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Two national union leaders quit the DNC because they don't think it has the best interest of workers at heart.
Did you hear that?
Randi Weingarten, the head of the very powerful American Federation of Teachers and Lee Saunders, head of AFSCME, both quit the DNC (the organization) because they think it's lost the script on American workers.
Collectively, they represent over 3 million union members. We are going in the wrong direction and every alarm bell should be ringing right now.
With the resounding choice of Mandani to be the Democratic nominee for mayor of NYC and the rise of Rep AOC and Crockett and Frost and other young progressive Democrats, we need to stop taking swipes at them and start actually listening.
Being a center-right political party is not how we succeed in defeating Republicans.
Reference: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/dnc-union-leaders-leave/

wryter2000
(47,885 posts)What do the union leaders think they've accomplished except to help Republicans avoid losses in 2026?
angrychair
(10,771 posts)The same way that union members have for over a hundred years, with their feet.
They represent over 3 million union members. 3 million union voters. 3 million potential volunteers. 3 million small dollar donors.
It absolutely matters.
questionseverything
(10,993 posts)Burns was mad they backed his opponent and so he is freezing out 3 million voters
What a stupid way to start
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)Unless I missed something, I dont know who Burns is.
questionseverything
(10,993 posts)W_HAMILTON
(9,191 posts)Why jump to such a strong conclusion when you don't even know who the person you are supposed to be mad at even is?
questionseverything
(10,993 posts)LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)MyOwnPeace
(17,329 posts)It's a "WAKE UP!!!!" call - and the Democratic Party is not hearing it.............
Mr.WeRP
(835 posts)Cuomo for NYC Mayor?! Really?
How bout them stock trades Dems make in Congress?
Fettermen, Sinema, Schumer et al siding with Repubs on their legislation?! Fuck that.
Jack Valentino
(2,518 posts)
-misanthroptimist
(1,362 posts)...that ignoring unions is not the right way to go. So far, that lesson seems to escape the Democratic Party.
Further, it is the Party that is helping by Republicans by ignoring the unions.
sindri
(57 posts)well said.
Hieronymus Phact
(620 posts)Lot of good it did him.
quakerboy
(14,404 posts)36 years as a senator, 8 years as the vice president, and 4 years as president. Seems like it did him a lot of good indeed.
iemanja
(56,169 posts)It seems to be run very badly by Martin. He's created a lot of chaos.
flashman13
(1,333 posts)they are Democrats. Meaningful criticism of failed policy is not "taking swipes". The unions are trying to tell you that we Democrats are ignoring what We the People are demanding - leadership and change.
This comment will probably get me a second post pulled today.
Iggo
(48,940 posts)Are you the DNC? Im not.
dutch777
(4,577 posts)Some may remember we lost the WH and all of Congress with that platform in 2024. And that was against Trump. And we could hope for some urgency given the importance of the 2026 mid terms in at least regaining some power and influence in DC and the states but I must be missing it as I don't see it.
All that said, where are these union leaders going now that they have made their statement move?
Captain Zero
(8,033 posts)Which would only show how politically immature THEY are.
TommyT139
(1,557 posts)Randi W is an out lesbian teacher who has been specifically targeted by rethugs.
She and others in her vocation will be jailed if Rethugs succeed in their plans.
Remember, Project 2025 was merely the public face of their agenda.
rampartd
(1,992 posts)cadoman
(1,383 posts)Randi is paid nearly half a million dollars yearly. Likely expects big perks and royal treatment. It's an incredible gig and really is not far off from being a Governor or mayor of a major city.
Randi will shop the union endorsement to the repukes to get more perks from Democrats, or pull the endorsement entirely if we don't give enough.
WSHazel
(452 posts)These are two unions that the Republican Party does not think have a right to exist, and they are moving to the Republicans? I am a little concerned about ratfucking, because neither move makes any sense.
On the other hand, Democrats are gaining ground in most suburbs. Parties change over time, and the Democrats have been and remain socially liberal, the party of individual rights and protections, as they have been transitioning to a party of knowledge workers and service industry professionals. Democrats are also the party of education and progress. This move by these two organizations is a shocker.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)You are misunderstanding the reason.
They left because they felt that is exactly who the DNC is not representing as well as they should be and they genuinely tried to make that point but felt it was falling on deaf ears.
We cannot ignore people that represent over 3 million union members.
questionseverything
(10,993 posts)Nululu
(1,093 posts)Pathetic failure right out of the gate. We can't afford this.
Burns needs to make this right.
Lancero
(3,218 posts)"Not like the other employers are gonna treat you better!"
