(UPDATE: We left off the link of the video that featured Chris Shelton's terrific speech. See the second paragraph.)
Check out a video of CWA Vice President Chris Shelton's stirring speech at the rally. Here's an excerpt:
There is an ill wind blowing across our country, and that wind reeks of the stench of corporate greed and the political expediency that allows corporate greed. What these sons of bitches are trying to do to you, brothers and sisters, and what they're trying to do to my members at the bargaining table is much bigger than trying to steal your wages and your benefits, what they're trying to do is steal your democracy.The Village Voice reported,
The demonstration was large, filing the northern section of Union Square...The demonstration was also painfully noisy, as most of the union members were equipped with pump-action air horns that made vuvuzelas seem quiet and sonorous by comparison.
The mood in Union Square was optimistic and defiant. Utility workers said they were heartened to see the strong showing from other unions.
"We should be doing this more often," said Ricky Ward, a 45-year-old customer field representative. "Even when we get our jobs back. Organized labor -- we're all one..."
A member of the United Auto Workers, who didn't wish to give her name, said the Con Ed labor dispute feels like a landmark battle that will have implications for the rest of organized labor. "This is like Wisconsin," she said. "In this case it's the private-sector, but we're talking about a company that's turning a profit -- a billion dollars in profit. If they can win big concessions from workers in that situation, that's a real bad sign for the rest of us."Sherry Cruz (@sherrycruz4) took the picture above, tweeting,
ConEd locked out workers along w UFT, CWA, IBEW, Teamsters, 32bj, 1199, DC37, & me! :D #union #solidarityThe union asked New York utility regulators to end the lockout and to investigate utility service during the lockout. Stay tuned.
