Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy Clash Over Unions

In what was/is perhaps the weirdest internet beef of all time, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dave Portnoy, the President of frat-bro haven Barstool Sports, got into a Twitter argument yesterday over … unions?

Portnoy went on a Twitter rampage prompted by news that the staff of Bill Simmons’s sports site The Ringer had unionized. On Monday Portnoy tweeted a link to a 2015 blog post he’d written when Gawker unionized, noting that if Barstool employees ever tried to follow their lead, he would “smash their little union to smithereens.”

Heard @ringer employees want to unionize. Little refresher how I feel about unions. Gawker Writers Vote To Unionize https://t.co/bRWpluAqw1

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 12, 2019

These anti-union sentiments were brought to the attention of many on Twitter, including staff writer for Live Science Rafi Letzter, who replied to Portnoy’s tweet on Tuesday, saying if any Barstool employees were looking to unionize and needed advice, his DMs were open. Portnoy quote-tweeted Letzter, adding he would fire any employee who messaged Letzter.

If you work for @barstoolsports and DM this man I will fire you on the spot https://t.co/u9vG3VgfV1

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 13, 2019

And because under the National Labor Relations Act firing or disciplining employees who are interested in unionizing is super fucking illegal, this also drew the attention of AFL-CIO, the New York Department of Labor — and AOC.

Bad Boss Example #1.

The NLRA prohibits bosses from engaging in unfair labor practices including “interfering with the formation or administration of any labor organization.” #1u https://t.co/fUWzbcRCep

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) August 13, 2019

It is illegal to take any unfavorable action – including termination – against employees for union-related activities under the National Labor Relations Act.

New York is a proud union state. We say no way, no how to intimidation, threats and union busting. https://t.co/r71he7K2kl

— NYS Dept of Labor (@NYSLabor) August 13, 2019

If you’re a boss tweeting firing threats to employees trying to unionize, you are likely breaking the law &can be sued,in your words, “on the spot.”

ALL workers in the US have the protected freedom to organize for better conditions.

See @NLRB &union orgs like @AFLCIO for tips. https://t.co/bU7WlHrp1d

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 13, 2019

Portnoy responded to the Congresswomen with a gif, and the classic and always effective “debate me” taunt. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. came to Portnoy’s defense and tweeted that picking a fight with Barstool and Portnoy would be the “biggest mistake AOC has ever made on Twitter.”

Hey @aoc welcome to thunder dome. Debate me. https://t.co/XEmEvt12N4

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 13, 2019

Picking a fight with @stoolpresidente and @barstoolsports is probably the biggest mistake @AOC has ever made on Twitter. https://t.co/hp7gF2DECc

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 13, 2019

Many Twitter users were quick to point out the irony of the entire situation since all the athletes Barstool regularly covers are unionized, and their tagline — “Saturdays are for the boys” — which has been so integral to the site’s popularity among idiots, would be meaningless were it not for unions.

Barstool’s world is covering
– the unionized MLB
– the unionized NFL
– the unionized NBA
– the unionized NHL
– the unionized MLS … https://t.co/BucMqqdoth

— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) August 13, 2019

Labor unions are the reason the weekend exists, allowing Saturdays to continue to be for the boys, therefore unions are beneficial in your world https://t.co/c9GvIrs7fK

— Samer (@Samer) August 13, 2019

However, employees at Barstool reassured the public that their boss is super cool, they have good health insurance, 401ks and don’t feel the need to unionize.

“Dave isn’t actually a bad boss. … He doesn’t fire anyone. We get paid well. We have good health care and a 401k. I think you unionize when the boss doesn’t do those things?” — @BarstoolBigCat on @BarstoolYak

— Deke Zucker (@Barstool_Quotes) August 13, 2019

So we can all rest easy knowing the boys over at Barstool are not worried about workers’ rights and they can go back to stealing other creators’ content and harassing their female sportswriters.

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