Turmoil Surrounds Election of Union Officers

We do not often hear about the internal turmoil that can surround the election of union officers.  But, to borrow a phrase from Donald Rumsfeld, democracy is messy.  Here is an article about two campaigns that are competing for the leadership of the International Association of Machinists District 751, a powerful union that represents more that 25,000 Boeing workers in Seattle, Western Washington, Portland, and Wichita, Kansas.  In this case, democracy involves allegations of “moles” and surreptitious surveillance photos.  The fight sounds more like Clinton vs. Obama than solidarity forever.  Interestingly, the election of union officers precedes impending contract talks with Boeing, which appear headed for a rocky start judging from the reaction to Boeing’s pension proposal.