Local 18's endorsement was not open to the public. http://ping.fm/Cp91I Kiss FM broke that story?

The Republican presidential nominee also received the endorsement of the Operating Engineers’ Local 18.

McCain’s campaign events were not open to the public, only to those who've been invited.

So, local 18's members who might not have supported this travesty, likely also
didn't get invited to it. Sweet. I suppose this is Sink's idea of "leadership,"
to hell with the membership.

Oh, and before I forget, the local Public Radio station WCPN noted this:

Pat Sink is the local union’s business officer.

SINK:"We have to take into consideration one thing—and that’s jobs, and the economy of our membership… We’ve been in contact with the McCain platform, and I’ll have to announce, I’d be proud to announce that today, local 18 does endorse fully the McCain/Palin platform.”

But while the IUOE is supporting McCain, the National union has endorsed Obama, and a spokesman says Sink was among those who voted unamimously to do so. A call to Sink seeking comment was not returned.”

The IUOE supports Obama, votes for Obama and Pat Sink wa a member of the voting body that gave it's unanimous consent.

I suppose, Pat Sink, is a liar here in his endorsement. And I have to wonder, who in the local was polled for this endorsement? Who in the membership was given the chance to attend the event, and how were the members NOT in agreement with Pat handled?

Local 18, don't you think it's time for Pat to hit the road?

Oh, yeah, and hey, Pat, have you noticed that your members' pay would be taxed under a McCain health care initiative as Payroll AND Income? And, oh yeah, they'd use the $5k to buy health care benefits worse than what they currently have, or does this local not bother to bargain for health care benefits?

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OBAMA

Apparently, the entire union, just not local 18 in Cleveland, Ohio.

You know, you can tell Sink how you feel about this.

Here's the announcement:

Operating Engineers Endorse Obama
By Kate A. - Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:44 pm EDT
Also listed in: Labor for Obama

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
The 410,000-member International Union of Operating Engineers today endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president. The endorsement came following a survey conducted by the International Union of its more than 100 local unions throughout the U.S., which overwhelmingly supported the Obama candidacy.

In announcing the endorsement, IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin said:

From the perspective of the Operating Engineers, Barack Obama always has supported and is committed as president to promoting good-paying jobs for our members through strong federal investment in infrastructure projects; he is committed to protecting Davis-Bacon prevailing wage legislation, which also creates good-paying jobs for our members and levels the playing field for union contractors; he is committed to energy policies that encourage conservation and efficiency, and modernizing our energy infrastructure; he promises to continue tax breaks for employers who provide health care benefits for their workers, which is the foundation of our IUOE health & welfare funds that provide our members and their families excellent health care benefits.

The Obama-Biden ticket offers America‟s workers hope for needed relief from the ruinous economic policies of the Bush Administration over the past eight years that have produced massive job losses, unacceptable unemployment, stagnant wages, outrageous gas prices, record home foreclosures, constantly rising medical costs, and disastrous trade and budget deficits.

These locals have more, including the full letter:
399
317

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You let McSame use you as a backdrop in Ohio while he spoke about the economy?



And you did this so that you could FUCKIN' ENDORSE McSame?

Did you miss what your brothers and sisters in local 317 said about McSame's record? You know this kind of stuff:

In 1996, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kansas) promised the extremist National Right-to-Work Committee a vote on legislation establishing a federal right-to-work (for less) law. The bill would have repealed the section of the National Labor Relations Act that allows states to determine their own laws on union security agreements and replaced it with a federal mandate banning such agreements. Senator McCain voted to support a National Right-to-Work Law.

Did you notice how McCain VOTED to limit unions? Come on Patrick Sink, did you notice by any chance that's what he does? Perhaps the IAFF can tell you about that history.

So, anyone reading this thinking that it's okay to do this, think again. If you want to kill the labor movement, voting for McSame is what to do.

BTW, in case you didn't know, these are the officers of Local 18:

Patrick L. Sink Business Manager
Kenneth M. Triplett President
Floyd S. Jeffries Vice President
Mark A. Totman Recording-Corresponding Secretary
Steve D. DeLong Financial Secretary
Premo P. Panzarello Treasurer
Richard E. Dalton Trustee
Timothy D. Hammock Trustee
Gary Siesel Trustee
Gregory A. Kingsbury Auditor
Jeffrey A. Milum Auditor
Steve M. DiLoreto Auditor
Scott B. Peters Conductor
Louis E. Monnin Guard

Again, What The Fuck Were You Thinking? He's against BARGAINING RIGHTS for Firefighters, Against Employee Free Choice Act, wants to tax your benefits and on every single issue important to the local he trashes you.

Oh and seriously, since McCain said you've endorsed him, IUOE local 18, put it up on your site. Oh and thanks for selling out your brothers and sisters in labor. Clearly, SOLIDARITY means nothing to you guys. I'll remember that when you're locked out or on strike.

Local 18, be ashamed, be very ashamed.

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