Labor Day is yet another holiday that's lost on most Kansas City residents.
While this is still very much a "union town" there are fewer voters engaged in our local Democracy and by and large the mainstream media fears examining labor issues because the spin is often too complex to completely understand and so many behind the scenes "movidas" are exactly the kind of tactics that turn voters away from participating in the Democratic process.
Nevertheless . . .
TO CELEBRATE THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HOLIDAY, TKC OFFERS EXCLUSIVE QUOTES AND INFO FROM TOP RANKING POWER BROKERS ON THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING ORGANIZED LABOR IN KANSAS CITY!!!
Check this quick and dirty labor topic list we have toiled to compile . . .
THE KANSAS CITY FAST FOOD FAIR WAGE FIGHT IS THE FUTURE OF LOCAL POLITICS
Of all our local elected officials, Kansas City Congressman Cleaver leads the struggle to establish a fair wage of at least $10 an hour for fast food workers . . .
At a somewhat recent protest, the former Mayor of Kansas City noted:
Congressman Cleaver Via Social Media: "Minimum wage is about valuing and respecting work. But these days, it's just not enough to get by. Working famlies are suffering while companies rake in record profits. No one who works hard and plays by the rules should live in poverty. LIKE if you agree, we need to #raisethewage. #standup"
It's also worth noting that while union bosses and some workers get today off, most fast food workers enjoy no such luxury.
CELEBRITY AND CASH TRUMPS UNION POLITICAL CONNECTIONS
A clever sign, Kansas City baseball legend status and a solid reputation for community service proved far too much to contend with for one of the most skilled organized labor political operatives in all of Kansas City. Frank White trounced Sherwood Smith at the polls. The 80-20 landslide reveals that union support and even political allegiance isn't even a slight consideration for Kansas City voters.
Like it or not, the Aug. 5th contest betwixt Frank White vs. Sherwood Smith was nothing less than a referendum on Jackson County union political power . . . At least when compared to the far more appealing idea of sport celebrity.
REALITY CHECK: UNIONS NOW WORK OPENLY WITH REPUBLICANS AMID MISSOURI'S RED STATE REALITY
This is the new normal . . . Unions need to work with Republicans despite longstanding divisions and grudges among their largely Democratic power base.
During recent elections, insiders raged over Kansas City's strongest union sending a shout out to the GOP on one of their mailers . . .
"Things that should never be seen on a union paper: Republican"
Still, Missouri Red State domination is now a fact of life and a very real obstacle confronting organized labor who barely escaped obliteration this Missouri House session by mostly selling out Democrats to keep the "RIGHT TO WORK" issue off the table.
As usual, Kansas City voters didn't really notice the union betrayal but instead blamed the GOP for so many super-majority displays of strength.
LIKE IT OR NOT: KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY JAMES IS LARGELY PERCEIVED AS A CORPORATE AND ANTI-LABOR
The recent KCFD ambulance billing service outsourcing conflict is a perfect example of Mayor Sly battling against Kansas City workers . . . Heck, he reportedly even had to apologize for calling them stupid.
In the end, Mayor Sly and his City Council alliance still found a way to route cash to a sketchy company.
"The Mayor has lost touch with the people, he's so corporate, with little regard for the folks who actually make this city run," One insider said.
However, with a strong corporate alliance, the Mayor has garnered a huge bankroll to defend against potential challengers.
THE FIGHT OVER WATER DEPT. PRIVATIZATION PERSISTS
The future of the Kansas City Water Department is largely dictated by the bargaining strength of organized labor. Lots of people don't realize that it's only the unions and their lobbyists who have made privatization an impossibility. Still, as demographics shift along with political priorities . . . The fate of this vital Kansas City service remains in flux.
Sadly, at today's mostly pointless and sad Labor Day Parade, none of these issues will be mentioned and instead local politicos will simply enjoy an event filled with free food and empty pleasantries regarding the questionable future of organized labor in Kansas City.
