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Labor Party
Gets Ink

January, 1999 Labor Party Press

At a time when the media is largely controlled by a few huge corporations, it’s not too surprising that a new party aimed at challenging corporate power doesn’t get a lot of ink or airplay. The Labor Party’s founding convention was a case in point. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, a media watchdog group, called it a politically inspired "blackout."

We did a bit better this time around, thanks in part to the help of Chuck Idelson, communications manager for the California Nurses Association and OCAW communications director Lynne Baker. Stories about the convention appeared in the New York Times (twice), the Boston Globe, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Pittsburgh papers, and many other newspapers. AP’s story on the convention was picked up by local papers around the country. The gathering has spawned many radio interviews. Union and alternative media also picked up the story.

It’s all great news, but one thing we’ve noticed: A couple of facts about the Labor Party keep getting misreported.

1. Contrary to reports, this convention was larger than the founding convention — 1414 elected delegates this time, compared to 1367 in 1996. More importantly, the great majority of delegates this time around came from formally affiliated, dues-paying unions and chapters.

2. Apologies to Kit Costello and Bob Clark, whose titles and Labor Party roles have been confused or omitted all over the place — including the Labor Party Press! Kit Costello is President of the California Nurses Association and a Labor Party Co-Chair. Bob Clark is General Secretary-Treasurer of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America and a Labor Party Co-Chair. The third Labor Party Co-Chair is Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee.

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