Tucson Progressive

Pamela Powers, a progressive voice for Arizona

Four buses of Tucson unionists go State Capitol for Day of Action

Four buses of unionists left Tucson this morning. (Image credit: Pamela Powers Hannley)

When I originally reported on the AFL-CIO Day of Action, I said four bus-loads of unionists were going to the Capitol to lobby Legislators and demonstrate against the anti-labor bills. Correction: that’s four buses just from Tucson. Additional bus-loads will be arriving from other Arizona cities.

As they loaded the buses, one participant told me that two years ago, 30 unionists went to the Arizona Legislature on the Day of Action. Last year, there were two buses of unionists. This year with six anti-worker bills in the Arizona Legislature, there are four bus-loads just from Tucson going to the capitol.

Maybe today will be Arizona’s “Wisconsin moment.”

5 comments on “Four buses of Tucson unionists go State Capitol for Day of Action

  1. azjustinsmail
    March 1, 2012

    The unions, which once served a great role in supporting the American worker, have now become the bane of the taxpayers and the economy.

    Like

    • unrepentant_commie
      March 1, 2012

       “the bane of the taxpayers and the economy”

      More properly, they are an obstacle to the right-wing, randian plans to completely disempower the working class.  Aside from that, like immigrants and the poor, they tend to vote their interests, i.e., democratic.  The right wing finds it easy to disenfranchise the poor and immigrants through restriction of voting rights in these communities, but cracking union solidarity is a tougher nut, requiring creating a fearful boogie man of unions.

      Like

  2. alohapuna
    March 1, 2012

    Unions have, no doubt, in many cases, overplayed their role. Nevertheless, if it weren’t for the existence of unions today, many workers would  find themselves beiing exploited to the fullest as they were back in the nineteenth century.

    Like

  3. omen11
    March 1, 2012

    Tucson should hire outside contractors to pick up garbage,run the water company and the other services provided by the city.It’s working in many states and you don’t have to worry about pensions,healthcare and all the vacations and holidays that we pay through the nose on a regular basis.No contracts!

    Like

  4. justlikegreece
    March 1, 2012

    I can just imagaine the “busloads” from “other” Arizona cities.
    Maybe in the future there WILL be a final “Wisconsin” moment…. But for now we can only hope they pretend to be rational citizens and not pee all over the hallways of the capital.  

    Like

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This entry was posted on March 1, 2012 by in Arizona, Arizona Legislature, jobs, organizing, Politics, Tucson, unions and tagged , , , .
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About

The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers

I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.

Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.

My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.

In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.

After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”

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