Sunday, November 22, 2009

SEIU Condemns Teenage Volunteer

Coyote Blog: "The union whose president leads the world in visits to the White House this year has shown what is at the heart of its quest to help mankind — a naked power grab." From Coyote's source:
In pursuit of an Eagle Scout badge, Kevin Anderson, 17, has toiled for more than 200 hours hours over several weeks to clear a walking path in an east Allentown park.

Little did the do-gooder know that his altruistic act would put him in the cross hairs of the city’s largest municipal union.

Nick Balzano, president of the local Service Employees International Union, told Allentown City Council Tuesday that the union is considering filing a grievance against the city for allowing Anderson to clear a 1,000-foot walking and biking path at Kimmets Lock Park.

“We’ll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails,” Balzano told the council.

Balzano said Saturday he isn’t targeting Boy Scouts. But given the city’s decision in July to lay off 39 SEIU members, Balzano said “there’s to be no volunteers.” No one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path.
Based on our experience in St Louis with the SEIU, I'm not comfortable around shovel wielding Purple People Beaters.

I was also reminded of the Practical Rules of Bureaucracy. Point #8: "Join the Union" seems to apply.

Moe Lane (via Instapundit) observes: "Note that the SEIU itself hung Balzano out to dry: when your guys are already out there on camera beating up protesters and gadflies, it’s not a good time to start a fight with the Boy Scouts of America."

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