community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
pinkertons in pittsburgh
by rivers cuomo
Friday, Aug. 08, 2003 at 11:06 PM
pinkerton's hiring-drive in pittsburgh area
hi,
i was looking through the help wanted ads in the trib the other day and i noticed an advertisement for securitas security services (they used to be known as pinkerton, the ad even said so). they say they are hiring for labor disputes in pittsburgh, uniontown, and western pa in general. i suspect this has something to do with the impending verizon strikes. anybody else have any ideas as to what they could be gearing up for?
love.
rivers.
xoxoxo.
Never again!
by Malka Steimer
Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003 at 8:49 PM
Working folks just can't trust those Pinkertons. Quite a history they have, eh? I'll keep my eyes open -- thanks for the notice. Solidarity forever...
Pursuit Pinkertons
by Prodigal Yunzer
Monday, Aug. 11, 2003 at 4:23 PM
I went to college around these parts, and Pinkerton provided our campus security. We had several 300 pound plus Pinkertons who would make their rounds, turn their little clock box keys, etc- the really fat ones we called Pursuit Pinkertons.
You leftists are so romantic. You really think anyone will react to a century old use of deadly force on behalf of Andrew Carnegie or Consol coal? Hahaha, no wonder you can't win any elections.
goddamn you half-japanese girls
by rivers
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 at 12:20 AM
hi,
the ad said they were hiring explicitly for labor disputes in western pa. yes, i know pinkerton has security guards at local colleges. i've seen them.
it's just a "heads up."
what this means is that instead of having "objective" city/state police to keep the peace at picket lines, the corporation(s) will have their own security force, that they pay, and, thus, have to do what they want, to control what happens when workers are on strike.
and who the fuck cares about elections? elections are for authoritarians.
love.rivers.xoxoxo
other upcoming "labor disputes"
by John Lacny
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003 at 8:22 PM
Pinkerton these days is only one of many private "security" companies; Wackenhut being another. They're not as menacing as they used to be, although they're part of the scenery. The fact that they openly advertise that they're to be used in labor disputes would be disturbing, if it weren't so unsurprising.
Maybe in addition to Verizon, other upcoming disputes could involve more at Canonsburg, plus the downtown janitors' contract will expire soon. I don't imagine they'd be hiring for any possible trouble at Allegheny General Hospital, where the RN contract is up this fall. But who's to say? Also, it is of some interest whether Pinkerton has actually been retained by a company or is just shopping around. I would dare suggest that this calls for some undercover action, or other information-gathering -- if someone is up for it.
Say, did people know that Pinkerton got its start during the Civil War? They gathered "intelligence" for the Union Army -- but it was about as worthless as a report on Nigeri uranium, or an Iraqi National Congress "intelligence report" (i.e., baldfaced propaganda swallowed whole by the likes of Judith Miller) on Iraqi mustard gas -- and their incompetence, coupled with the fact that the odious racist General George McClellan was basically a Confederate sympathizer, and that's why the Union had such a hard time early on in the war. Lincoln finally fired him when he got the chance.
McClellan, by the way, later opposed Lincoln in the election of 1864, calling for negotiations with the Southern slaveholders, and thankfully, he was defeated. Proof that if elections are "for authoritarians," then there's plenty of cause to be glad that Lincoln was "authoritarian" enough to participate in them -- and also "authoritarian" enough to be less than sympathetic to the supposed habeas corpus rights of racist traitors. There are indeed just wars in this world, and we would do well to recognize them, if only to spite Joe Lieberman.
I would hope that we're also "authoritarian" enough to recognize the importance of defeating Bush next year. Any other attitude is proof that we don't take the people seriously enough.
John...
by ...
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 8:13 AM
"I would hope that we're also "authoritarian" enough to recognize the importance of defeating Bush next year.."
That is a very stupid statement John. How about you not bait people. It's fine that your politics are authoritarean, but don't come on here with this crap. Anti-authoritarean folks are doing a large amount of the good work happening in this city right now. If you are going to argue that line why dont you say exactly what you're proposing? That we support the demoncrats? That we not vote green? That we vote for Lieberman if he's the candidate? Are you saying defeating bush is the only thing that matters in the election? Do we have to defeat him regardless of how horrible the other candidate is? WHAT are you actually trying to say?
