Pro-union, anti-union rallies compete in Olympia
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Two raucous competing rallies over the union fight in Wisconsin drew well over 2,000 people in freezing temperatures to Olympia on Saturday.
The pro-union rally was the bigger of the two, with more than half a dozen unions sending members. They sang songs and held signs that said "Solidarity With Wisconsin" and "Unions Make Us Strong."
Tea party and conservative groups held a counter rally on the Capitol steps. Many of them filled petitions to "Stand with Walker" - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker - who is backing legislation that would strip unions of most of their collective bargaining rights.
At times the duelling rallies looked like a giant shouting match as the two sides stood face-to-face and traded chants - with neither side indicating they're going to back down.
"Hey hey, ho ho - union busting has got to go," shouted the union supporters.
"No free lunch today, no free lunch today," shouted Tea Party supporters and conservatives.
Each group yelled and jeered at one another - from the steps of the Capitol, across the way to the Temple of Justice.
"We're all here for the same reason," said Cameron Williams of Seattle. "It's not only a fight in Wisconsin, it's a fight nationwide."
The unions are fighting mad that the Wisconsin's Gov. Walker, wants to cut costs in his state by making union members pay more for their benefits, and strip their collective bargaining rights.
"They're trying to take that away from the union workers there, and if they do it there, they'll start it across the country, and that's we want to stop," said Erlene Webster of Des Moines.
Tea Party supporters say taxpayers are "under-represented" in the collective bargaining negotiations that happen in Washington state - even though they ultimately pay for the agreements.
They believe public unions, and the pensions that go with those jobs, are bad for America - and applaud Gov. Walker for taking a stand.
"He's trying to fix how come there's no money, and that's what we're trying to do here with our statement," said Frank Manczuk of Lakewood. The unions aren't the whole problem - there's a lot of financial problems. But they're part of the problem."
Unions say a budget crisis should not be a reason to take away the rights of workers - a battle that's just beginning to brew.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation backed the conservative rally. The pro-union turnout was organized in part by moveon.org.
Indications are that more protests are being planned.
The pro-union rally was the bigger of the two, with more than half a dozen unions sending members. They sang songs and held signs that said "Solidarity With Wisconsin" and "Unions Make Us Strong."
Tea party and conservative groups held a counter rally on the Capitol steps. Many of them filled petitions to "Stand with Walker" - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker - who is backing legislation that would strip unions of most of their collective bargaining rights.
At times the duelling rallies looked like a giant shouting match as the two sides stood face-to-face and traded chants - with neither side indicating they're going to back down.
"Hey hey, ho ho - union busting has got to go," shouted the union supporters.
"No free lunch today, no free lunch today," shouted Tea Party supporters and conservatives.
Each group yelled and jeered at one another - from the steps of the Capitol, across the way to the Temple of Justice.
"We're all here for the same reason," said Cameron Williams of Seattle. "It's not only a fight in Wisconsin, it's a fight nationwide."
The unions are fighting mad that the Wisconsin's Gov. Walker, wants to cut costs in his state by making union members pay more for their benefits, and strip their collective bargaining rights.
"They're trying to take that away from the union workers there, and if they do it there, they'll start it across the country, and that's we want to stop," said Erlene Webster of Des Moines.
Tea Party supporters say taxpayers are "under-represented" in the collective bargaining negotiations that happen in Washington state - even though they ultimately pay for the agreements.
They believe public unions, and the pensions that go with those jobs, are bad for America - and applaud Gov. Walker for taking a stand.
"He's trying to fix how come there's no money, and that's what we're trying to do here with our statement," said Frank Manczuk of Lakewood. The unions aren't the whole problem - there's a lot of financial problems. But they're part of the problem."
Unions say a budget crisis should not be a reason to take away the rights of workers - a battle that's just beginning to brew.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation backed the conservative rally. The pro-union turnout was organized in part by moveon.org.
Indications are that more protests are being planned.
Learn about changes coming to commenting