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Labor’s plea: Enough of status quo
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Firefighters Protest 
But not enough people turned out to make the event as effective as it could have been, some said.
Story by DAVID SKOLNICK
Photos by LISA-ANN ISHIHARA
VINDICATOR STAFF
WARREN — The message was clear at Saturday’s labor rally in Warren: The government needs to stop ignoring the struggles of the middle class.
That means some form of universal health care. That means fair, and not free, trade. That means having companies stop outsourcing and open manufacturing plants in the United States. That means treating the working class with respect.
What isn’t clear is how many heard it.
About 1,500 people, many of them wearing clothing with their union logo and/or name, attended Saturday’s “America Fights Back. Enough” rally on Courthouse Square in downtown Warren.
Organizers, many of them union leaders, wanted the rally to send their message to politicians in Washington and Columbus. The goal was to have national union leaders take this concept and hold rallies in other cities.
Jim Graham, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 at the Lordstown General Motors complex who helped coordinate the rally, didn’t hide his disappointment about the attendance.
“Not everyone thinks we’ve had enough,” he said. “This courthouse should have 5,000 people here. It affects every one of you.”
Even so, Graham remained optimistic that the movement would grow.
“This isn’t the only rally that will take place in our country,” he said. “This is just the first one.”
More work needs to be done, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
“Don’t leave this rally thinking this is over,” he said. “We’re just beginning.”
The thousands of manufacturing jobs lost in the Mahoning Valley have devastated the local economy, those at the rally said.
“We’re as frustrated as hell and enough is enough,” said Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien.
Juanita James of the Warren SCOPE [Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavor] Center says employees at the facility scramble daily to help seniors.
“Don’t kid yourself into thinking everything is OK,” she said.
The struggling economy has impacted her.
James said she and other SCOPE employees took a 10-percent pay cut. She also has more than $2,000 a month in medical bills and no health insurance.
“Let’s not go quietly to our graves,” she said while calling for the government to help those in need. “Let’s go kicking, screaming and voting.”
David Betras, newly elected Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, criticized elected Mahoning County officeholders for not attending Saturday’s event. Some elected officials from Mahoning County attended — including state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd; state Rep. Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th; and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. But no county elected officials were there.
“I took notice of which Democratic officials in Mahoning County are not here, and they’ll hear from me,” Betras said. “If you’re a Democratic official and don’t support labor, get out of my party.”
Betras also put politicians who drive foreign cars on notice: If they want the party’s endorsement, they better get rid of them.
After the rally, Betras said politicians who receive support from unions need to return it.
“You should show up for an event like this,” he said. “The street runs two ways. Their absence was noticed. They have no problem taking support. They should also give it.”
skolnick@vindy.com
Comments
Maybe, perhaps, the no shows were getting 90% of their weekly wages for not showing up. That seems to be a common occurrence for UAW workers.
Great Rally. I was there. We sure scraed those local politicians who failed to show their faces. Do what we want or your days are numbered at the ballot box. Mr. Ryan was especially well spoken. He understands our needs for the future.
What happens when the UAW takes a majority stake in GM and Chrysler, and have to have board seats? All of a sudden because the VEBA that has the stock in those companies needs a profitable company in order to survive, the UAW will have to look at the best interests of all stakeholders, and not just those who want to milk the system.
I am all for job creation in the Mahoning Valley. But when these rallies occur, how does it effect the thinking of companies that would consider moving to the Valley? It scares them away.
Where was Hagan? He wasn't quoted and he wasn't in front of a camera - he must not have been there!
OK, Betras, let's see you put up some intelligent, honest people for local races like township trustee and clerk, city council, and so on. Even "party faithful" who are worthless should be tossed out of the party - let's get people willing to work and to do the right thing in there!
Union bosses with their hand out "demanding" the tax payer give them more, more, more. Disgusting. Don't you just want to grab them and say "be a man, look out for yourself!" This country was built on independent spirit, not wanting the government to take care of every little bo bo they get. What a bunch of coddled children.
Since the Democrats didn't show, do you think they will vote Republican now? LOL
This was a great article and the people not just in the Mahoning Valley but everywhere had better wake up soon or we will not be the United States anymoreMy family didn't put their lives on the line to see this country being handed over to foriegners at the expense of greedy politicians who are supposed to be looking out for us. Some you who make dumb statements like the first one is probably one of those people that got his raises off of the backs of the union people in the first place. I've worked both union and non-union jobs and in large companies the unions are needed because you are treated like a number instead of a human being unless your a "brown noser".
Pat Buchanan preached about taking care of Americans first; protect the borders, buy american and not foreign goods; that was 1988; over twenty years ago. Many laughed him off as too conservative, said he was anti-gay, didn't want same-sex marriage; extremely-to the "Right". That was when we needed to take care of business in this Country, when in 1983 Packard Electric was opening plants in Mexico; shipping their young talent to El Paso, TX and having them learn Spanish to teach the employees how to produce the wire harnesses. Rally all you want, the horses escaped the open paddock a long time ago. Welcome to Globilization, whereby every country on the globe bettered themselves at the expense of the USA.
"Pat Buchanan preached about taking care of Americans first; protect the borders, buy american and not foreign goods; that was 1988; over twenty years ago. "
Nobody listened and now look at the mess we're in. Our wealth was in technology and we gave it away to foreign countries. So now they want to blame the union workers for the mess?
Hey Pauly,
Tell me right now that anything I stated in my initial comment is false. Please. You would be a liar and you know it The current pay system and contract allows Lordstown workers to get 90% of their wages paid to them during their idle week. That is every other week right now. Tell me you hack. Tell me I am wrong you hack. You are an ignorant simple minded human who cannot and will not use the organ between your ears for thoughts.
I am all for unions and believe them to be a necessary part of the american workplace. There must be a middle ground though and this is not it. The UAW asks for bailout money and argues about it but they pay their employees 90% pf their wages WHEN THEY DO NOT WORK. This is not a sound business plan. You cannot see that though becasue you are weak minded and ignorant.
Do not worry, I am going to work tomorrow and I will pay for your co-workers to sit home next week. Stupid ignorant weak minded hack.
Do not ever refer to me as someone who rides on the backs of your union, you are so close minded that you cannot fathom or understand how business works. You are the problem. You are most certainly the problem.