[Imc-web] News from the chicago.indymedia.org:8080 newswire

[Mike Lehman]

David,
We've got these stories posted and linked together.
Mike Lehman

unionyes at ameritech.net wrote:

> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Story from the chicago.indymedia.org:8080 newswire
> 
> Checkout independent media coverage of politics, protest, and life
> at: http://chicago.indymedia.org:8080
> 
> This message was sent to you by: David Johnson
> 
> Comments: 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 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 ?ecurity 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 ?ecurity 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, ?en 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 ?ecurity 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: ?hy can? 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.
> 
> -30-