Indiana Anti-Worker Bills Skid to a Halt

http://www.labornotes.org/2011/03/indiana-anti-worker-bills-skid-halt

Jenny Brown | March 17, 2011


Hoosier unionists—bolstered by exiled Democratic lawmakers—have brought a wagonload of anti-worker bills to a standstill. Crowds numbering from 1,000 to 10,000 have swarmed the Indianapolis statehouse every day for almost three weeks. Photo: USW.


Hoosier unionists—bolstered by exiled Democratic members of the Indiana House—have brought a wagonload of anti-worker bills to a standstill. Crowds numbering from 1,000 to 10,000 have swarmed the Indianapolis statehouse every day for almost three weeks, leading Republicans to say they will shelve the right-to-work bill that started the tumult February 21.

“Even if we defeat right to work,” said Sal Aguilar, assistant director of Steelworkers District 7, “we’ve gotta defeat the bill they’ve got against the teachers. Then there’s a bill to hurt the trades.” He said there’s also a bill to prevent localities from setting higher minimum wages. “This is getting out of hand.”

Some unionists thought dropping right to work was a ruse to tempt Democrats back to the state. If it was, the trick failed. The Democratic caucus, dug in at a hotel in Urbana, Illinois, is focused on blocking 11 bills under consideration.

Meanwhile, the protests have continued, with teachers, Steelworkers, state workers, laborers, food workers, Teamsters, electrical workers, bricklayers, and carpenters visible in the crowds, hanging banners in the rotunda and making music—so much the police restricted playing hours.

Recent events included a funeral procession for the middle class, and a mock trial of each proposed bill. After hearing the particulars, the crowd declared each one “guilty!”

ATTACKS TRADES, TEACHERS

FULL story at link.

Democrats sometimes forget they are supposed to be the
Party of the Working Class.

Great piece, Steve.

:kick:

oh, right, that damned liberal media. thanks for this.

ellen fl