*Rise Against - Tim McIlrath "Ohio" at the Wisconsin Union Protest - Feb 21st 2011 * ** *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk5p6u-JWmw&NR=1* ** ** *New Mexico Rally Video: * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcz9_Y9ZQ_I&feature=player_embedded
Lawmaker warns workers: State isn't safe from GOP efforts to bust unions Unions: 'New Mexico is next in line' By Steve Terrell | The New Mexican 2/22/2011 Photo by: Luis Sanchez Saturno/The New Mexican Hundreds of New Mexico labor union members came to the Roundhouse on Tuesday to show solidarity with state workers in Wisconsin, who for the past week have been demonstrating over their governor's plan to end their collective-bargaining rights. Among the unions represented at the noon-hour rally were the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, teachers, communications workers, firefighters and film-industry workers. They carried signs with messages like, "Don't Balance the Budget on the Backs of State Workers," "We're With Wisconsin Workers," "Solidarity with Tunisa, Egypt & Wisconsin," and "Say No to Republican Tyrant Governors." But while some speakers said New Mexico could be the next battleground for state worker unions, a spokesman for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez downplayed any similarities between Wisconsin and New Mexico and stressed Martinez's appreciation of state workers. "There is a huge problem in the United States of America," Christine Trujillo, president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, told the crowd. "The infection has started in Wisconsin. But what's happened in Wisconsin could happen to any of us. And we're here to make sure it doesn't happen in the state of New Mexico." Referring to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Trujillo got loud cheers when she said, "Those workers didn't create the problem, their governor did. It's clear that the fiscal problems they're having in Wisconsin and we're having here in New Mexico were not created by labor unions ... blame the damn banks ... blame the lax regulation of Wall Street. Don't blame the unions." Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said that like Wisconsin, New Mexico is trying to balance the budget on the backs of state employees. "This is a defining moment. New Mexico is next in line," Egolf said. "They chip away at your wages," Egolf said. " ... The next step they're going to take is they're going to want to bust every union in New Mexico. Don't think that because we've got a more Democratic state here that you're safe." Egolf referred to a "right-to-work" bill, House Bill 331, which was tabled in the House Labor Committee. The bill would have prohibited making membership or payment of union dues or fees a condition of employment. However, in this session, there has not been a bill, like the one in Wisconsin, aimed at taking away collective bargaining for state workers. Asked Tuesday what Martinez thought about the Wisconsin situation, her spokesman, Scott Darnell, replied in an e-mail, "The governor is focused on turning New Mexico around in a bi-partisan manner; she's not focused on the politics of other states. She deeply appreciates the contributions of New Mexico's state employees, and that's why she opposed layoffs or furloughs when crafting the executive budget. The pension shift she proposed is similar to the proposal by the Democrat-controlled (Legislative Finance Committee), except the Governor protected teachers. Both proposals prevented across-the-board salary cuts from having to be imposed." The line about protecting teachers refers to the fact that under Martinez's proposals, teachers would be exempt from the increased contributions to their own pensions that other state employees would be required to make. Darnell didn't answer a reporter's question about whether there might be a move to end collective bargaining in a future session. State employees won the right of collective bargaining in 1992. However, the law lapsed in 1999, and Gov. Gary Johnson wouldn't sign a bill to renew it. But in 2003, Gov. Bill Richardson signed a collective-bargaining bill that, unlike the first one, did not have an expiration date. Carter Bundy, political director of New Mexico AFSCME, said he doesn't believe Martinez would attempt to pass a bill like the one in Wisconsin. "She's more moderate," Bundy said. "And you don't have the same kind of politics in New Mexico where everyone tries to nuke the other side. There's serious debate here, but there's something to be said about a place where people don't to personally destroy each other." However, Bundy said he's dissatisfied with both the executive and legislative budget proposals. He said the state should seriously consider raising revenues by plugging corporate-tax loopholes and repealing the 2003 tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers. Martinez has said she'd veto any such legislation. The Legislature doesn't seem inclined to attempt to do either. Union protests enter second day as firefighters join in * KAREN BOUFFARD Detroit News Lansing Bureau* *Lansing* About 800 firefighters are picketing at the Capitol against repeal of binding arbitration for police and firefighters who are not legally allowed to strike. Many are clad in bright yellow fireproof suits and wearing firefighter helmets while clutching signs saying "PA 312 protects you!" and "Public safety is the bottom line." It's one of several demonstrations planned today against Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed budget and scores of bills introduced in the Legislature opponents say are anti-union. Nearly 1,000 union members protested at the Capitol on Tuesday, as well as a few dozen tea party supporters. School and municipal workers are arriving to protest laws to be voted on in the House today which will grant emergency financial managers authority to toss out union contracts in school districts and municipalities that are in deficit. "It's like they pick the umpires and complain about the balls and strikes," Chris Reynolds, district vice president for the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union, said about Republican lawmakers' desire to get rid of the law which was put in place as an alternative to a strike. "PA 312 has worked for more than 40 years (to keep firefighters from striking.)"We don't want to strike, we just want to protect the public." Grand Rapids firefighter Kevin Fox said firefighters need arbitration to help settle disputes over wages, benefits and other issues. There needs to be a way to resolve disputes without going out on strike, he said. "I don't want to strike," Fox said. "But