Unions see Super Bowl as leverage in battle

Clark County

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January 19, 2012

Labor activists consider clogging streets in protest

By TOM LoBIANCO Associated Press Thu Jan 19, 2012, 09:25 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS — Facing a legislative vote that would make Indiana a right-to-work state, alarmed union members are thinking about making their case on perhaps the nation’s biggest stage — the Super Bowl.

Labor activists are deciding whether to go ahead with protests that could include Teamsters clogging city streets with trucks and electricians staging a slowdown at the convention center site of the NFL village. What’s holding them back is a fear the effort could create a backlash from those who think sports and politics don’t mix.

“The last thing the city needs is a black eye,” said Jeff Combs, organizing director for Teamsters Local 135 in Indianapolis, one of the unions discussing strategy. Union locals are awaiting guidance from the Indiana AFL-CIO before deciding what to do.

The debate about tactics reflects the desperation of organized labor as the Legislature prepares to vote on the right-to-work measure, which would ban union contracts mandating that workers pay dues for representation. Republicans, who see the bill as an advantage for recruiting businesses to the state, outnumber Democrats 60-40 in the House and 37-13 in the Senate. Indiana would become the 23rd state with a right-to-work law, and the first in 10 years to pass the measure.

The vote, which Republicans would like to hold in the coming weeks, has already prompted union demonstrations at the statehouse and sporadic boycotts by House Democrats.

“The extreme nature of the folks who are trying to impact this for some of their own special interests is a little bit surprising,” Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Wednesday.

Indiana, with its auto and other manufacturing industries, has a strong union tradition. Thousands of workers in at least a half dozen unions, including stagehands, truckers, carpenters, electricians and service employees, will be involved in erecting and staffing the huge tent-city of food pavilions, kids’ amusements and live-music venues near Lucas Oil Stadium for a week before the Feb. 5 game.

Opinions among labor leaders are split between those who want to focus on wooing moderate Republican lawmakers and those who want to use the Super Bowl to show the nation the importance of organized labor for staging major events.

“This is why it’s not planned out, because there are so many moving parts,” said AFL-CIO spokesman Jeff Harris.

Roughly 50 labor leaders from across Indiana met Monday for the AFL-CIO’s “Labor Table” to discuss strategy. Harris said unions are ready to begin filing permits with the city this week for protests and other actions.

Organizers from the city’s host committee to the NFL say they are confident the game will not be disrupted. “We are aware of the matter but do not anticipate it will be an issue,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.