THOUSAND MARCH ON NLRB

Oct 18, Detroit

Thousands of working families and union members marched in solidarity on the National Labor Relations Board in Detroit to condemn the injustices of the Labor Board and US labor policies that put the middle class last.

Event organizers call attention to the damage the Bush NLRB has done to the US economy through depressing the wages and purchasing power of working people and consumers all across the nation. The labor board been an arm of corporate America for the last few years, obstructed American's right to freely choose to form unions and have good union jobs, and in doing so has driven down wages and purchasing power so far as to disrupt commerce and destabilize the markets.

The Justice for Workers NOW! Coalition is calling for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act as a solution. The legislation has bipartisan support and is widely viewed as the modern economic recovery act in that it will create middle class prosperity and potentially pump billions into the domestic economy.

Participants marched from the corner of Michigan and Trumbull to the McNamara Federal Building, home of the NLRB Regional Offices. As the march approached the staging area, bagpipes and drums filled the air and "Solidarity Forever" played loudly over a concert sound system, energizing the marchers.

Top Union Leaders, including AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka, came in from Washington to address the crowd. The crowd cheered when Trumka said, "the NLRB should aught to be in the business of union building, not union busting!" He told the rally that the Employee Free Choice Act isn't just our top priority, its our only priority as the labor movement.

Before turning the microphone over to Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council CEO Pat Devlin, the event's Master of Ceremonies, Ray Michaels of IBEW Local 665 and Justice for Workers NOW! kicked off the rally borrowing from Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, stating that over the last eight years working people have been exiled to the back of the economic bus and that "there is a fine line between hunger and anger." Michaels called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in the first 100 days of the new Congress.

Referencing the upcoming general election, Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney said, "if we do our job in two weeks, this will be a trade union nation." He encouraged the attendants to discuss the election with their friends and help with GOTV efforts.

Former Michigan Congressman and founder of American Rights at Work, David Bonior, called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act to be one of the first orders of business when the new congress convenes in January. He told the crowd that the fight didn't end in November, and that working people would have to keep pushing for the passage of the law until it's passed. Bonior said it wasn't enough for a congressmen to tell us he will vote for the law. He said they should be out speaking about it and advocating for it.

Edwin D. Hill, International President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers thanked IBEW Local Unions for their hard work and activism and stressed the importance of the next election for the survival of working families.

President of the Building & Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO, Mark Ayers, told the crowd that John McCain, if elected President, would protect Smith Barney on Wall Street, but Barack Obama would protect Barney Smith on Main Street.

Patrick Finley, General President of the Plasterers and Cement Masons Union, called attention to Washington leaders who say they support us but cover their mouths when they say it. He noted that Barack Obama is not the least bit ashamed to speak up for working people, and to speak out about unfair and irresponsible trade agreements and labor policy. Finley said if we like our jobs, we have to get Barack Obama his job.

Kevin Moore, Teamsters Local 299 President, spoke on behalf Teamsters President James Hoffa. He was perhaps the most animated and drew cheers when he called for these marches to continue after the November election. Moore said we need to march on Washington if that's what it takes to get the Employee Free Choice Act passed.

Mark Bott of the Michigan Pipe Trades and Justice for Workers NOW! closed out the speeches by passionately condemning the flagrant injustices working people who want unions are subjected to and lauding the Employee Free Choice Act as the means by which millions of Americans can have union membership within reach. Bott emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and the limitless potential for the Union Movement with good leadership in government and just laws.

Justice for Workers NOW! is a coalition of labor unions and working families including AFL-CIO, Change to Win, and independent unions. The march was indicative of the solidarity among all of the Union movement with regards to passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Employee Free Choice Act is federal legislation that will restore liberty to the workplace, prosperity to the middle class, stability to our economy and consumers to our markets. It is widely opposed by the same people that our tax dollars and our congress are spending trillions of dollars bailing out. The Act will restore the American dream through enabling a voice in the workplace and policy decision for millions of Americans. The Employee Free Choice Act is the change we need now in our nation. The Employee Free Choice Act will enable millions of Americans to rejoin the middle class by freely choosing good union jobs.