[Mpls] "Death of the Old Guard" It is time to change!

[ken bradley]

Minneapolis Issues Folks,

 

 

This will sound like a plug for my own work, and it shouldn't, it should sound like a plug for a shift in voters values that was happening regardless of myself or any other person. Voters put much more value in non-profits endorsements like the Sierra Club or other membership driven organizations than endorsements from the Police Federation Union or other large-old-guard-boys-club network organizations. 

 

Everyone knows that the only members of the Police Federation are police officers and they have to be members. Membership comes with the job, and just because they are members does not mean they agree with union leaders decisions. Voters realize they don't represent a large segment of society but rather their own narrow interests.

 

The same could be stated about non-profits but the individual has the opportunity to stop their membership if they disapprove of endorsements or policies. Organizations like the Sierra Club have extremely transparent endorsements process that is very inclusive to membership. I believe that voters trust the Sierra Club endorsements more than the Police Federations, and they should. As former Chair of both the state chapter and political committee, I did not agree with all of the Sierra Club endoresments and that to me proves the process was democratic. I was actually happy that I did not agree with all the decisions because it proves that many people have a voice in the process, not just a few insiders. 

 

An example of this shifting of values can be seen with the United Steelworkers of America Associate Membership Program http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=186&modules_ID=297

 

Dave Foster has been a driving force behind this change. The USWA are working side by side with environmental organizations, and pushing for policies that will help to improve the environment, while still stand up for their workers rights. They understand to help improve their ability to change the political process they needed to change, and they need to reflect the values of society as a whole to properly represent their own members.

 

I have worked with them organizing people in the suburbs and in greater Minnesota and they are the real-deal. They understand times have changed, and they are changing to become an organization more responsive to the public needs, while still fighting for traditional unions rights. 

 

The Police Federation and some of the other unions have not made these changes and they are losing their political clout because they are perceived as bullies not partners like the USWA.

 

Ken Bradley

Kenny Neighborhood


		
---------------------------------
 Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.