Foley Forgets the Name of His Union at Union Convention
by Christine Stuart | Aug 16, 2010 3:56pm
(8) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Election 2010, Labor
Correction Officer Steve Curran gave Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley credit for coming to speak to the labor union convention Monday, but he thought it was ridiculous that Foley couldn’t remember what union he belonged to when he worked at a cannery in his teens.
“Nobody forgets what local they belong to,” Curran said.
But Foley said he couldn’t remember.
“You know I actually can’t remember what union it was, but it was when I was working at a can plant in Denver, Colorado in the 1960s,” Foley said.
According to biography on Foley’s campaign website, Foley “took a year off at seventeen to work and travel around the country. He worked a construction job and then worked on an assembly line at a can factory where he was member of the union.“
Foley, who admitted in his opening remarks, that a union convention was an “odd” place for a Republican to be talked about the common ground he shares with the unions.
He said they both believe in holding onto and creating jobs. However, he seemed to pivoted almost immediately to discussing the high cost of government on employers and an “unpredictable legislature.”
He said it’s hard for business to invest in the state when the “statutory landscape is so difficult to predict.”
“We frankly need to do more with less,” Foley said.
He talked about reducing spending, while maintaining services.
When talking about the unions, Foley called them a “formidable” force in Connecticut economy. He said he would try to bring the unions to the table and would even offer them incentive pay.
However, when it comes to benefits that’s where the unions will have to decide whether they want to stay employed and take home a salary or increase their benefits.
“There’s only a certain amount of money that the government has to spend. They can choose to spend it on benefits or payroll. If the choice is benefits then there are going to be fewer state workers,” Foley said. “That really would be up to their representatives to negotiate and make that choice.”
Foley understands he’s not likely to receive the AFL-CIO’s endorsement, however, he said it’s important to keep the lines of communication open since he will be dealing with the unions when he’s elected governor.
Dan Malloy, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, spoke earlier in the day to the union’s about how important it is to elect a Democrat to the governor’s office.
Click here to read more about what he had to say about labor and its role in a Malloy administration.
(8) Comments
posted by: James D | August 16, 2010 8:01pm
Civil? Soviet? Credit? European? American Civil Liberties? Western?
Re???
posted by: Brian Parker | August 17, 2010 5:48am
Yeah but, not everyone remembers their local union. I’ve been in 2 unions and can’t remember either. Especially when you’re 18 years old in Colorado; I’m thinking the young Foley had other things on his mind…like what kind of fighter jet he wanted to own. 
Serious, so not a big deal. He should get credit for showing up and being pleasant and talking to media for OVER 8 MINUTES. That’s impressive.
Still like Malloy, though.
posted by: olderbutwiser | August 17, 2010 10:19am
i worked at the A and P for 5 years but dont remember the union. My father was in the IAM(machinist). A correction officer probably has had only one adult job so would remember but many have had many jobs so would not. In any event it is moot,95% of govt and ed workers vote Dem which is why we are broke-and I am not a Republican. Just look at D state(NY,NJ, CT, Ill)-all broke
posted by: CT Jim | August 17, 2010 8:02pm
There is actually 47 states that are broke slot that are controlled by republicans so please old guy bring ALL the facts not just cherry picked ones. Here’s a TRUE fact all of those states are broke because a republican ran the country over a cliff. Just stating facts.
posted by: CT Jim | August 17, 2010 8:28pm
Also CT hasn’t had a Dem Governor in twenty years so don’t count this as one of those D states. Twenty years is a long time, it’s time for a dem governor.
posted by: Martha H | August 16, 2010 6:04pm
Great photo.
{Channeling lovable ol’ Dick Cheney much? With a bit of Rumsfeld around the eyes? “Touch me OR my money and it’s grapeshot for you, **sholes.”}