Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Hundreds of union workers rally in Las Vegas for bargaining rights

Union Rally for Wisconsin

Steve Marcus

Janet Miller, center, a retired New York City teacher, shows her support for unions during a union rally at the Grant Sawyer Building Monday, February 21, 2011. Nevada union members held rallies in Las Vegas and Carson City to show their support for union workers in Wisconsin who are fighting to keep their collective bargaining rights.

Updated Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 | 4:34 p.m.

Union Rally for Wisconsin

Hundreds of union members attend a rally at the Grant Sawyer Building Monday, February 21, 2011. Nevada union members held rallies in Las Vegas and Carson City to show their support for union workers in Wisconsin who are fighting to keep their collective bargaining rights. Launch slideshow »

Sun Coverage

Union members gathered in downtown Las Vegas on Monday to deliver a forceful message to state officials: Efforts like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to strip public workers of collective bargaining rights won’t be tolerated in Nevada.

“Let them hear it in Wisconsin,” said Neil Lake, president of AFSCME Local 4041. “Let them hear it in Carson City.”

Amid chants of “kill the bill,” “solidarity” and “keep collective bargaining,” about 1,000 demonstrators from public and private sector unions rallied outside the Grant Sawyer Building, vowing to work together to oppose perceived attacks on the middle class.

“There should be no reason why the working class can’t do good for themselves,” Lake said. “They continue to beat us down.”

The rally also drew local politicians, including former Rep. Dina Titus and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani.

“The reason that we’re here is because we care,” Titus told the crowd. “We care about this state. We care about the nation.”

Demonstrators rallied for solutions to problems like unemployment and against rights being taken away from workers.

A similar rally in Carson City drew about 300 union members and supporters outside the Nevada Legislature.

Clutching the hands of her two young children, union member Becky Jo Daffero said taking away collective bargaining rights won’t help her find a job to feed her four children.

“I’m a second-generation union member,” said Daffero, a member of UA Local 525 Plumbers and Pipefitters. “That’s how my dad fed me.”

Knifing in to Republicans, Titus argued that proposed cuts to education, infrastructure and renewable energy fail to accomplish what’s needed most: job creation.

“Their agenda is to continue that corporate greed,” she said. “They don’t want to help ordinary folks.”

Demonstrators also rallied against proposed cuts to the state’s education budget, citing good schools and universities as the key to improving job growth in Nevada.

Scott Miller, who has taught for nine years at Hyde Park Middle School, attended the rally, in part, because he said the Wisconsin situation could create a slippery slope for other states.

“The attack on Wisconsin’s collective bargaining is the first attack of a coordinated effort that will lead to Nevada teachers losing collective bargaining rights,” he said.

AFSCME member Sherri Thompson said union members need to “stick together” in the down economy — the worst she has seen during her 44 years in Las Vegas.

“It’s really bad out there,” said Thompson, who works in an unemployment office. “There are not a lot of good prospects to help the general public.”

Before the sea of posters and loud chants disappeared, union officials urged demonstrators to keep the fight for collective bargaining rights and job creation alive.

“It’s up to us to make sure we carry this fight out into our neighborhoods,” said Ruben Murillo, president of the Clark County Education Association. “…We’re here until the end.”

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