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The Western Kentucky Worker | |
Official newsletter of the Western Kentucky Area Council, AFL-CIO
Prepared by Berry Craig, KEA-NEA and AFT- Kentucky
Volume 6, Number 10, November, 2005
Cash crunch might mean one-day Labor Day program for 2006
A tight budget may mean a one-day Labor Day program next year.
"We are hashing over some ideas," said Jeff Wiggins, president of the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee. "We are looking at possibly cutting it down to one day."
The committee, an all-volunteer, non-profit group, puts on the city's annual Labor Day weekend program. Traditionally, the festivities last three days and feature food and a flea market, plus a parade, picnic, political speaking and live entertainment on Labor Day.
"We still have money in the bank, but we need to replenish what we have so the program can continue to grow," Wiggins said. "We had one of the biggest parades we've ever had this year. We had 20 union floats, and I was proud to see that."
Wiggins gave the second annual President's Award for the float with the most union spirit to Paducah-based IBEW Local 816. "I am proud to provide this award personally," he said. "I want it to show how much I appreciate labor people being involved in our program." Last year's President's Award recipient was Steelworkers Local 665 in Mayfield.
Pop and country music star Dan Seals was this year's featured artist. Seals performed at Carson Park , site of most of Labor Day weekend activities. "Everybody really enjoyed him," Wiggins said. "But to save money, we may have to go with a local band next year. A lot of these bands have large local followings. They should be popular, too."
Wiggins also said that donations to help pay for the 2005 Labor Day program are still being accepted. Anyone interested in chipping in may phone Frances Willey at 554-1627 for more information. Willey, who was the 2005 Labor Day parade grand marshal, is the Labor Day Committee secretary-treasurer.
"We also need more help," Wiggins said. "We've got to have more volunteers if we are to keep this going."
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Watkins tells council about 'The Julian Carroll Plan'
It has been dubbed "The Julian Carroll Plan" and "The Committee of 29."
By any name, Carroll, a McCracken County native, state senator from Frankfort and former governor and lieutenant governor hopes his idea will make a Democrat governor in 2007.
"He is putting together a committee of 29 people, including the Democratic leadership in government, plus representatives of labor, business, education and other groups important to the party," Gerald Watkins, a political science professor at the West Kentucky Community and Technical College, told the October council meeting.
"The committee will hear from all Democrats running for governor and endorse one of them. The other candidates will pledge in advance to support the committee's choice and agree not to run against him or her in the primary."
Watkins said Carroll wants to unite the party and avoid a costly and divisive primary fight.
With Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher embroiled in scandal, several Democrats are expected to run in 2007. "It's early, but the Democrats feel confident about winning, too," Watkins said.
Carroll was governor in 1975-1979. He represented McCracken County in the state House and served as speaker.
Possible candidate Bruce Lunsford has agreed not to run if the Committee of 29 goes with somebody else, according to the Kentucky Democrat Internet webpage.
Carroll, according to Watkins, also has targeted a half-dozen state senate races he thinks the Democrats can win this year. He is recruiting candidates to run.
"One of the winnable seats is Bob Leeper's seat," Watkins said. First elected as a Democrat, Leeper switched to the Republicans, and then declared himself an independent. Leeper is seeking another term as an independent.
Watkins said GOP sources have told him the Republicans don't plan to field a candidate against Leeper. The only Democrat who has said he's running is Carroll Hubbard of Paducah , a former U.S. Congressman.
Watkins said Carroll is encouraging Rex Smith of Reidland, a former state representative, to toss his hat in the ring against Hubbard. "From what I've heard, Rex Smith's response was positive," Watkins said.
Watkins also said that Carroll told him he has no plans to run for governor. "He said he wants to see the Democrats retake the Senate and the governorship so he can retire from politics happy."
Meanwhile, Jeff Wiggins, the council president, is not happy with Jerry Lundergan, chairman of the state Democratic Party. "He's been going around the state, having meetings with leading county Democrats and picking candidates to run in 2006," Wiggins said. "But from what I hear, labor people aren't getting invited."
Wiggins said he and council trustee Louis Hicks took Lundergan to task at a recent meeting of the state AFL-CIO Executive Board. Wiggins and Hicks are on the panel.
