Thursday, May 24, 2012
Readers react to labor leader's party game: 'Ignorance', 'Relatively tame.'
On Tuesday, a video surfaced of S.C. AFL-CIO leader Donna Dewitt swinging a stick at Gov. Nikki Haley's image on a piñata. Haley has been a target for labor groups because of her opposition to unions in the Palmetto State and her aggressive response to a dispute between the National Labor Relations Board and the state's biggest new business: Boeing. Readers have sounded off with more than 100 comments that go far beyond a party game in bad taste to the broader question of the value of unions in the 21st century. Scott Graham wrote that unions aren't what they used to be. "I'm from a family that has been been pro union for several generations," said Graham. "The degree of ignorance displayed by the AFL-CIO over the past decade has made not …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Donna Dewitt, the head of the labor union's state office, is shown on video smashing a photo of Gov. Nikki Haley.
COLUMBIA, SC -- Labor unions have long been a source of frustration, debate and arguments in the Palmetto State. But a new video posted online of the South Carolina AFL-CIO chief Donna Dewitt smashing a piñata with Gov. Nikki Haley's face on it seems to take things to the next level. The governor's spokesman, Rob Godfrey, shared the video on Twitter this afternoon. Even Democrats across the state expressed disdain. "Totally inappropriate," said Democratic strategist Tyler Jones. "There is absolutely no place for this in politics. You don't need a bat to beat Nikki Haley, you just need a brain." Dewitt has been head of the labor union for 16 years, and the group has been battling with Haley for years over multiple issues. Haley has …
Friday, May 4, 2012
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley on a lawsuit brought by International Association of Machinists and AFL-CIO over anti-union remarks
The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday agreed with a lower court ruling, handing S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and Catherine Templeton, then head of the state's labor department, a victory in a case brought by the International Association of Machinists and AFL-CIO over anti-union remarks they made. The two labor groups brought suit against Haley and Templeton for numerous remarks critical of and hostile to unions, however the court found the rhetoric did not lead to any actions. "The statements alleged by the unions contain nothing that we could plausibly interpret as indicating imminence," the judges wrote. "Most of the statements do not reference action at all. ... Even the statements that include an indication of action, however - …
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The nation's eyes will be fixed on South Carolina on Saturday for the Republican debate, but progressive organizers are hoping to siphon some of the attention.
As Wofford College continues to prepare for Saturday's debate between the Republican hopefuls for the presidency, at least two demonstrations are being organized to coincide with the GOP event. The debate, which Wofford officials say is the first national event of its kind ever held at the college, is expected to feature all of the GOP presidential candidates, and will begin at 8 p.m. And while the National Journal/CBS News debate will be the focus in Spartanburg this weekend, organizers of the more progressive persuasion will be doing their best to make their voices heard as well. Russell Bannan, coordinator for the South Carolina AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), confirmed that his …
Debra Foshee
12:48 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
I don't care what you think of Haley's politics (I don't care for them myself) but this video and what it portrays is disgraceful. more ›