The West Virginia rally was more of a celebration, though, as the Mountain State has staved off the kind of attacks on workers that Republican lawmakers are waging in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
According to the Gazette-Mail, Acting Senate president Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, said:
As long as I serve in government, there will be no Wisconsin in West Virginia. There will be no Ohio in West Virginia.A majority of West Virginia's elected officials support workers' rights, prevailing wages and labor laws. On Friday, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution supporting collective bargaining rights.
Teamster Vice President Ken Hall told rally-goers that members of Congress should speak out in favor of collective bargaining rights. According to the Gazette-Mail, Hall said
I am sick and tired of hearing people in Congress -- and the U.S. Senate -- say they cannot get involved in this issue ... It is time for you to be heard ... 'Either stand up now or don't bother coming to our door when it is election time.' "
Hall, who is also president of Local 175, told the crowd that the dispute in Wisconsin had nothing to do with budget issues.
Workers in Wisconsin agreed to pay more for their health care, their pensions, and took a reduction in wage increases. This is about union-busting.
