R i g h t a r d i a: Firefighters Union President Shaitberger Cuts Off Federal Political Contributions Until Congressional Reps FIght Back For Workers

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Firefighters Union President Shaitberger Cuts Off Federal Political Contributions Until Congressional Reps FIght Back For Workers

4/27/2011

By Doug Cunningham

International Association of Firefighters President Harold Shaitberger says the union is turning off the spigot of millions of dollars to federal candidates and federal political parties because politicians aren’t doing enough to stand up for labor in the face of intense attacks. Schaitberger says not only are extremist Republicans trying to destroy unions – but too few Democrats are standing up and fighting for firefighters and other workers.

[Shaitberger]: "This is now a coordinated and an organized effort by the far right to simply try to eliminate a significant portion of America's labor movement. Our congressional friends need to finally stand up and step out and be willing to fight back on our behalf with the same kind of commitment and focus and ferocity that the opposition - the enemy - has shown in their assault on America's workers and on our unions."

By Doug Cunningham

Schaitberger says not only are extremist Republicans trying to destroy unions – but too few Democrats are standing up and fighting for firefighters and other workers. Shaitbergee emphasized:

This is now a coordinated and an organized effort by the far right to simply try to eliminate a significant portion of America's labor movement. Our congressional friends need to finally stand up and step out and be willing to fight back on our behalf with the same kind of commitment and focus and ferocity that the opposition - the enemy - has shown in their assault on America's workers and on our unions."

This development will have far more impact on the Democratic party. Obama has taken a luke warm approach to union that must change if he wants to win the next election.