Labor Unions Support WGA, Fire Union Busting Consultant Chris Lehane

SEIU Local 99 in Los Angeles — education workers who include teacher’s aids, cafeteria workers and crossing guards — have fired former Clinton spokesman Chris Lehane from a consulting contract in support of the WGA .

"By the end of the week, I believe Chris Lehane will have no union clients because of his work for the AMPTP," says SEIU President Andy Stern, who confirms that all Change to Win Unions are severing ties with Lehane. "His days are numbered in the labor movement."

The decision came after Lehane began consulting for the AMPTP, who walked away from the negotiating table with the WGA on Friday insisting that they agree to cross the picket lines of other unions before they would return to the talks. It was an overt union-busting move meant to drive a wedge between the WGA and SAG, who have been supportive of the writers and whose contract with the AMPTP is up for renewal in June. Change to Win unions include the Teamsters, Laborers, SEIU, Carpenters & Joiners, United Farm Workers, Food and Commercial Workers, and UNITE HERE.

There is a limit to what you can do and still work for progressive organizations. In contracting out as a strike buster for the AMPTP, Lehane has definitely crossed it.

You can send an email to the network executives in charge of your favorite shows and tell them to return to the negotiating table here.

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