Response to angrychair (Original post)
Post removed
Grim Chieftain
(264 posts)Bernie Sanders is the best president we never had. He's a fierce advocate for everything I believe in as a lifelong Democrat, and he is not afraid to speak out. I'll never forget when he ran for president the first time, he was delivering a powerhouse speech in one of the New England states (Vermont?} and the cable news stations had their cameras focused on an empty stage for 45 minutes waiting for Trump to appear - an empty stage for 45 minutes! And yes, I know it was a powerhouse speech because I was able to listen to it online.
Damn. Bernie is fearless. You go, sir!
TacosUberAlles
(72 posts)in this country.
I volunteered for his 2016 & 2020 campaigns. I'm young. The hope & the entire mood was just amazing. So many people were so excited by him. It was like we finally found someone who truly represented us, who was in touch with us, who understood us & the challenges we face on a daily basis.
It really was such a special time in the country. It's a feeling I have never felt before & haven't since. The amount of anxiety lifted was just incredible. We had this feeling of real hope & happiness, euphoric in a sense.
What a time to be alive ❤
Grim Chieftain
(264 posts)We live in a very red state and were volunteers for the Bernie campaigns. I have never seen so much enthusiasm for a candidate in my life, and I am a Baby Boomer. It became clear from the onset that the powers that be didn't want Bernie to be the nominee. We live in the county seat that always has the primary/caucus. Strangely enough, the primary was moved to a very small town 90 miles away. Still, Bernie supporters turned out in droves, so much so that the high school gym bleachers could not accommodate his crowd and seats had to be placed on the gym floor. The other well know candidate's supporters numbered about fifty.
Bernie was the candidate of hope. I am so grateful that he was willing to run twice. His fight in his early 80s gives me hope and inspiration.
Keep fighting the good fight, friend. And welcome to DU!
lostnfound
(17,039 posts)I knew that moneyed interests wouldnt let him win, back then.
Knocked on doors anyway, because i believed his message was essential for the good of the country and needed to be on the loudspeakers.
I wasnt too sure how effective he would be as president.
Voted in the general for Hillary with happy tears in my eyes, feeling sure that i was casting a vote for the first woman president. I thought she would have been a very good, maybe great, president.
Two of his campaign videos were so moving they made me cry.
Hekate
(98,295 posts)Quoting your post: The Party lost me when they gave Bernie the middle finger.
Just me: Bernie lost me when he said nothing while the Bros gave women the middle finger by literally pushing farmworkers rights legend Dolores Huerta away from the podium. A small old lady who stands taller than any of them ever will.
Do I hold grudges? Maybe but mostly I believe in the importance of remembering some behaviors.
questionseverything
(10,993 posts)And got out screaming and cussing in a drunken rage
. Should I blame every Hillary supporter?
Its funny that you hold on to something like that from so long ago or it would be funny if it wasnt going to cause the collapse of civilization
o well, cya in the camps
Hekate
(98,295 posts)
have always read to me like very old fashioned Marxism not in a bad way, mind you: Marx meant to do well by the workers. Its just that all workers were the same, which is to say, built on a male model. (Altho I have to admit the Soviets at least had child-care, something the US only made available to female factory workers during WWII and then dropped like a hot potato when the men came back from the war)
Women are over 1/2 of the population, and our absolute needs from birth to death are different from mens. Career-wise, individual women can compete on an almost level playing field if they make sure they never, ever have a kid. Oh yes, lets not forget the kiddies: its their mothers who take care of all their needs 90% of the time. Most of us do end up having at least one child, and we still need to work for wages. As for health-care, even women who choose to never get pregnant still have the same bodies with the same medical needs, which are different and more complicated than mens.
Thanks for the cool story about the Hillary supporter. Was that by any chance replicated by others? Part of a group? Part of a pattern? Hmmm.
electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)Rights was very disrespectful behavior!! Wow.
Among things she co-founded wCaezar Chavez The United Farm Workers union.
Important to remember their attitudes then to compare if they have changed.
Hekate
(98,295 posts)electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)Keepthesoulalive
(1,468 posts)As some people, but I hope you vote for the democrat who reflects your values.
Response to Keepthesoulalive (Reply #21)
Orrex This message was self-deleted by its author.
Skittles
(165,359 posts)yes indeed
dwayneb
(996 posts)He didn't know how to talk in words and terms that the average American could relate to and understand.
Classic example is his use of the word "oligarchy". Sure, you and I and most educated people understand that word and understand clearly the threat of oligarchy. But for many everyday people it's an abstract concept and they simply can't relate to it.
