Sec.-Treas. Saunders and Rev. Sharpton Stand Up for Public Services in Connecticut

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscme.org/publications/34379.cfm

March 17, 2011

New Haven, Conn. – AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee A. Saunders and civil rights leader, Rev. Al Sharpton fired up union members and their supporters during a rally in New Haven, Conn., to fight against Mayor John DeStefano’s budget cuts.

“Mayor DeStefano is taking his strategies from the same playbook these other politicians are using,” Saunders told the 500-strong crowd at First and Summerfield United Methodist Church. “And it goes like this: Blame budget problems on working people instead of the real source – the Wall Street barons who wrecked our economy and then got off scot-free.”


Standing Up for Public Servicers – AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee A. Saunders and civil rights leader, Rev. Al Sharpton led hundreds of AFSCME members and allies in New Haven, Conn., to protest Mayor DeStefano’s drastic budget cuts

Photo Credit: Stacy McCarthy

Saunders and Sharpton are travelling across the country to fight against the coordinated attack on public employees and the services they provide. Their visit comes in the midst of DeStefano’s attempts to drastically cut public services while balancing a $5.5 million gap in the current fiscal year’s budget on the backs of workers.

After the speech, city workers represented by AFSCME Council 4 and other union members and activists marched down to City Hall. Many of them sported their AFSCME green and carried signs stating “We Make New Haven Work!” and “Privatize DeStefano.”

FULL story at link.