Thousands of Indiana union members held signs, chanted slogans and cheered speakers outside the Statehouse on Thursday at
a rally to protest Republican-backed bills they consider an attack on public education and labor unions.
Authorities said about 5,000 people were gathered by midday when the rally began with songs and prayers.
Union supporters rallied at the Indiana Statehouse on Thursday. (IBJ
Photo/ Perry Reichanadter)Nancy Guyott, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO, told the cheering crowd that craftsmen built the Statehouse, and were here again Thursday to reclaim it.
"The working men and women of Indiana have come back to take back the people's house for the people," she said.
Some union shops around the region are closing for the day and bringing busloads of protestors to Indianapolis. Protestors are expected from around the Midwest.
The goal was to create gridlock downtown during the Big Ten men's basketball tournament, according to a flyer promoting
the rally obtained by WXIN-TV, Channel 59.
"This will help us jam things up downtown," the flyer says. "If we can take up as many parking spaces as possible,
people will complain. This will impact businesses and the Chamber [of Commerce], causing them to tell their friends in the
General Assembly to do whatever it takes to keep these people from tying up the town like this."
Indiana House Democrats are boycotting that chamber to derail several Republican proposals, but two joined Senate Democrats
at the rally. Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, said Republicans have gone too far, and that Democrats are
acting as the voice of the workers gathered in the cold, windy weather.
"They have called a war on the middle class," she said of Republicans. "This is a battle that we must win!"
A huge banner hung from the Statehouse's west steps read "Hoosiers standing up for the middle class." Some
workers wore hard hats and fluorescent yellow work-vests. They held union banners, American flags and signs reading "Stop
the war on workers" and "We want the American dream." A giant inflatable "fat cat" wearing a suit
and a diamond ring boosted the crowd of protesters.
Retired postal worker Karen Luehrs of Fort Wayne came to the rally to protest several efforts by the Republicans —
who control the General Assembly — including bills to restrict teacher collective bargaining and put into state law
the current status that state employees cannot collectively bargain.
"It's important for everybody to speak up when things are wrong, and this is wrong," she said.
Republicans say their agenda this year isn't overreaching, and note that people supported them in the November elections
when they took control of the Indiana House. Luehrs noted Republicans didn't campaign on proposals such as the so-called
"right to work" bill that caused House Democrats to boycott — a proposal that is now off the table.
"There was an agenda that hasn't' been spoken aloud, and one of them is busting unions," she said. "I
didn't hear that in the election. I hear that now loud and clear."
Organizers say Thursday's rally could be Indiana's largest in years.
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Frankly, the public schools could use a good clean out. They are undeniably failing. I believe the last number i saw is that public schools recieve about $13k per child, private schools recieve about $10k per child. never mind incentives, economies of scale, etc. Private schools are generating better out comes with less money.
There are far too many stories about horrendous teachers that can not be fired. If a non-union employee performed to the same standards as some of these teachers they would be let go in a heart beat. No one deserves absolute protection of their job.
One quick personal story, I know someone who was a plant manager for Ford. She had to bring in sleeves of golf balls to get the line workers to do their jobs.
One more quick, a friend of mines uncles have their 30 yrs at chrysler, can not be fired. They literally sit around the factory playing cards and watching tv because the union protects them.
ALSO
Unions don't just protect the rights of their own workers. Do you honestly think that Subaru or caterpillar would pay a fair wage to employees if it weren't for the threat of unions busting down their doors? And how much do you people think union employees make? I'm Lucky to make 35k a year. Also most union construction trades have a four or five year apprenticeship program. In this program not only do you learn basic reading, writing and math skills you also learn industry and safety standards. If you as a tax payer want an un-educated MORON building a safe and efficient school for your kids than please.....pass this bill. half of the jobs that my contractor gets are from non union companies fucking up so bad the employer kicks them off the job. Just a piece of humble pie for you.
Again, the tax payer foots the bill.
What someone campaigns on rarely happens, as evidenced by your elected president. How is Gitmo doing? didn't they just reopen it?
Pay cuts are not bad, that is a pretty short sighted observation. The reality is that people should earn what they are worth. its the bitter truth, but it is called an economic inefficiency, the world can not function that way. Private sector worker get paid what they are worth, not what their union threatens and deals to get them. If you dont want to pay your attorney $500 an hour, then he is not worth $500 and hour. to you. go find a cheaper attorney. Unions prevent the economy from functioning efficiently, if a company wants to expand into a product, and the union insists that they must pay $30 hr, for example, and that product can be sold profitably. guess what, they are not going to make that product. Inhibiting economic expansion. Now, in a non union situation very likely a bunch of $20 hr jobs would be created, allowing a profit for the company. Now you tell me, what is a better scenario?
Which bill are you referring to? If it is the Right to Work bill, then your husband just wasted his day as that one has already been taken off the table.
"Unions are not just about making money, I know alot of our friends and co-workers who are in the union because they offer the best benefits"
And those benefits don't cost money? It's OK for it to be "about the money", just be honest about it to yourself and everyone else.
And they call this a "war"? GTHO
Such a shame........
Much like the vote in November supported their ideas and agendas and yet the unions and democrats are trying to keep the majority voice from being heard.
This is a travesty of Democracy.
The Democrats are WRONG to do this.
This is what the majority of people in Indiana wanted.
Please vote 7 more Republicans into the house in the next election so that the work of our state can go forward how the majority want it.
The reality is that unions force all of us to pay more for goods and service, for the benefit of a few. Union employees earn about 20% more than non union employees, guess who pays for it? the rich? Does a "rich" person send more kids to public school? does he/she buy cars that much more often? does a "rich" person use more public services than a "not-rich" person? Does the mail man come to their house more often? do they put out more garbage cans?
the answer is no, there for the burden of higher union wages are spread among all service users, regardless of income. Never mind the fact that "they" pay more in income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, school taxes.
why should the union be protected from market forces?
Should anything be absolutely protected? blanketly protecting the "middle class" is not an admiral goal. Part of the reason the middle is "shrinking" is because people are pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. not letting entitlements hold them down.
Republicans will screw the working class any chance they get. Remember this when you vote next time.