Developing . . .
You forgot to add BUY AMERICAN to the list TKC. seems like nowadays just about everything is made in china. That is definitely not good for KC labor.
ReplyDeleteScott Wagner is a strong supporter of the country of China, he proudly assists in having China invest in KCMO and offers a program that if they invest would give those investors and their family US Citizenship, this way we can afford to give tax breaks to businesses like Burns & McDonnell and lay the burden on the tax payer / citizens of Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteCleaver should be ashamed of himself fighting to raise the wages of "fast food" restaurants, those jobs were meant to be for college students/ students/ retirees, NOT to raise a family on.. we should be picketing him for chasing away manufacturing jobs, outsourcing City business and simply NOT doing what he was elected to do.
Forcing these places to raise wages will simply cause most of them to close down and like it or not, many of the poor feed their family off of these places and I assure you, after the jobs are cut by 75% and the dollar menu disappears you will see them (just like burger king) trying to leave the country.
for the citizens to fall for this smoke and mirrors politics is shameful but I completely understand (like the school system here) why this city is failing.
It may turn into the wild wild west and become one huge slum but by God we will vote that waste of time and flesh cleaver back into office so we can have a black congressman in for the majority of a black community.
Privatize the water department and definately watch your water rates escalate even higher than they are now. The need for corporate profits will be the priority. Wtf
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad Frank White isn't really white. Sly James would not have any celebrities to eat BBQ with and promote his dumb agenda of typical ignorant gorilla thinking on the good people of this town.
ReplyDeleteThe polls are so slanted because the black churches get fucka like this in office and the white people are too ducking lazy to follow suit. White folks: get your butts to church and then get your butts to the polls!!
Remember: Jesus loves everyone..except niggers, homosexuals, and many Asians.
Just as long as I can still burgle some burgers, I don't give a flying fuck what you do with these uneducated loads that should have been swallowed.
ReplyDeleteI just want me burgers!!!!
Readers of Tony's KC: have a blessed labour day and keep love in your hearts. Tell those who are important that you love them. Do something meaningful in your community. Don't masturabate too much to anime and refrain from anal sex.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You.
Rev. Kaven Creten
Leviticus 8:1-3
ReplyDeleteAnd Christ Jesus told his men to get some cows together and cut them up for this day. It shall be a day of orgies and hamburgers and pickled sausages and 40 oz bottles of mall liquor.
Then Christ Jesus replied, "Oh you who have begotten the lowly fast food worker, you shall not walk with me in heaven but shall be castrated down into the burning pit of doom and be left to acts of homosexuality and Ebonics and unshaven areas where pubic hair grows.
In Jesus Name!!!
Tony:
ReplyDeleteYou characterize a blogger who displays a KKK avatar as "conservative"?
Shit, I was about right of center my entire life, but would never salute anything that showed reverence to the Klan. I guess you could call this freedom of speech, but at least get your assessment right.
Klan has no place in this Country of any political position. If you think so, weave it into your next appearance on Ruckus.
Last time I watch that show.
Enjoy your self disillusion. You are always right in that world.
Looks like folks have started their holiday festivities a little early this year. Comment away, but stay off the roads. Be safe.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is still very much a "union town" there are fewer voters engaged in our local Democracy and by and large the mainstream media fears examining labor issues because the spin is often too complex to completely understand.
ReplyDeleteI'm assume by you saying "Mainstream Media" that you're talking about the Kansas City Star. They have no fear of the complexity of labor issues because they are, despite what you might think when you read their newspaper, virulently anti-union.
In a union, when you reach a level of mastery of your craft you are called a journeyman. The Star has banned that word and many others because they bring with them a connotation of union's.
Sorry to disappoint all the Star haters on here who dismiss The Star as a liberal rag. They might look liberal, but they hide the truth fairly well. They are so right leaning that they make Dick Cheney look like the nicest guy in the world.
@11:41.... The Star a conservative newspaper?!?!?
