I’ve worked for state government in the department of transportation as a designer pretty much ever since I got out of technical school. I left for a few years and went to a private consultant for better money but went back to the state about a year ago for the better benefits. And, in the interim, West Virginia elected this joke of a governor, Joe Manchin (who, yes, unfortunately, is a Democrat) who seems to think privatization – and, no doubt, the accompanying corruption – is the answer to all the world’s problems.
So this morning, as I headed into work in my "I (heart) civil liberties" t-shirt, I was approached by a guy handing out flyers for the UE Local 170 "West Virginia’s Public Worker’s Union."
The flyers were bright green and had a big STOP PRIVATIZATION logo on them and were promoting a rally and march to Manchin’s mansion tomorrow morning at 9AM. I grabbed up the flyers as the guy is telling me what they support and stand for.
We’re a progressive union, a democratic union. No "top bosses" entrenched for life. We’re fighting for better wages, dignity on the job, and to end the push for privatization...
He glanced at my shirt...
Oh yeah, and we love civil liberties, too!
I laughed and said,"Sign me up." $17 out of my paycheck each month. I can afford it and it seemed like time to stand up and do it. Privatization is a pet peeve of mine, and I watched a Republican governor try it overtly a decade ago, (making an absolute mess of things in the process) so I’m not inclined to let a Democrat do it by stealth. And AFSCME has had a presence with WV state employees for years but they always seemed a bit old and used up to me. UE seemed a little fresher and I liked their message of STOP SELLING OFF OUR STATE! and their slogan of
Organizing for Fairness & Justice on the Job
So tomorrow I will
Join UE Local 170 members and state highway workers as we protest the Manchin Administration’s continuing sale of several million dollars worth of vital equipment which is necessary to repair our roads. Without this vital equipment, we expect that Gov. Manchin and the Department of Highways will attempt to sell off lucrative contracts to political supporters to repair state roads. Under this privatization scheme, highway workers face layoffs and taxpayers will pay the bill for soaring repair costs.
If you happen to be in the neighborhood, join us Saturday, August 25, 9AM on the Capitol Rotunda Steps in Charleston. (I’ll be the one buying up the buttons for kainah who was very proud of me for joining but I know she’ll be even happier when she gets more buttons for her collection.)