Former Mayor Giuliani Fails To Tell The Whole Truth

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Building Trades President Edward C.
Sullivan today condemned the Republican Party and the Bush Campaign for
attempting to politicize and misrepresent the thousands of union construction
workers who were volunteers on the World Trade Center rescue and recovery
teams.  During Monday night's Republican National Convention, former NY Mayor
Rudy Giuliani's scripted remarks included an impassioned reference to
construction workers hugging President Bush at "ground zero."
    Sullivan said, "We all remember those heroic construction workers.  They
are our union brothers and sisters who volunteered endless hours week after
week at great sacrifice and risk to themselves.  But, Mayor Giuliani painted a
disingenuous picture when he left out what happened next ... after the
President's photo opportunity was over ... what did President Bush give these
brave and tireless construction workers in return for their unselfish and
patriotic efforts?"
    "The sorry truth is that the Bush Administration has given the
construction workers of New York and New Jersey and the entire country exactly
the same thing ... nothing.  The ironic reality is that Pres. Bush showed his
gratitude by continuing to eliminate project labor agreements that create
their jobs.  He undercut their rights to organize and to bargain fair wages.
He put their health care and pension plans in extreme jeopardy of collapse.
He weakened regulations to protect their safety and security on the job.  And
he gave tax breaks to companies that were exporting American jobs by the
millions."
    "We will never forget what George Bush has done to divide, demean and
destroy construction unions and their members.  We will take our memory to the
polls on Nov. 2nd.  The Building and Construction Trades Dept. is united in
our support for the Kerry/Edwards ticket.  We are united in our defense of the
American Dream for every American worker, a century old dream which the Bush
Administration has been attempting to dismantle since its very first day in
office."
    Sullivan stated, "George Bush and Dick Cheney think that a photo
opportunity and a snappy slogan are a substitute for real performance.  They
are wrong.  Anyone can put on someone else's union hat or jacket and pretend
to be for workers ... anyone can put on someone else's flight suit and pretend
to be a truth-telling warrior president ... anyone can put on someone else's
VFW cap and pretend to support veterans' benefits ... but, that is just a
disingenuous and cynical side show trick.  The hard truth is that it's going
to take a real leader to make real progress for real working people ... not
for the favored few, but for every working family in this nation.  That's what
we want and that's what we will fight to get.  Let there be no GOP deception:
we strongly oppose George Bush and Dick Cheney.  Let there be no doubt: we are
fighting hard to elect John Kerry and John Edwards .... and we are going to
win."
    The Building & Construction Trades Department is an independent affiliated
organization of the AFL-CIO representing over 3 million working men and women
in 15 international unions.

     Contact:    Helen Corbett
     Phone/cell: 978-774-0492

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