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« A call for peace amid sorrow at shooting victim's funeral | Today | Weaver's Cove suit against R.I., Mass. DEMs dismissed » May 2, 2008Update: Marchers head to State House for labor rallyPROVIDENCE -- Banners and drums in hand, members of various workers unions and others are on the march, heading slowly toward the State House in a show of solidarity against what they view as unions coming under increasing attack. The marchers are flowing past the Providence Place mall and the GTECH building, headed to the Capitol -- so drivers passing through the area should expect delays even for a typical Friday rush hour. Around 4 p.m., marchers gathered near the Rhode Island Convention Center late this afternoon to ready for the march. It's expected union members, joined by Jobs With Justice members attending their national convention this weekend in Providence, will protest what they see as attacks on longtime benefits, from health care to pensions to college tuition waivers. The number of marchers has grown to several hundred, a reporter on scene estimated, among them representatives of the Teamsters and various fire departments. For a time, drumming sounded outside The Journal's downtown building, near the gathering. Among those preparing for the march were members of the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drums. There are "Jobs With Justice" signs and a banner proclaiming "public education: a promise that must be kept." Marchers also were handing out buttons, stickers and postcards. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsUGH | May 2, 2008 5:14 PM link The state is in the midst of the worst fiscal crisis in over a decade and the people who are causing the majority of the damage are on the streets demanding more? Just another reason why all the highly educated workers like myself are fleeing the state in droves. Jobs with Justice is a communist/socialist organization that believes everyone should get the same output from the process even if they don't provide any meaningful input into the system. If we took all the illegal labor out of RI the wage for janitorial jobs would naturally increase, it is simple economics. If all the illegals and union members left, however, the Democrat laywers and politicians in the State House would lose their Soviet-like super majority in the legislature. Simply disgusting! Brent | May 2, 2008 6:02 PM link I was stuck in the middle of this publicity stunt I sat on the off ramp for downtown providence for 15 minutes then spent 20 minutes trying to get out of the mess they made with a police escort why are they allowed to create such chaos with the police right there the middle of the road is for vehicles not people I would bet every one of those marchers makes a very good living with no chance of ever losing their job no matter what but they're not satisfied with what they have or are afraid of what they may lose something just like the rest of us the only difference is I would not ruin the start of 20,000 hard working law abiding citizens weekend by causing such a disturbence just to make headlines which was their intention all along and it worked for them but not for me b macintyre | May 2, 2008 7:17 PM link Quite amazing to see this many people marching for economic justice. It is quite clear that people are beginning to really stand up for their rights! Pete Meyers | May 2, 2008 9:43 PM link These people should be happy they have a job. If not for the unions, half of them would be out of work, what with some of the poor workmanship I've seen. Tom | May 5, 2008 9:08 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Heh... The organizers should be punished for disturbing the peace, forming an assembly without a permit and whatever else for screwing up traffic so badly. But guess what THE COPS ARE PART OF THE UNION!!! Talk about the fox running the henhouse.