Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Hoffa: 'Michigan's not for sale!'

Hoffa fires up the crowd
(UPDATES with new photos)

Teamster General President Jim Hoffa fired up the historic crowd at a Capitol protest today, saying "We found out that Snyder is for sale. Michigan's not for sale! Governor, we're going to win this fight."

Hoffa marched to the Capitol leading a contingent of Teamsters from Michigan locals. Teamsters also came to the rally from Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Patti McGuckin, a member of Teamsters Local 299 in Detroit, also spoke to the crowd. She concluded her remarks with the pledge,
We didn't begin this war, we didn't start this fight, but we're sure as hell going to finish it.
Patti McGuckin
McGuckin works for YRC Freight as a customer service representative. She's a lifelong resident of Taylor, Mich.

According to the Teamsters statement.
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa denounced Gov. Rick Snyder’s attack on Michigan’s middle class during a Day of Action this morning outside the Michigan State Capitol. Thousands gathered to protest a right-to-work bill expected to pass today.
Hoffa said,
After deceiving Michigan voters for two years about his position on right-to-work-for-less legislation, Rick Snyder and his pals in the Legislature declared civil war on Michigan’s middle class. This bill will tear Michigan apart – you need to end this war on workers!
Hoffa also said radical billionaires such as Amway heir Dick DeVos and the Koch brothers pressured Snyder and extremist Republican lawmakers to support a policy that will lower wages for all workers in Michigan.
“We know there is a war that has been bought and paid for by billionaires like Dick DeVos, the Koch brothers and Grover Norquist. We saw what they’ve tried to do in Madison and Columbus, so it was only a matter of time before they made it to Lansing.” 
Let me tell the governor and all those elected officials who vote for this shameful, divisive bill – there will be repercussions. Some day soon, they will face the voters of Michigan and they will have to explain why they sided with the billionaires to back this destructive legislation.