Thousands march in downtown LA to support union workers

By C.J. Lin Staff Writer

Thousands marched through downtown Saturday and rallied in a show of support for union workers in Wisconsin and to rail against corporations, Republicans and the loss of city jobs.

The march, dubbed "Solidarity Saturday," came a day after Los Angeles city officials and union leaders reached a watershed deal in which civilian workers would contribute more to retiree benefits and health care. The deal, still tentative, could save 600 jobs and stave off furloughs for thousands as the city tries to close its budget deficit.

But while it appears that L.A. has managed to avoid the type of law recently passed by Republicans in Wisconsin that strips collective bargaining rights from unions, many protesters said that it was only a matter of time before unions in the Southland faced the same fate.

"We're basically screwed," said Anastasia Gonzalez, a fifth-grade LAUSD teacher who was among thousands of educators protesting against continuing layoffs and cuts that have led to proposed increases in class sizes.

"I do think they're going to end up asking the union to give up our collective bargaining, give up our rights, give up our benefits, salaries, everything," said Gonzalez, who comes from a family of teachers. "I think it's all going to go under."

The march began at the Los Angeles Convention Center and wound up toward Pershing Square, with protesters stopping at several corporate employers such as the Luxe City Center Hotel, T-Mobile

and Ralph's to call for better paying jobs. Grocery chains have been pushing for "Wal-Mart" wages for workers, according to organizers from the L.A. County Federation of Labor.

"In Los Angeles, we're not going to sit back and watch Republican governors and their right-wing corporate backers roll back the freedoms of working people in this country," said Maria Elena Duranzo, an LACFL executive. "We support Wisconsin and any other state where those freedoms are under attack."

The Wisconsin law has been temporarily suspended on a judge's order, to give time to investigate whether open meeting laws were violated.

Other protests broke out in Target, McDonald's and at the offices of billionaires David and Charles Koch, politically influential brothers known for being the biggest donors to Republicans.

Marchers carried signs decrying LAUSD cuts, saying that students will be hurt.

Others read "Our communities. Our jobs," and "Stop the war on workers."

Airplanes with banners bearing similar slogans flew overhead.

"Today we face a war on all workers to kill our voice ... and it's happening right here," said David Gillote, president of the L.A. County Firefighters Union, citing the city of Costa Mesa, which sent layoff notices to half of its city employees and led to the suicide of one city worker. The city is considering disbanding its fire department and cutting police officers.

The Wisconsin law, authored by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, requires most public sector workers to contribute more to their pensions and health insurance, changes that amount to an average 8 percent pay cut. The law also strips them of their ability to collectively bargain for anything except wages.

Walker has said the bill is necessary to help close a $137 million deficit in the current state budget and a projected $3.6 billion hole in the upcoming two-year budget. He said the law also will give local governments the flexibility they need to absorb deep cuts in state aid.

"This is not about money," said Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin. "This is about an attack on me.

"This is about an attack on you. This is an emergency we have in Wisconsin and across the U.S."

"This is about an attack on the middle class," said Mitchell, citing $900 million in cuts to Wisconsin schools. "An injury to one is an injury to all.

"We need to reclaim our moral outrage ... because we are in the battle of a lifetime."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

cj.lin@dailynews.com 818-713-3738

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