Reality is, that to win in American politics a candidate has to know how to thread the needle between populism and realism. Obama did it perfectly. If we could just have carved off a bit of his populist talent and given it to Bernie he would have been elected in a landslide.
None of that was why the Party rejected him of course, it was because he didn't toe the line. But even if they hadn't it is unlikely he would have prevailed to win as POTUS.
Cha
(312,374 posts)and Jill Fucking Stein Telling Lies about her in the Swing States.
That's when the GD Fascism got in the WH and spread across America.
Those who couldn't vote for Hillary Didn't give a Shit about SCOTUS, either.
electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)

Cha
(312,374 posts)to do with Dems "losing".. Same in 2024 with their Fucking Uncommitted and "Leave it Blank" in NYC.
How about calling that Shit out instead of Bashing on Dems All the fucking time.
Mahalo, electric blue.
electric_blue68
(22,019 posts)"Same in 2024 with their Fucking Uncommitted and "Leave it Blank" in NYC"
Boggles the mind!


I do believe our party should be criticized, but carefully - unless under rare circumstances more assertively.
The majority of our criticisms should be directed at Republicans!
Mahalo! 🌺



Cha
(312,374 posts)not a lot of what I'm seeing.. more like smelling blood in the water.. which leads to More Losing elections.
I'm so tired of the gaslighting Dems and Losing because of some Egos.
"I'm leaving the Dem party.. reasons!" What about all those who are Staying and fighting on the Front Lines every day! ?
How about Honoring them instead of finding ways to mock them?
mcar
(44,806 posts)Who stupidly believed HRC was a warmonger and TFG would bring us peace - also send a message to that awful Democratic Party.
Can we please give this cap a rest?
Cha
(312,374 posts)Stein & Sarandon et al were NOT!
And we got Fascism in the WH.. and fucking look at us NOW.
DO some Learn from History or NOT. Certainly Not the "Leave it Blank" in NYC and Abandon Kamala .. Look at where they are.
Mahalo, mcar
mcar
(44,806 posts)a near perfect campaign to bring a tool of billionaires or some such nonsense.
mcar
(44,806 posts)Jit423
(1,513 posts)Figure it out.
Help me "figure it out".
Magoo48
(6,492 posts)Progressives must all come out hard against low wages, corporate exploitation of nonunion workers, and witha loudly voiced support for a living wage, a real living wage, for every American worker, all thisat the expense of multimillionaires and billionaires. We must also begin to support the breaking up of huge corporations and multinational conglomerates. When the grass roots of this nation save it from fascism, they will rightly expect to live in a bit more secure place than theyve had up to this point.
intheflow
(29,593 posts)They're good at the sweet talk to constituents, but not so good with the follow-through on our concerns.
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)TacosUberAlles
(72 posts)I really believe he is the guy (outside of say AOC) who can pick up the flame of the Bernie movement & run with it. He has the attitude, the personality, & he supports the policies. I'm crossing my fingers that he runs XD
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)a lot of union members to rep away from bigotry and vote for their own interests. We just had the most pro-labor president possibly in my lifetime. I dont see us winning them back with AOC and Bernie.
TacosUberAlles
(72 posts)"I dont see us winning them back with AOC and Bernie."
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)cultural Koolaid about immigrants, socialists, transgender people, etc. They are socially conservative. The only one of those cultural issues I mentioned that has an economic component for them is the immigrants taking our jobs and our benefits, etc.
Im talking about Teamsters, SEIU, the ones that refused to endorse or endorsed Trump.
Maybe Im wrong, but I dont see those union members voting for anyone they perceive as a leftist. Maybe Im wrong.
littlemissmartypants
(28,289 posts)Welcome to, DU.
❤️
TacosUberAlles
(72 posts)Hi there, thank you for the warm welcome 😃
I don't see any other ticket which could come anywhere remotely close to the enthusiasm a ticket of Walz/AOC would bring. People would go bonkers including young voters. You would certainly see huge turnout at not only rallies but the voting booths themselves.
Both have this uncanny ability to communicate well with people. But they do something unique - they fire people up & excite them. This is exactly what both Bernie & Obama did. And the policies would be rock solid with very progressive standards & values. Republicans have absolutely no answer for a ticket like that. We'd crush them so bad it would look like a junk yard 🤣
littlemissmartypants
(28,289 posts)But what are their plans? Are they constrained by their current commitments? I'm too lazy to look it up but when does Governor Walz's term end? When is AOC up for reelection? They are both stars but they are very committed and we could stand to lose a lot, too.
BTW, you're welcome for the welcome. I hope you stick around.
