The Militant (logo)  
   Vol. 70/No. 11           March 20, 2006  
 
 
Kentucky labor rally draws 5,000 unionists
Opposes ‘right-to-work for less’ bills
(front page)
 
Militant/Linda Joyce
Thousands of unionists rally March 7 in Frankfort, Kentucky.

BY SAM MANUEL  
FRANKFORT, Kentucky—Nearly 5,000 trade unionists rallied at the state capitol here March 7 to oppose legislation sought by Kentucky governor Ernest Fletcher that would repeal the prevailing wage law and adopt so-called right-to-work rules. The rally was sponsored by the Kentucky AFL-CIO.

The previous day about 100 supporters of the antilabor legislation gathered in the same spot at a rally held by the business-sponsored group “Kentuckians For Jobs.”

“We will always defend the right of American workers to join unions,” said Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, who received a loud ovation as he addressed the unionists.

“We have had 21 miners die in coal mines since the beginning of the year,” Roberts said. “They died because their government failed them.” He asked the demonstrators to support a mine safety bill being introduced in the state senate next month.

Groups of trade unionists filled the expansive approach to the state capitol carrying banners and placards. Among them were Machinists, Steelworkers, Teamsters, auto workers, carpenters, electrical workers, teachers, skilled trades workers, and others. Many carried hand-lettered signs reading, “Right to Work for Less!” and “Let Prevailing Wages Prevail!”

Janice Keith said she and her co-worker Betty Bowman came to the rally because “the companies just want to take and take!” Keith, a former machine operator, was injured on the job and now drives a forklift at Bendix Brakes in Frankfort. Bowman is a machine operator and was one of the first two women hired at Bendix. Both are members of the United Steelworkers union.

Tracie Little, Tom Denton, and Maria Schrieneger were among the members of the Jefferson County Teachers Association at the rally. Little said new teachers are getting hit hard. She has been teaching for five years and makes $32,000 a year. Older teachers in the system average $40,000 to $50,000 a year. “Classroom sizes have continued to climb and you don’t have enough preparation time,” Schrieneger explained. She said teachers often have to take work home with them.

Pauline Martin, president of International Union of Electrical Workers Local 761, said 50 members had come from Louisville. The union organizes workers at the General Electric washer and dryer assembly plant. “Working people are getting it from all sides,” Martin said, citing rising health-care and insurance payments. Wages have been cut in half for new hires, she said. The average hourly wage in the plant is $27 an hour. New hires make $13 an hour.

“We have also got to stand up for jobs,” Martin said. She pointed out that 20,000 workers have lost their jobs at the plant in the last 15 years. The companies are sending the work to Mexico, Martin said, echoing a protectionist theme promoted by many state elected officials and top union officials who spoke at the rally.

Speakers at the rally also included Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky AFL-CIO; Terri Davenport, Jefferson County Teachers Association; and Mary Blevins, United Steelworkers Local 14581. A number of state legislators also appeared on the platform. Earlier that day, members of the House Labor and Industry Committee voted to kill the disputed legislation.  
 
 
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