Thousands in California to Stand in Solidarity with Workers Nationwide on April 4

‘We Are One’ Actions Throughout State Will Highlight Attacks on Workers’ Rights

On Monday, April 4, thousands of workers, community allies, civil rights activists, faith leaders and others from San Diego to Eureka will participate in solidarity actions in response to the unprecedented attacks on workers’ rights that are happening in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and all around the nation.

The actions will take place on the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was killed in Memphis while supporting striking sanitation workers. Nineteen separate actions are planned across California, including rallies, marches, teach-ins, vigils and more. National AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Wisconsin AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale will join actions in Oakland and San Francisco.

The Nationwide Day of Action is in response to the coordinated, well-funded attack on workers from big corporations and the politicians they bankroll. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill to strip teachers, nurses and other public servants of their right to collectively bargain. Similar efforts are underway in other states.

“The all-out assault on workers we’re seeing across the country isn’t about state budgets, it’s about politicians offering payback to the wealthy corporate interests who funded their campaigns,” said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski. “Every worker in America should be alarmed by these aggressive attacks. If these politicians have their way, the standard of living for all workers will decline, while more of our hard-earned money is funneled to the wealthiest among us.”

Here in California, Republican politicians recently blocked the will of the people to have a vote on solutions to our deep budget crisis, in order to protect massive taxpayer handouts to wealthy corporations.  Meanwhile, cities like Costa Mesa have joined with out-of-state corporate interests in a strategy to privatize jobs and destroy retirement security for civil servants.

For a full list of April 4 “We Are One” actions in California, go to www.CaliforniaLabor.org.

###