Response to angrychair (Original post)
Post removed
LW1977
(1,532 posts)
Paper Roses
(7,546 posts)I'm sick of this baloney. At 82, I try to keep informed. I liked what Bernie said from the time he entered the political stage. He was right on so much. Now we pay the price with the orange idiot and a fairly spineless bunch of congress members.
They cannot be so stupid as to follow trump and yet they do...either party. If I make it to 83, it will be my hope to vote DEM down ticket and hope I find candidates with spine!
W_HAMILTON
(9,191 posts)
BurnDoubt
(694 posts)My lower-middle-class family was able to buy a house and a car because the Teamsters' Union made it possible for workers to speak to Power and win concessions that affected real people.
They did more good than the "bad" they've been tarred with since the beginning.
When you see wealth, you are seeing the sweat of the workers. NEVER FORGRT THAT.
Fil1957
(113 posts)party was most successful under FDR, the most successful president of either party in history. Despite what the right and moderates say, Bernie and AOC are simply FDR democrats. Wish the moderate wing of the party would wake up to this fact.
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)intheflow
(29,593 posts)But the times changed, honestly, starting with the Clintons who loved/love corporate America. Clinton era brought us NAFTA, which was good for business and bad for workers; Bill Clinton started the bombing campaign in Iraq; Hillary Clinton sat on the Board of WalMart as it ran mom-and-pop shops out of business and was besties with Henry Kissinger. When we say the party is center-right, these are the kinds of things we're referring to, and more recently, having so many Democratic reps vote no on impeachment. How does that serve the party or the nation? How is that different from how the Republicans voted on impeachment? It's not, and that's why the party seems unrecognizable and conservative to so many of us.
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)There are more valuable means of obstruction, which is basically our only Congressional tool. We know an impeachments not going anywhere.
intheflow
(29,593 posts)Impeachment would have to be addressed by the entire Congress, even if it doesn't pass. That will take focus and time away from other things like the Big Beautiful Bill and assisting DOGE in the dismantling the Constitution. It would show Democratic constituents that the party can put their money with their mouth is. I mean, you can take the probability of it not passing and shrug it the fuck off, because as I said in my initial response, how is voting against ANYTHING another Democrat proposes serve anything but the Republican agenda? It's the opposite of being proactive, it's the opposite of being a unified front against rising fascism, and really feels like Republican-lite. Personally, I think most (or at least 50%) of Democrats would welcome a very progressive agenda from the party leadership. Cozying up to business, playing by the rules when Republicans play by no rules, and issuing "strongly worded letters," is both wildly ineffective and seems as if the policy differences we claim are not really that important to our leadership.
LauraInLA
(2,204 posts)HarryM
(389 posts)But if you go to any advanced democracy, like the ones in Europe, let's say, the Dems are considered a right leaning Party.
What we need is a left in the US. I believe that for starters, the two party system has too many flaws in it to work properly.
Again speaking from other democracies, when there are many parties, they have to make a coalition to get anything passed. None of this stuff where one party is the majority, and the other is the minority and has to give in to the whims of the other. With coalition governments, people have to work together, even with people who they disagree with, in order to get anything done.
oldmanlynn
(672 posts)That this caused those 2 union leaders to bail on dnc?
angrychair
(10,771 posts)They are. I'm simply carrying the message of union leaders, one is my union leader, that quit because they feel DNC leadership no longer represents the needs of working people.
Party insiders endorsed a guy to be mayor of NYC that is accused of SA by over a dozen different women and resigned in disgrace just a couple years ago. Plus the current mayor is a moderate Democrat that is a criminal that got off because he stroked the Mango Mussolini's ego.
Sorry, some Democrats have just lost the plot. We need to return to our core principles.
Littlered
(321 posts)And the money dries up, doubling down on the current path seems like a losing proposition to me. The NewYork election was between a totally and completely flawed candidate vs. someone that told people what they wanted to hear. I would hardly take that as a mandate.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)That had the support of the DNC and other old school Democrats.
And it wasn't just what people wanted to hear. He had a 100% pro Democrat position and never, not once, trashed Democrats. He literally calls himself a Democrat and is running as a Democrat.
I would humbly request you look into him a little deeper than the center right talking points.
iemanja
(56,169 posts)"Breaking news"
angrychair
(10,771 posts)I said "red alert" because I had not seen an OP about this and it's a very big deal.
Two critically important union leaders, that collectively, represent over 3 million people, suddenly quit their DNC leadership positions because they are not being heard and don't think DNC leadership is representing the working people's concerns anymore is a very big deal.
