- reverse pyromania
- Posts
- Let's find out what Randi wants and give it to her - she's worth it
Let's find out what Randi wants and give it to her - she's worth it
Kay W.
June 26, 2025
As the Democratic Party grapples with post-election fallout, two top labor union presidents—Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers and Lee Saunders of AFSCME—abruptly resigned from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), citing frustration over what they view as the party's failure to fully embrace working-class voters, according to a report by The Guardian.
Weingarten, who led the 1.8-million-member AFT, stepped down after being omitted from reappointment to the DNC’s influential rules committee. In her resignation, she warned that education, healthcare, and public service workers were in “an existential battle” and added she would no longer “keep questioning why we are not enlarging our tent.”
Saunders, leading the 1.3-million-member AFSCME, echoed her sentiments: “These are new times. They deserve new strategies. We must evolve to meet the urgency of the moment. This is not a time to close ranks or turn inward … It is our responsibility to open the gates [and] welcome others.”
Concerning! I love Randi Weingarten. I think she’s demonized and unfairly treated because she’s a mouthy, combative woman. She’s a great labor leader and there is no Democrat who works harder to get other Democrats elected. A big part of Ken Martin’s job is to keep talented people inside the tent, even if they are a pain in the ass (talented people are often a pain in the ass, in my experience as a manager). He doesn’t seem to be good at that. Punishing good people who supported Winkler is not just petty and egotistical- it’s dumb and it’s bad management.
Public school teachers are an important group for Democrats:
A majority of public K-12 teachers (58%) identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party. About a third (35%) identify with or lean toward the GOP.
They’re an important group nationally but they are even more important in state level races, where they sometimes can get a Democrat elected in a very tough environment, like Kentucky.
In other sort-of labor news my middle son, the electrician who is now at Stellantis, is renting a house in Detroit from a NY Times reporter. The reporter wrote this book,
AMERICAN MADE
What Happens to People When Work Disappears
By Farah Stockman
Ms. Stockman was very respectful to her tenants (my son and some other electricians) and asked them questions about their work, what they think of Trump’s trade mess and their opinions on the UAW and the IBEW. They were flattered. My son was so taken with her he bought her book.
Reply