Labor & Employment Law

Indiana Workers Continue Monthlong Capitol Vigil

By Mike Hall

Today marks the 23rd day Indiana teachers, public employees and other workers have been at the state Capitol protesting more than 30 bills backed by Republican lawmakers and Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). The legislative package includes bills that slash public school budgets, defund women?s health care and eliminate public-sector unions.

Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott says the four weeks of large crowds and actions:

have proven that the working men and women cannot be ignored. We will continue to make our voices heard until these politicians end this assault on working families in Indiana.

Mike Uehlein, AFL-CIO Field Communications Director for Indiana sends us these  comments from workers who have been part of the month-long vigil.

Jeff Withered, Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 399?We?re down here in the fight at the Statehouse for workers and also for the public schools. This is truly a fight about the working class, not the unions. We?re down here trying to get our word and get our message out and bring as much support as we can.

Click here for a video message from Jeff Withered.

Doug Stuckey, president of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 18?I have many friends who are Republicans, but they tell me they didn?t vote for this. They didn?t vote to destroy the middle class.

Jeff Combs, Teamsters (IBT) Local 135? This fight is about all workers. It?s an attack on all workers, union or nonunion, we?re there for everybody.?We have to continue the fight because it?s too important to our members, our state and our families.

Indiana State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Joe Breedlove?Working people need to continue the pressure on these elected officials. By being at the Statehouse every day, we make sure that working men and women are the first thing on their mind. We must make sure the middle class is their priority, just as it should be for any legislator.

Make sure to visit the ?Stand Up For Hoosiers? Facebook page to stay updated as events unfold.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 15, 2011 (boomark / email).