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Leading Democratic Presidential Candidates Won’t Cross Picket Line |
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An upcoming presidential debate may be canceled if writers for CBS News go on strike because several Democratic candidates have announced they won’t cross a picket line to participate.
News writers, editors and other staff for CBS News have been without a contract since April 2005. As a result of stalled contract talks, the workers last week gave negotiators the go-ahead to call a strike if a new, fair contract isn’t reached. The more than 500 writers, who work across the country for CBS television and radio properties, are members of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).
The debate is set for Dec. 10. It would be the last national debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.
So far, Sens. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), as well as former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) have stated they won’t cross a picket line if writers go on strike before Dec. 10.
In their statements, the candidates expressed solidarity with the writers’ struggle to reach a fair settlement. Clinton, Edwards and Richardson have made their statements available on their websites.
The Democratic Party said it would officially cancel the Dec. 10 debate if CBS writers decide to strike. Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney says the party is committed to honoring the strike.
The Democratic Party believes the right to organize and collectively bargain is one of our most fundamental rights, and we are proud to stand with the working men and women in the labor movement. Given the Democratic Party’s long history of supporting the labor movement in America, if the strike is still going on, we will not cross the picket lines.
Meanwhile, television writers, members of WGAE, who went on strike Nov. 5, enter talks with producers today. Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, have announced they won’t cross the writers’ picket line to appear on ABC’s “The View.” Michelle Obama also said she would postpone her planned “The View” appearance. On Nov. 16, Edwards walked a picket line with television writers who are members of the Writers Guild of America, West. The workers are seeking a fair share of revenue from their work distributed on the Internet, on DVD or in other electronic formats.
6 Comments
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For their performance Obama, Clinton and Edwards should be card carrying members of the Screen Actors Guild!
It was nice to see John Edwards walking the picket line in New York with striking writers. CNN showed the picket line and gave some of the union members a chance to talk about why they were striking. Edwards is right that we’ve got to stand together to demand respect for fair treatment of working people. (I liked the writer who said, “A lot of people talk the talk, but Edwards has come here to walk the walk.”)
Hey guys lets get consent from the guild and hold the debate outside the picket line, say with the writers in the background of every non closeup? Or as Dropkick Murphys did in Philly cross the line at the request of the union (stagehands) to get the message out. Oh Yeah strike was won two weks later.
Good for them! - and I’m glad to see their support for the writers. This also answers my question about Richardson, wondering if he was pro-union.
I’m glad that they won’t cross picket lines but so long as the Democrats support illegal immigration and amnesty. I will not vote for any of them.It’s going to happen again this election my vote will go to the lesser of two evils,because we really have no one looking out for working people,put a democrat in the White House and you will have AMESTY.I have registered as an Independent because I feel neither party cares about working folks or what we want done.
Dear Dr
I sure hope other “Independents” are better at doing research than you are.
The Democratic “amnesty” wasn’t amnesty , unless you believe that standing in line for 9, 10, or 11 years in order to be considered for qualification for citizenship qualifies as amnesty.
Take a look at tha AFL-CIO Policy on Immigration, and its Q&A. It [correctly] identifies the real culprits, i.e. sell-out members of Congress who voted for NAFTA and/or who support pro-corporate phony trade schemes.
Whether or not you want to admit it, you have much more in common with our fellow workers south of the border than you do with the 4/5 of Congress who sell you out on a daily basis.
Workers in Mexico have been devastated by NAFTA. They are victims of NAFTA, along with US and Canadian workers. Why blame the victims?
If NAFTA was as good as two-bit politicians promised it would be, Mexico’s working class would be enjoying family-sustaining incomes. That they are not isn’t their fault. The fault lies with a Congress that has been purchased by corporate America.
Stop scapegoating immigrants. Start balming those who are at fault - a sellout Congress!