ReplyDeleteI see what the lib narrative is now. When something is far left lie and try to tell the masses it's conservative.
Please tell me another one.
Hayseeds! Great article which has been totally missed by your readers. They deserve what's coming to them from Sly!
ReplyDeleteFree food? Where?
Don't feel sorry for the fast food workers. Most of them volunteer for this day because they get extra pay for working. When I worked in a call center, it was double time and a half and strictly voluntary. The company never had trouble getting volunteers.
ReplyDeleteUnions still dont get it with Reps. and Dems. They give their votes to the Dems, no questions asked. When I was a union member, there was a Dem US Rep who voted against three major issues important to union workers in our industry. The union continued to support him. When I challenged the union official, he just answered, "Well, we have to support the Democrat." No wonder nobody pays attention to him.
Democrat greedy union slobs continue to scam Kansas City...and America.
ReplyDeleteForward.
But Tony what about the holidays the fast food workers get off but many others don't? The world doesn't revolve around niggers, shooters and looters.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the jobs the niggers took away from workers at the QT in Ferguson?
isn't this less news and more of an opinion piece?
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention how Kansas Hospital pissed on the nurses union during the contract negotiations.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
ReplyDeleteI will tell you this much, goddamnit! I better not see the price in McDoubles go past one dollar or there will be HELL to pay!!!
ReplyDeleteOl' Grinnin' Bobby Page did in fact take a big steamer right on the faces of his beloved, award-wnning nurses!!
ReplyDeleteCheck him out in the Crown seats during Royals games! Couldn't be more pleased with himself!!
Kay Barnes tried to convince us that the water dept was a loser and we ought to sell it to some guy that was not to bright. Could it be that the water dept. is one of those golden deals that really makes money for the city?
ReplyDeleteUnion town? Who says? Most people don't work in a union and the people that did, have watched their union grievance-filing jobs shipped off to China. The unions never learn and never will.
ReplyDeletePrivatization would ultimately be a disaster for the people of Kansas City. First, they would sell it too cheap, they are incompetent ie the Cordish deal. Second they would waste the windfall,(do you really want the clowns in City hall with a couple of billion dollars??? think about it. What needs to happen is to have better management and accountability, which you don't have with the dancing bowtie.
ReplyDeleteGreat - another string to comment on what a piece of shit Sly James is. Can't have enough!
ReplyDeletei sure do hope that the city do not privatize the water or airport the senior citizens are having enough trouble paying for water and sewer as it is now. with a private company the rates will continue to go up faster and the older people will be forced to get by however they can
ReplyDeleteSly James is widely perceived as being fat.
ReplyDeletere: regarding the goodness and light that is KU med
ReplyDeleteLook, they did ALL this to themselves.
A big birdie put a buzz in my ear that they are not donating to KU med this year, and REALLY never ever again going to donate to any KU medical cancer center. Well considering they bought out every cancer doc and cancer treatment center in town, they have spent TONS of money accomplishing very little and bragging a lot. They put on a good face but the real story is they bought that national cancer center status and the actual data screams poorly. So is that why a major cancer foundation (or 3) is puling out of KU cancer center? I do not know. No one will tell me. Something is poisoning the well. When the charity arm of KC money goes radio silent and the hospital just keeps spending, it makes you wonder. I have asked; twice; and all I get is shrugs. I have even asked where they are spending the money that they have pledged and they have all stated that they are continuing to enhance their own programs and are not in any way, shape or form ever going to be a partner with the KU medical cancer center. So you heard it first, hard times coming for KU hospital, but they did this all to themselves by spending money like a bunch of crazy people all while claiming non-profit status.
Yes, they not only screwed the nurses but have other big problems as well. I am not talking about normal hospital drama either.
Or at least I've heard and so I've read....allegedly , perhaps, maybe
So age of labor representatives, endorsed candidates & their disconnect to minority communities wouldn't make the list?
ReplyDelete