Defeating Bush
by John Lacny
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 12:06 PM
> That is a very stupid statement John. How about
> you not bait people. It's fine that your politics are
> authoritarean
Wait a minute. Who's baiting people here? What I was reponding to was the statement in an earlier post that elections are "for authoritarians." What kind of baiting was my response to that? Stupid-baiting? If so, then I plead guilty.
In any case, to answer the practical part of the question, yes, our duty is to defeat Bush by any means necessary.
The "Authoritarianism" Mystification
by John Lacny
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 12:18 PM
Oh, and what makes my politics "authoritarian"? What makes for a so-called "anti-authoritarian"? Is there a reason for me to believe that "anti-authoritarianism" is anything other than good old-fashioned American "rugged individualism" dressed in "radical" clothing, which objectively has the effect of disempowering and demobilizing people because of an ingrown fear of wielding "power" as such (as opposed to building power for the oppressed)? Why so much of the so-called left's fetishism of marginality and fascination with the superficial jargon of authenticity, rather than hardheaded engagement in the real-world struggle against our foes -- who are, quite frankly, ruthless and implacable?
....
by ....
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 1:00 PM
You shouldn't attack people who don't participate in elections or the electoral process. That line of argument can easily be turned around about anything peopl feel is important. People are participating in this movement in different ways. I don't remember seeing you at many of the local anti-war events. I don't remember folks looking down on those who didn't show up. Actually I can think of a multitude of "important" events and actions you haven't attended.
And if you honestly believe that about anti-authoritarianism then it's not going to be solved on this board. Delusion is fun... Be happy!
voting
by the eye
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 5:40 PM
Don't vote, it only encourages them.
I say we all write in a vote for Godzilla. Think about it, if enough people did that, Godzilla would win.
Go Go Godzilla!
Pinkerton
by Pinkie
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 5:48 PM
Don't mess with Pinkerton Security, or I'll get me and my buddies (a bunch of old high school football players back in the 80s with mullets) to rough you indymedia people up!
I work for a hospital and they don't want no people organizing for those evil union thingies. My boss said they are bad and he said that if we ever try that he'll take our free donuts away. I bring those donuts home to my kids. DON''T YOU BE TAKING FOOD FROM MY CHILDREN'S MOUTHS. GDamn unions. I do just fine on 7 dollars an hour. Just ask my wife. I took her to dinner last night. Burger King is her favorite. I still birth control pills and antiseptic from the hospital cause we don't have healthcare. So, DON'T MAKE ME GET ON YOU WITH THOSE UNIONS! I need those free pills 'n at.
whatever
by John Lacny
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 6:15 PM
> You shouldn't attack people who don't participate
> in elections or the electoral process
I didn't. I merely called out someone who said "elections are for authoritarians." It was an asinine comment and I have no problem saying so.
Anyway, I still haven't gotten a definition of what "authoritarianism" and "anti-authoritarianism" are. And I doubt I ever will, least of all on Indymedia.
Off-topic posts
by Evan W., IMC ed.
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 at 7:00 PM
Folks,
Can we end this thread? The article posted was about the use of Pinkertons, not about the elections. It was actually Prodigal Y. who brought up the election issue.
go
by wendy
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003 at 6:33 PM
go go godzilla!
Lets End It Ouch IT Hurts
by Prodigal Yunzer
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 at 8:48 AM
John scores a shot to the solar plexus of this "movement". The credentialist mindset of authentication freaks stems from their rejection of brutal ever present establishment of the pecking order. They attempt to ignore the natural testosterone fueled behavioral rituals by creating a substitute. That is what makes it a fetish. Excellent succinct post John, I admire your thoughs.
They use Asset protection team (apt) here
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 10:34 AM
We are on strike against alltel and they are using APT. inc here to police the picket lines. And yes they have tried several times to cause trouble so they can video tape it and use it in court or nlrb proceedings. Tell them to bring on the goon squad because we are smarter than them.
Time and A half for Protesting?
by Prodigal Yunzer
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 4:27 AM
I heard that some city "workers" were ON THE CLOCK at time and a half during a protest of Mayor Murphy? Where are the Pinkertons when you need em?
"Shoot the bastards" indeed.
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)