Response to angrychair (Original post)
PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.
Clouds Passing
(5,285 posts)mcar
(44,806 posts)TBF
(35,147 posts)has been forgotten by many, including Bill Clinton himself, who endorsed Cuomo ...
Economics=Politics, and it's very clear the billionaires never forget that principle.
I feel like some of the big donors to the democratic party may be out of touch, and that some of the leaders themselves have lost their way. Just imo ...
Passages
(3,022 posts)Who to please, pick a side.
Duncan Grant
(8,709 posts)Things are going so well, too.
aggiesal
(10,140 posts)Tell me which way (D)'s are heading.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)The funny thing is that most Democrats didn't change, it was slow creep of money and influence and complacency, over many years, that precipitated this outcome.
I actually do believe, at it core, most Democrats are FDR Democrats. FDR laid the foundation for who we are as Democrats.
Want to know what we should be doing to build a stronger Party? Ask people like Mandani or Rep. AOC or Rep Frost Rep Crockett or Rep. Jayapal. Ask people best that represent the ideals of FDR. That is what people want.
aggiesal
(10,140 posts)and it's only moved in that direction ever since.
My dad was a union man, working in the steel mills of NW Indiana.
As a 10 year old, I asked my dad, "What's the difference between (D)'s & (R)'s?"
He told me, " R)'s care about the wealthy & corporations, while (D)'s care about the working people."
I've never forgot that.
It pained me to watch interviews with union members during this past Presidential election that are Mierda47 voters, not realizing the Mierda47's is completely against unions.
ZDU
(478 posts)Sometimes I wish I had an emoji of a circular firing squad or of a solid RED donkey
mdbl
(6,761 posts)I have watched while my co-workers voted for every stupid strike-breaking labor crushing president since Ronnie Raygun just because Mush Limballs and other like him told them to. They have done everything to rebuke the very organizations that won hard-fought for benefits and pay, while just allowing those coming after them to suffer lower tier wages and less worker's rights and shitty benefits.. Those two national union leaders will get nowhere with any other party. I hope I am wrong but haven't seen anything in the last 40 years that changes my mind. This is your last chance to wake up union members before it's all lost.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)Do you know who Lee Saunders is? He is the president of AFSCME and a lifelong union member and leader and Democrat. He is my union leader and he is NOT a DINO or Republican shill. He is a dyed in the wool FDR Democrat. You won't find better union leadership in the country.
I think people would be better served actually listening to the concerns brought up by Mr. Saunders and Ms.Weingarten then to dismiss the concerns of leaders that have been Democrats longer than some of us have been alive and lead over 3 million union members.
mdbl
(6,761 posts)Union membership is down around, oh what, 10% now? How did this awesome leadership keep this from happening? I am not blaming them for the idiocracy that has overtaken my co-workers, but the leaders can still lead without throwing away any hopes of gaining some political influence to at least get some of the labor law back that has been lost over the last 40 years. I feel it's too late anyway, unfortunately. Somehow the right-wing stupidsville that are their media have convinced hard working laborers to vote against their own best interests. The labor leaders I know, especially in the red states are too afraid to let their members know what they have and continue to do to obliterate their rights. Many of those leaders even vote for the assholes hell bent on killing all labor law. We are at a turning point where it will all go away or this country of workers will suddenly have an epiphany. I don't hold much hope for the latter.
JT45242
(3,432 posts)Only someone mindless or on the take would think that Dems are not pro worker.
I worked as a teacher in a state (Ohio) that the republican trifecta took away binding arbitration so that douchebag school board members could go after teachers.
NEA was the better teacher union anyway.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)They resigned from their leadership positions at the DNC (the organization). They are still Democrats.
I literally included a link to the story in my OP.
Do you even know who Lee Saunders is? He is the president of AFSCME and head of my union. He is a lifelong Democrat and has literally worked his whole life to help the working class.
To impugn his honor like this is admitting to not knowing anything about him.
Two union heads gave quite a shout,
From the DNC, they both walked out.
We fight for the base,
But you've lost the race
To workers, youve left little doubt.
Two labor chiefs stormed out, quite irate,
The DNCs toast at this rate.
Youve sold out the base,
Chased donors, not grace
And wonder why workers lose faith?
camartinwv
(124 posts)And he is willing to put the hard work into do it.
LT Barclay
(2,996 posts)So why arent the unions happy?
JustAnotherGen
(35,489 posts)The two were moved to at large positions. They then left the DNC.
angrychair
(10,771 posts)I meant to update my OP because the first thing I read made it sound more recent but I overlooked the date on that article.