Lundergan came to address the committee. "I told him, 'How dare you tell me that you've had meetings in western Kentucky where candidates were discussed and you didn't invite labor?'" Wiggins said.
Hicks is mayor of La Center in Ballard County . He said he didn't know about a meeting Lundergan held with local party officials. "But he promised me I would be informed of the next meeting," Hicks said
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State fed rejects Sweeney plan for breakaway unions
Delegates to the 2005 Kentucky State AFL-CIO convention declined to amend the state federation's constitution to accommodate a plan by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to allow non-affiliated unions back into area councils and state federations.
"There was not much support for it at all," said Jeff Wiggins, council president, who represented his Steelworkers local at the gathering in Owensboro . Trustee Louis Hicks represented the council.
The Teamsters, SEIU, UFCW, Carpenters and UNITE!-HERE withdrew from the AFL-CIO. Under Sweeney's proposal, the five unions could be represented at area councils and state labor federations. "To get voting rights in the CLCs, they would have to pay a 10 percent premium per delegate," Wiggins said. "These unions don't want to pay the premium, but want to be able to hold office in the CLCs and in state federations."
Wiggins added, "I know a lot of good people at the state and local level in all five of these unions. We will continue to work with them in political campaigns and in other areas of mutual interest. But these unions voted to leave the AFL-CIO. They are now disaffiliated. To let them come back to the councils and the state feds wouldn't be fair to the other unions who did not pull out."
Wiggins said the highlight of the convention was a speech by Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America. "That man can preach," Wiggins said. "I have heard him before, but I could listen to him any time. He is one of the best union leaders in the country."
The convention commemorated the 100th anniversary of the state AFL-CIO. Area councils were asked to loan memorabilia for a special history display. "About half of what was on display came from our council," Wiggins said. "We're the second oldest in the state."
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'We have met the enemy, and they are us'
By BERRY CRAIG
AFT-Kentucky/KEA-NEA
"When we circle wagons, we don't shoot the enemy. We shoot ourselves."
Jeff Wiggins said that was the best quote he heard at the recent Kentucky State AFL-CIO convention in Owensboro . "I'm sorry to say that solidarity, that old union byword, doesn't always mean what it used to," added Wiggins, president of the Paducah-based Western Kentucky Area Council.
Hard times -- the hardest in years -- are knocking at labor's door. "We're making it harder on ourselves, too," said Wiggins.
The Carpenters, Teamsters, SEIU, UFCW and UNITE HERE are gone from the national AFL-CIO. The UAW is out of the state AFL-CIO. The West Kentucky Building and Construction Trades Council has left the Western Kentucky Area Council.
"'United We Stand, Divided We Fall' is our state motto, and it's a good one for labor," Wiggins said. "We preach unity and solidarity, but sometimes we don't practice it."
Labor is a house divided, nationally, in Kentucky and in our council.
“Workers in America are in a crisis -- a crisis of low wages, plant closings, lost pensions, lost health care, and a loss of rights on the job,” Bruce Raynor, general president of UNITE HERE, said when his union exited the AFL-CIO.
No doubt, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney would agree with that. But history teaches that crises are best beaten with unity. The Allies won World War II. The union of the AFL and CIO made American labor stronger than ever before.
UNITE HERE, the SEIU, Carpenters, UFCW, and the Teamsters have joined the Laborers and Farm Workers as the "Change to Win Coalition." Win? When labor is disunited, every worker loses. The winners are our many and powerful enemies in business, politics, the media and the pulpit.
The labor haters have said little about the rift in labor ranks. Is it because they think we are so weak and divided that we are not worth comment? Or are they content just to sit back, relax and watch us self-destruct?
My guess is, if you listen closely, you might hear the popping of champagne corks behind closed doors at the Chamber of Commerce, Republican headquarters and Fox News. Non-alcoholic bubbly is probably flowing at Religious Right churches where unions, like booze, are considered of the devil.
I agree that the "circle the wagons" nugget Jeff mined at the state convention is a gem. It reminds me of the oft-quoted words from the cartoon strip "Pogo:" "We have met the enemy, and they are us."
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Got news? Email it to Berry Craig at bcraig8960@charter.net or Jeff Wiggins at JLWiggins2@Juno.com.