I don't want to lose my house either." Firefighters, police and teachers are barred from striking under the Public Employment Relations Act of 1947. Lawmakers passed PA 312 in 1969 to require binding arbitration for police and firefighters. "They do have the ability to collectively bargain just as the teachers do," said Ari Adler, spokesman for House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall. "The only thing PA 312 does is it treats police and firefighters differently by requiring (binding) arbitration and they are the only public employees that have this special circumstance." Union members and supporters flood capitol Protesters say GOP is attacking unions By *Todd A. Heywood* <http://michiganmessenger.com/author/theywood/> | 02.22.11 | 5:00 pm - View Comments <http://michiganmessenger.com/46737/union-members-and-supporters-flood-capitol/#comments> - - Share135<http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmichiganmessenger.com%2F46737%2Funion-members-and-supporters-flood-capitol&t=Union%20members%20and%20supporters%20flood%20capitol%20%7C%20Michigan%20Messenger&src=sp> - [image: Print page] A crowd estimated to be between 1000 and 1500 people gathered in Lansing Tuesday to rally, protest and lobby against a series of GOP bills which they say would erode organized labors influence in Michigan. Workers from as far away as the upper peninsula, joined with union members from Flint, Detroit, Lansing and elsewhere in gathering at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing. The historic church is less than a block from the state capitol building. The union workers got organized and split into three groups one to head to the House office building to lobby, another that went to the Farnum Building to lobby state senators and the third braved the freezing weather to create a picket line in front of the Capitols historical steps. <http://michiganmessenger.com/46737/union-members-and-supporters-flood-capitol/sgt-of-arms-block-hearing-access-adjusted> Michigan House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms officials prevent union workers from attending and participating in a hearing of the House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee Tuesday. Courtesy photo. Before the union arrived, a small contingent of Tea Party faithful about 20 in all marched up and down the sidewalks along Capitol avenue. Leading them was Joan Fabiano of Grassroots Michigan. Fabiano toured Michigan this past election cycle with the Tea Party Express. As she marched the Gadsen flag touting group around the capitol she chanted we want education not occupation and I am here for the children so they are not burdened with crushing debt. When the union members came out of the church and made their approach to the steps of the capitol chanting Proud to be Union, the Tea Party protesters disappeared, only to reappear about 30 minutes later parading down the sidewalks chanting. The Tea Party protesters then settled in in front of a statue on the Capitol lawn. Both groups were generally civil to each other. Watching as union members chanted and walked in a circle, Lance Enderle of East Lansing was happy. The former Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District had helped draw in more people to the event. He said he got notification the AFL-CIO was holding a lobby day and wanted more bodies present. Enderle launched a Facebook group and drew hundreds of supporters from throughout the 8th Congressional District. Some were union members, he noted. Some, like himself were not. This effects everybody in this state, Enderle said of GOP legislation targeting unions. He was specifically upset about House Bill 4214. Calling the legislation passive aggressive, Enderle says the bill which would give broad powers to emergency financial managers could easily be used to eliminate union contracts negotiated and approved in good faith. Imagine if you make and agreement and sign a contract with me. Now, two weeks later I come back to you and say, We dont have to adhere to that agreement, Enderle said. That says contracts dont matter. Thats bad for business. Meanwhile, hundreds of union members were jammed into the lobby of the House Office Building. Because of security measures, state law enforcement officials were required to see the photo identification of each person entering the building before giving them a visitor stickers. On the sticker some had the name of their lawmakers. Others were there to get an early seat for the House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee hearing schedule for noon. Sitting in the lobby of the House Office building was Lansing resident Jim Ramey. Ramey retired from working for GM after 45 years of service. That emergency financial manager bill is just going to take away all their (public unions) rights, Ramey said. Were going to try to stop it. He says he understands the financial crisis the state is facing and he believes unions are ready to negotiate in good faith to help solve the money woes of the state and local governments. But the financial managers bill, he said, was a step too far. We fought to hard to gain collective bargaining rights and were not going to give em up. Its taken too long to get em, Ramey said. Both Ramey and Enderle say they see the legislative agenda being pursued by lawmakers is setting the stage to eliminate collective bargaining rights. That, they said, will result in protests as large, and perhaps larger than, protests that have rocked Wisconsin for the last week after Gov. Scott Walker called for eliminating the right of public employee unions to engage in collective bargaining. At 11:30, hundreds of union supporters had clogged the hallway and filled the gallery in hearing room 326 of the House Office Building. They were waiting for an opportunity to address the House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee which was holding a public hearing about legislation to eliminate prevailing wage laws. They had been told they would not be allowed to speak at the hearing. Two Sergeant of Arms officials were called to the meeting to prevent union member from entering room 326. Workers responded by chanting Let us speak. Lansing politicians refused to hear from us today, but we will make sure their constituents know what theyre doing in Lansing, said John Hamilton, general vice president and business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324. Michigan voters will know that their legislators are bending over backwards to help unscrupulous companies hire unskilled and undocumented workers, all to pad their own pockets. 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