Elizabeth Edwards supports AFSCME workers strike @ U of M

Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject Elizabeth Edwards supports AFSCME workers strike @ U of M
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3501228#3501228
3501228, Elizabeth Edwards supports AFSCME workers strike @ U of M
Posted by Sapphire Blue on Thu Sep-06-07 01:34 PM

Elizabeth Edwards adds star power to U of M strike

~ News report video: http://wm.kare.gannett.edgestreams.net/news/news/90507_264007_umstrike_kare.wmv ~


A noon rally by striking members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union on Wednesday had been scheduled to take place directly in front of the University of Minnesota Administration building.

But minutes before it was to begin the rally was moved down onto the grassy Northrup Mall, the usual hangout for studying and sleeping undergraduates.

The big surprise was not where it was held, but who showed up to speak.

Braving the heat and humidity in a grey suit, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, showed up to lend support. She told the sign-waving strikers and their supporters, "If they respect you and believe in your dignity, they're going to provide you with this raise!"

(snip)

Edwards delighted the strikers and their supporters with the kind of remarks that have won organized labor endorsements for her Democratic candidate husband, John.

"Every person who works in this country, the conditions under which they work are better because the unions are strong, because you all stand together."

(snip)

She continued to speak with reporters as she left the mall insisting, "The very idea that they're not meeting the cost of inflation in terms of their cost of living increases, that they're excusing those cost of living increases by saying 'oh, we have that money someplace else', I mean, everybody knows that's a fraud! It's a matter of respecting these workers. If this university respects these workers, they would absolutely give them the cost of living increase. This is just to keep up with inflation for Pete's sakes! This is not asking for the moon."


http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=264007

What a great thing to do!:kick: