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Article by: Rank & File AFL-CIO                          
Monday 04 Aug 2003
                          
Email: ranknfile at aol.com

Summary:Labor journalist Harry Kelber, who has covered AFL-CIO conventions and Executive Council meetings for more than twenty years, was denied a room at the Drake Hotel because of a pamphlet he wrote calling for greater union democracy. The AFL-CIO persuaded Drake management to deny Kelber accommodations because he posed a “security risk.”

Weblink: www.rankandfileaflio.org

Reference at indymedia website: http://chicago.indymedia.org:8080//front.php3?article_id=29319

Article:
AFL-CIO, Stung by Criticism from Labor Journalist, Cancels Room at The Drake Hotel as “Security Risk”

CHICAGO, August 5: Harry Kelber, who has covered AFL-CIO conventions and Executive Council meetings for more than twenty years, was denied a room at The Drake Hotel, because of a critical pamphlet he wrote and distributed, “Ten Ways to Reform an Undemocratic AFL-CIO.” 

Kelber, who had registered with the AFL-CIO for a room as he has done for years, was told that the AFL-CIO had scrapped his name off the official list, even though he had received approval from the AFL-CIO Travel Department weeks ago, and had evidence to prove it.

Furthermore, the AFL-CIO persuaded the Drake management to deny Kelber any accommodations at the Hotel, because he posed a “security risk.”  The Drake management arranged a room at The Knickerbocker across the street from the Drake Hotel.

To support its unprecedented action, the AFL-CIO produced an email that listed Kelber as a speaker at a Rank and File union gathering to discuss the pamphlet that detailed the undemocratic practices of the Federation leadership.  

The AFL-CIO also noted that rank and file trade unionists would be picketing the AFL-CIO at 9:00 am, Tuesday August 5th, with a demand to discuss their grievances with the Federation leaders.

Kelber asked: “Why can’t AFL-CIO leaders try to refute my criticism of their policies, instead of suppressing dissident views by silence and vindictive actions.” 

Kelber will be covering the Executive Council meeting for his newsletter, The Labor Educator and two weekly columns that he produces for the Internet.

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