http://www.examiner.com/x-5697-Grassroots-Politics-Examiner~y2009m7d12-Pennsylvania-union-leaders-and-workers-plan-a-day-of-action-to-protest-payless-paydays?cid=examiner-emailThe workers who provide Pennsylvanians with the quality of life they expect can at times become political targets during economic downturns. Even an ostensibly pro-worker governor can give in to the temptation to use them as pawns in budget negotiations. Consequently eight Pennsylvania unions have joined together to form a coalition against payless paydays.
Leaders from SEIU, UFCW, PSCOA, SEIU Health Care PA, PSEA, FOSCEP, OPEIU and AFSCME have organized a 'Day of Action' Tuesday, July 14. During lunch breaks state employees will hold demonstrations in and around the capitol complex at Noon. They are encouraging workers and citizens to flood the phone lines and emails of the governor and legislators that day.
"Enough is enough," said David R. Fillman, Executive Director for Council 13 AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, "For 7 years a budget hasn't been passed on time. Every year it's a political tug of war and state employees are tired of being the rope. While elected officials get thousands of dollars of per diem and expenses during the impasse, our folks who come to work and do their job won't be paid at all? It's more than wrong, it's disgusting." AFSCME Council 13 represents more than 45,000 state employees.
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Once again it is union workers who must protect and fight for the community since after all, they are the community.
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more power to them