Over 400 workers, many of them now unemployed, marched on the California State Capitol for a a Jobs Now rally in Sacramento California. The major chant was Jobs ! Jobs! Jobs!
Darrell Stienberg, Senate Pro temp California State Senate and numerous other speakers called for the ending of the 2/3 vote rule in the California legislature as a means of building a progressive budget.
Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO was to have been there, but the snow storm in the east kept him from attending.
Bill Camp; Executive Secretary of the Sacramento Central labor Council focused the issue, “The Banks have received millions /billions in bailouts. When in the hell are they going to give a bailout to the working class?”
U.S. Representative John Garamendi said, “Wall street took the entire economy into the tank. And, they got a bail out. We want the money back. “
Garamendi said that the House has passed a $120 Billion for Jobs for Main Street bill but it is being held in the U.S. Senate by the consistent use of the filibuster by the Republicans Senators with the support of 4-6 Democratic Senators. Congressman Garamendi called for pressure on the Senate to pass the bill – with 51 votes.
For more see the California Labor Federation. Here; http://www.calaborfed.org/
Congressman Garamendi
1 comment:
I was there! It's important that we keep this topic front and center. Some of the union leaders like me who were there were public employees working reduced hours due to furlough. Still we were touched when we heard stories of those so much worse off than us -- who could very easily *BE* us in one or two lost paychecks. Keep the heat on the State and Federal Governments about creating and more importantly SAVING jobs in this country!
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