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Labor Condemns Rep. DeLay's Hateful Anti-Union Letter
From the Firefighters to CWA, labor leaders acted swiftly in February to denounce a vicious and defamatory fundraising letter attacking unions that was signed by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and printed on his letterhead.
Mailed on behalf of the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, which has strong ties to the Texas congressman, the letter asked for funds "to support an urgent new project to halt a shameless attempt by Big Labor Bosses to expand their power at the expense of homeland security and troops overseas."
The six-page letter lashes out at unions in vile language and assaults the patriotism of labor leaders, calling their fight to protect and preserve workers' rights "truly sickening." The letter was so offensive that some fellow Republicans were among the first to denounce it.
"I am outraged, for myself and for every member, past and present, who served in our armed forces," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "This display of 'patriotism' came from a man who spent the Vietnam years fighting bugs and cockroaches as head of his exterminating company."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in 32 years of representing workers who risk their lives every day to save others – including 343 who died at Ground Zero - "I have never felt more outrage, astonishment and utter disgust over the actions of an elected official."
In the wake of criticism, DeLay said he didn't authorize the letter and called it "sloppy," but didn't disavow the comments except to say the "hyperbole doesn't reflect how I deal with unions." The Washington Post reported that DeLay's attempt to distance himself from the letter arose from fears of a rift with the Teamsters, who have broken with many other unions, including CWA, to support drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Teamsters President James P. Hoffa angrily called the letter a "statement that questions the patriotism of me and members of this union."
The letter tears apart unions for fighting for workers at a time when the Bush administration is using claims of "national security" to justify its anti-union agenda - reversing rules that have long protected federal workers' rights, busting federal unions and pushing for language in the homeland security bill to bar workers from organizing.
Some excerpts from the letter:
DeLay would be "deeply disappointed and deeply concerned" it says - in italics and underlined - if readers say "No" to his fundraising appeal. "Why?" the letter asks. "Because the union bosses' selfish drive to use the national emergencies we face today to grab more power presents a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and the safety of our armed forces."
After listing several strikes that have occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, and efforts by pro-labor lawmakers and unions to protect workers' rights, the letter says "union bosses have only just begun exploiting the war effort . . . That is why I was relieved when I heard that the National Right to Work Foundation was launching an aggressive campaign to fight this shameful, post-9/11 power grab by Big Labor."
"As I rush this heartfelt appeal to you, our nation is engaged in a great struggle against an evil enemy that lurks in many nations and takes many forms. Meanwhile, our economy continues to struggle. And it is truly sickening that, at a time when we desperately need everyone in America to pull together, the Big Labor Bosses are willing to harm freedom-loving workers, the war effort and the economy to acquire more power!"
"So, please, for the sake of our men and women overseas, for the sake of our security, prosperity and freedom, check 'Yes' on your RSVP and then rush it and a very special, very needed, tax-deductible gift of $20, $35, $50, $100, $250 or more back to the National Right to Work Foundation today. If you can send $500 or $1,000 or more, that would be a tremendous shot in the arm." In a postscript, the letter says that a "generous foundation supporter" will match every donation dollar for dollar, doubling the contributions.
Bahr said it's disturbing that Bush and Republican leaders have had nothing to say about the letter. "The only criticism - but we are glad for it - came from decent, labor-supporting Republicans like Rep. Jack Quinn of Buffalo who spoke out immediately," he said. "The rest of the GOP and the White House and its agents have been silent. And, like the brave guy DeLay is, after feeling the heat from guys like Quinn and the labor movement, he blamed the letter on his staff."
The AFL-CIO and other unions have condemned the letter as well. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists - which the letter criticized for a strike - wrote DeLay to say that he had "tarred thousands of patriotic Americans with the implicit charge of treason."
Mailed on behalf of the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, which has strong ties to the Texas congressman, the letter asked for funds "to support an urgent new project to halt a shameless attempt by Big Labor Bosses to expand their power at the expense of homeland security and troops overseas."
The six-page letter lashes out at unions in vile language and assaults the patriotism of labor leaders, calling their fight to protect and preserve workers' rights "truly sickening." The letter was so offensive that some fellow Republicans were among the first to denounce it.
"I am outraged, for myself and for every member, past and present, who served in our armed forces," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "This display of 'patriotism' came from a man who spent the Vietnam years fighting bugs and cockroaches as head of his exterminating company."
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said in 32 years of representing workers who risk their lives every day to save others – including 343 who died at Ground Zero - "I have never felt more outrage, astonishment and utter disgust over the actions of an elected official."
In the wake of criticism, DeLay said he didn't authorize the letter and called it "sloppy," but didn't disavow the comments except to say the "hyperbole doesn't reflect how I deal with unions." The Washington Post reported that DeLay's attempt to distance himself from the letter arose from fears of a rift with the Teamsters, who have broken with many other unions, including CWA, to support drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Teamsters President James P. Hoffa angrily called the letter a "statement that questions the patriotism of me and members of this union."
The letter tears apart unions for fighting for workers at a time when the Bush administration is using claims of "national security" to justify its anti-union agenda - reversing rules that have long protected federal workers' rights, busting federal unions and pushing for language in the homeland security bill to bar workers from organizing.
Some excerpts from the letter:
DeLay would be "deeply disappointed and deeply concerned" it says - in italics and underlined - if readers say "No" to his fundraising appeal. "Why?" the letter asks. "Because the union bosses' selfish drive to use the national emergencies we face today to grab more power presents a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and the safety of our armed forces."
After listing several strikes that have occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, and efforts by pro-labor lawmakers and unions to protect workers' rights, the letter says "union bosses have only just begun exploiting the war effort . . . That is why I was relieved when I heard that the National Right to Work Foundation was launching an aggressive campaign to fight this shameful, post-9/11 power grab by Big Labor."
"As I rush this heartfelt appeal to you, our nation is engaged in a great struggle against an evil enemy that lurks in many nations and takes many forms. Meanwhile, our economy continues to struggle. And it is truly sickening that, at a time when we desperately need everyone in America to pull together, the Big Labor Bosses are willing to harm freedom-loving workers, the war effort and the economy to acquire more power!"
"So, please, for the sake of our men and women overseas, for the sake of our security, prosperity and freedom, check 'Yes' on your RSVP and then rush it and a very special, very needed, tax-deductible gift of $20, $35, $50, $100, $250 or more back to the National Right to Work Foundation today. If you can send $500 or $1,000 or more, that would be a tremendous shot in the arm." In a postscript, the letter says that a "generous foundation supporter" will match every donation dollar for dollar, doubling the contributions.
Bahr said it's disturbing that Bush and Republican leaders have had nothing to say about the letter. "The only criticism - but we are glad for it - came from decent, labor-supporting Republicans like Rep. Jack Quinn of Buffalo who spoke out immediately," he said. "The rest of the GOP and the White House and its agents have been silent. And, like the brave guy DeLay is, after feeling the heat from guys like Quinn and the labor movement, he blamed the letter on his staff."
The AFL-CIO and other unions have condemned the letter as well. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists - which the letter criticized for a strike - wrote DeLay to say that he had "tarred thousands of patriotic Americans with the implicit charge of treason."