Protests unite public, private union workers

[nadinbrzezinski]

Reporting from Columbus, Ohio, and Madison, Wis. — It's not just government workers who have descended on Wisconsin by the thousands with signs, shouts and pumped fists. Bob Cannon, wearing his Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 jacket, has joined with the masses. Randy Bryce of Iron Workers Local 8 has made three trips — and plans to bring his family to another rally Saturday.

Airline pilot Neil Robinson also traveled to the Wisconsin capital in his uniform adorned with gold wings, raising a sign of support from the Air Line Pilots Assn.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employees has ignited a sense of solidarity between private-sector union workers and public union members, both determined to fight the Republican-led wave sweeping the country targeting their wages, benefits and power.

Union-opposed legislation in more than a dozen states, including Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Tennessee, has pushed public- and private-sector unions "closer together than has been the case for many years, and perhaps closer together than ever before," said John Logan, director of the labor studies program at San Francisco State University.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0226-wisconsin-brethren-20110226,0,3090447.story

We call this UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. This is not what Walker and the Envy right wing machine wanted... you betcha this was not it.

[OhioBlue]

1. The unintended consequences are fantastic indeed

It is quite heartening to see people finally waking up to solidarity. I hope it lasts and I truly hope the Dems prove in the court of public opinion which side they are on.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. You know I think I can explain it too

They are by their very nature very envious people... and do not want others to have what they have ...

So perhaps this was a little projections and a severe miscalculation.

[FreakinDJ]

3. Oh but they got it now

I was surprised at the number of Iron workers I met today with prior precinct walking experience.

[tabbycat31]

4. that was the case in Trenton today

and it was a beautiful sight :-)

[chill_wind]

5. K & R. n/t

[drm604]

6. I am reading and watching all of this and grinning from ear to ear.

:evilgrin:

Somehow I don't Walker is grinning. Somehow I don't think Charles and David Koch are grinning. But me... I'm grinnin'.

[drm604]

7. What's Walker going to do if the police and the state police refuse to empty the capitol building?

:cry:

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. He wanted it done today

I suspect they will be Sunday... the health and safety issues are real, but if they do... it wil be an interesting bridge... and we are watching.

[gratuitous]

8. Will not-Joe the not-a-plumber put in an appearance?

Friend of the working man, not in evidence. It's almost as if he was some kind of, I dunno, meat puppet or something.

[Hardrada]

10. I lost track of all the union signs I saw being carried or on the wall

as placards! I got photos of people in some unions I had not heard of before. Encouraging and unknown territory but I came away very hopeful. This is a revolution to which we can commute (96 miles away).