A massive labor-organized march in support of collective bargaining rights and better-paying jobs is planned for Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, followed by a rally in Pershing Square.
Thousands of union members from Los Angeles and their allies from community, religious and civil rights organizations are set to participate in what has been dubbed “Solidarity Saturday: Massive Labor Solidarity Protest in Support of Wisconsin and Workers around the Country,” organizers said.
Buses filled with union members from San Diego to the Central Valley will join them.
The teacher's union, participating in the rally, posted on their website that the Wisconsin labor fight-back against anti-union legislation shows how broad a movement is needed.
"Now is the time to take action and stand together so that workers in L.A. are not stripped of their rights," according to the website.
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The march began at 11 a.m. from the Los Angeles Convention Center, with stops planned in front of three businesses representing industries unions are seeking higher wages for their members -- the Luxe City Center Hotel, T-Mobile and Ralphs.
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Speakers at the 12:30 p.m. rally at Pershing Square are expected to include James P. Hoffa, the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is holding its Organizers Conference at the JW Marriott, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association and presidents of several other unions.
The Grammy-winning band Ozomatli, along with Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman and Joel Rafael are scheduled to perform.
Similar marches and rallies are also planned for other U.S. cities and London, according to Caroline O'Connor, the communications director of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Maria Elena Durazo, the head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, said she hoped the march and rally reinforced the message that “we have a broad, strong, powerful coalition that supports collective bargaining,” which she called “the only way to have a voice for workers.”
A bill limiting collective bargaining rights of government employees in Wisconsin has been signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker, but has been blocked a judge's order. Legislators and governors in several other states are seeking to adopt similar laws, citing budget problems.
A second goal is for employers to “get the message loud and clear that we have a strong coalition backing up those grocery clerks,” Durazo told City News Service.
“We don't want $9 a hour jobs,” Durazo said. “We want better-paying jobs.”
Private-sector employers have said the long-sluggish economy -- and its accompanying lower revenues -- makes it impossible for them to increase salaries or hiring.
