Labor supporters take to streets

Week of demonstrations meant to rev up U.S. union movement

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Saturday, December 10, 2005

A week of demonstrations to rev up the flagging American labor movement peaks today with marches and rallies across the country spotlighting what unions say are unfair and sometimes illegal barriers to organizing new members.

Labor supporters planned to picket a North Olmsted car dealership where 10 mechanics went on strike in May seeking union recognition. The dealership has hired 11 replacement mechanics.

In Dayton, hundreds are expected at a downtown rally criticizing Delphi's decision to "use bankruptcy" to shed labor agreements and pension responsibilities, the AFL-CIO said. Activists also are lining up behind workers who said they were fired for union activity at the Consolidated Biscuit Co. cookie plant at McComb, 45 miles south of Toledo.

The demonstrations are part of a nationwide and overseas push by the AFL-CIO, its largest workers' rights mobilization in years, to call attention to what the federation says are widespread attacks on the right to form unions and bargain collectively...