Hoosiers, Stand Up!

Breaking News: Actor and activist Danny Glover will join the rally today at the the Indiana State Capitol.

Here’s the latest from the Indiana State AFL-CIO.

Over the past week, events at the Indiana Statehouse have been moving at a mile a minute.

Hoosiers from across the state have been mobilizing to fight against the anti-worker agenda being pushed in the General Assembly. More than 25,000 working men and women rallied at the Indiana Statehouse, voicing their opposition to legislation that seeks to limit collective bargaining, lower wages and weaken the voice of workers in their workplace. “The working people of Indiana have shown this week that they demand to be heard,” said Nancy Guyott, president of the Indiana State AFL-CIO. “It’s time for our representatives to hear from real Hoosiers and real workers, instead of just the special interests.”

“We’re standing up and we’re fighting back against an attack that we shouldn’t be facing,” said Jim Robinson, District 7 director for the United Steelworkers (USW). “The people who are subjecting us to these attacks got elected on a promise of balancing the state budget and instead decided to attack the working people of the state of Indiana.”

Over the week, our rallies only grew in size, reaching up to 10,000 people. “The energy in the Statehouse is fantastic,” said Indiana federation  Secretary-Treasurer Joe Breedlove. “Day after day, these men and women continue to fight for their right to organize and have a voice in their workplace. They don’t deserve to be subjected to these political attacks.”

As a signal that our voices are being heard, the House Democratic Caucus walked out of the Statehouse, refusing to allow the attacks on working families to continue. They have said they will not return to the Statehouse until the anti-family agenda has been stopped. This led to the defeat of three anti-worker bills (H.B. 1468, S.B. 333 and S.B. 273), which included attacks on collective bargaining and project labor agreements, along with the falsely labeled “right to work” for less legislation.

To show their support for the representatives standing up for them, a group of people in South Bend decided to shovel the sidewalks and driveways of the representatives currently in Illinois. Troy Warner of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 153 sends along these photos.

To keep watch over the corporate and special interests, working men and women have posted vigil over the Statehouse. At the main entrance, they will be camping out all weekend. “I’m here to represent all workers, especially the ones who can’t be here themselves, and to make sure legislators know how we feel,” said Percy White, of Laborers (LIUNA) Local 81.

Our campaign against anti-worker legislation will not stop. Over the next week, we’ll continue to march on the Statehouse in Indianapolis to express our opposition to these attacks on workers. To keep up-to-date on our events, check out the “Stand Up For Hoosier’s” Facebook page. Below is Monday’s schedule, where we expect to be joined by actor and SAG member Danny Glover:

Schedule for Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

*Lunch will not be provided

Noon: Opening Session, 3rd floor, South Atrium

12:45 p.m.: Solidarity Action, 3rd floor, South Atrium

1:30 p.m.: Roll Call Rally, 3rd floor, House Chambers

2:00 p.m.: Closing Ceremony, 3rd floor, South Atrium

2:30 p.m.: Depart Statehouse

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