America Needs a Loan
AFL-CIO president John Sweeney knows the UPS strike isn't about packages or pension
funds. It's about making Big Labor, well, big again. So Sweeney is
prepared to put up $10 million a week for "many many weeks" to bolster the Teamsters' resolve. "Because their fight is our fight, we're making this strike our
strike," Sweeney said late Tuesday, after spending the day shoring up
support from union presidents. The loan ensures mainly
that striking workers get the $55 a week in strike benefits due them
starting Thursday. UPS, meanwhile, says the strike is costing it $200
million to $300 million a week, and
continues to appeal to a stone-faced Clinton administration for
intervention. Well, if the Teamsters can turn to their union pals, perhaps
UPS should call FedEx.