Hibbing. Take the Bodas Road Barton Sutter kick-off to our GOTV (Get Out event honoring the lives of the Remembrance events are three miles to the Memorial. will read poems that reflect on The Vote) campaign and we’re Wellstones will take place in planned at the Wellstone At 7:00 p.m. that evening in Wellstone. LeAnn Littlewolf really looking forward to it.” November in Washington, DC. Memorial on the Iron Range the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 will read the poem she wrote that is inscribed on a rock at the CLUW conference in KC, MO Laborers 1091 on a food drive Wellstone Memorial.