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Union Members in St. Louis Demand Action on Gas Prices |
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As gas prices approach $4 per gallon in the St. Louis area, union activists and Working America members gathered at a service station to protest the rising cost of gas, tax cuts for Big Oil and the failure of George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain to propose a workable national energy policy.
Meanwhile, in Pemberton, N.J., activists gathered outside a McCain event at Burlington County College. The rally, led by the Burlington County Central Labor Council, spotlighted McCain’s record on oil and gas and asked for real solutions to the economic problems faced by working families.
In St. Louis, union activists stood on a busy intersection waving signs as passing motorists honked loudly, waved and shouted encouragement from their vehicles.
At one point, about four cars pumping gas at the station started honking in unison. It is apparent that most people in the area are feeling pain at the pump. (See video.) Local media outlets covered the event and interviewed participants at the scene, in addition to doing radio interviews before the event. The action was led by the Missouri AFL-CIO and the Greater St. Louis Labor Council.
Debbie Pratt, a member of AFL-CIO community affiliate Working America, said the urgency of the economic situation led her to come out to the rally on a swelteringly day.
I’m here today because $4 a gallon for gas is too much for working families, especially when the money is going into excess profits for big oil companies. We need to band together and tell John McCain it is time for a change.
Glenn Kage, president of the Greater St. Louis City UAW Community Action Program Council, said gas prices are directly linked to policy choices and the power of corporate elites in Washington.
I wanted to take action today, not just because of the high gas prices, but for some of the reasons behind it. Big oil companies are making obscene profits, and we are not investing in alternative resources that will not only help with the cost of gasoline, but will cut our dependence on foreign oil. We also need more fuel-efficient cars in America. It is also important that people are made aware of the fact that John McCain has received more than $1.5 million in campaign contributions from big oil. We need a change in leadership. A vote for John McCain is a vote for the status quo.
Sonja Coons, another Working America member, said gas prices were straining working families.
It’s important that we take the time to come together and send John McCain a message that the current price of gas is not OK with the average American. The average worker puts in 40 hours a week, if not more. We have a limited amount of money to purchase necessities, and gas is a necessity for working families.
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Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
2 Comments
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It is a shame that the U.S. has to depend on foreign countries for its energy needs. There are many oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico that has been capped and not in production. Our leaders and law makers should never have let this happen. Every home should be able to afford its own solar panels, wind mills for energy, to name a couple, every home should be able to provide its own energy needs at a fordable price. But our leaders will not let this happen because some people want to be greedy and afraid of loosing to much money to the private sector.—–As for gas prices–What is the differance of white collar crime, (Robbing people at the gas pumps), and holding a gun on someone and robbing them of something they need????—Joe Goddard
Mr. McCain needs a reality check, our wages are stagnant and heath care is at an all time high ,not to mention our job are being outsourced at an alarming rate. So how does he help to working people, by supporting CAFTA and giving big oil tax cuts. Someone needs to make him DRIVE 50 miles one way to work at his own cost and still have to buy everyday items on $500.00 a week. Give me a break. Mr. McCain you do the math, the people that support this nation financially are hurting and you people in Washington just keep on kicking us!!!!!!!