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Even LABI's [[Ed Steimel]], Bussie's top rival in political organization, had tremendous respect for the labor president. Many businesspeople felt organized labor was running the state,” Steimel said of his being recruited by LABI to take on the AFL-CIO in the 1970s. "But we were never really anti each other, and we’ve become closer since."
Even LABI's [[Ed Steimel]], Bussie's top rival in political organization, had tremendous respect for the labor president. Many businesspeople felt organized labor was running the state,” Steimel said of his being recruited by LABI to take on the AFL-CIO in the 1970s. "But we were never really anti each other, and we’ve become closer since."
Bollinger Shipyards CEO [[Donald Bollinger|Donald "Boysie" Bollinger]], who sat next to Bussie on the UL System board, said he initially saw Bussie as a Louisiana "icon," who as an aggressive union lobbyist "represented everything that I was opposed to." But Bollinger added that, after getting to know Bussie, they became friends, and he respected Bussie's passion for education and worker safety. Sibal Holt, the first black female president of an AFL-CIO state branch, said Bussie was “the champion of workers” of all colors and sexes. "I sort of viewed him as an octopus with tentacles reaching all over. But he was as sincere as the day is long."
Bollinger Shipyards CEO [[Donald G. Bollinger|Donald G. "Boysie" Bollinger]], who sat next to Bussie on the UL System board, said he initially saw Bussie as a Louisiana "icon," who as an aggressive union lobbyist "represented everything that I was opposed to." But Bollinger added that, after getting to know Bussie, they became friends, and he respected Bussie's passion for education and worker safety. Sibal Holt, the first black female president of an AFL-CIO state branch, said Bussie was “the champion of workers” of all colors and sexes. "I sort of viewed him as an octopus with tentacles reaching all over. But he was as sincere as the day is long."
Critics have said Bussie's and his colleagues’ involvement in so many areas of government amounted to a power grab to keep unions influential. Bussie is emphatic that he only wanted to serve his state as much as he could: "It may sound corny, but that’s just the way I lived." He is proud of serving on all the boards without ever accepting any per diem payments or salaries.
Critics have said Bussie's and his colleagues’ involvement in so many areas of government amounted to a power grab to keep unions influential. Bussie is emphatic that he only wanted to serve his state as much as he could: "It may sound corny, but that’s just the way I lived." He is proud of serving on all the boards without ever accepting any per diem payments or salaries.