Michigan labor leaders hosting rally in Ypsilanti today to drum up support for Rebekah Warren
Major labor leaders are expected to visit Washtenaw County today to drum up support for state Rep. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, in her campaign for the 18th District state Senate seat.
A rally and “Labor to Neighbor” walk for Warren are expected to begin at 5 p.m. at the Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., in Ypsilanti.
Rebekah Warren
“We’re in Ypsilanti today for two reasons: to support a great candidate in Rebekah Warren, and to build momentum around issues that are fundamental to Michigan’s economic future,” Mark Gaffney, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, said in a statement.
“To us, this is a bell-weather (sic) race between our candidate who believes that secure families and good jobs are at the center of our recovery and her opponent who would predicate ‘saving Michigan’ on low wages, insufficient benefits and unstable retirement plans."
Warren faces off against state Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, and Scio Township resident Thomas Partridge in the Aug. 3 primary.
Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson, political director for AFSCME Council 25, also is involved in organizing today's event.
Warren has been endorsed by a wide array of unions representing public and private employees, including the Michigan AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 25, SEIU State Council, Michigan Education Association, Ann Arbor Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, UAW Region 1A, Michigan Laborers District Council, Michigan Nurses Association, Michigan Fraternal Order of Police and Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union.
“Michigan is never going to cut its way to prosperity, and destabilizing families in these troubled times only adds to our problems," Warren said in a statement. "Our focus needs to be on job creation. Instead of balancing the state budget on the backs of middle-class citizens and retired workers, lawmakers should be spending every minute working to expand the base of good-paying jobs and protect families who are struggling to hold things together in a very precarious economy.”
Byrnes campaign manager Kent Sparks relayed a statement today in defense of the claims that Byrnes wants to slash worker pay and benefits.
"The Lansing union leaders supporting Ms. Warren are heavily invested in protecting their own interests and the status quo," reads the statement, which notes that Byrnes has support from several labor unions, including the Operating Engineers, Teamsters, Iron Workers, Building & Construction Trades, Carpenters & Millwrights, Plumbers & Pipe Fitters, and the United Transportation Workers Union.
Sparks said Byrnes has fought tirelessly for policies that will help create tens of thousands of good paying jobs for the working men and women of Michigan. He mentioned Byrnes' support for Aerotropolis, a second bridge between Detroit and Canada, and transportation and transit funding as examples of ways she is supporting job creation.
"The union and business leaders that are supporting Pam are both literally and figuratively rebuilding Michigan," Sparks said.
"Michigan is heading in the same direction as GM was, and if we don’t make the reforms necessary to put our state back on track, Michigan will soon be bankrupt. Pam is not afraid to cast the hard votes, and she won’t be bullied by the Lansing political bosses who are spending a lot of time and money trying to protect the status quo and fight against the very reforms that will turn Michigan’s economy around."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
treetowncartel
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 4:07 p.m.
As much as I would like to vote in the democratic primary as a resident in this district, I'm opting for the republican primary so I can have some say on who the next governor will be.
Martin Church
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:57 a.m.
David Briegel who say Tickle Down econmics don't work. Look again and do the math. Taxes were cut and the Revenue went up. You increase the taxes on the rich and it is passed down to the rest of us in increase costs. More property tax increase Rent costs. Increase taxes on Cars, decrease the number of cars sold. this is tickle down. 2. let's look at the facts. Regan proposed balanced budgets in 7 of the 8 years in office. The Democratic Congress said dead on arrival and forced Regan to accept their budget (similar to the city of detroit to Dave Bing). the tax cuts were accepted by the congress because regan was willing to shutdown the government to get some savings to the citizens. Bush 1 followed the Democratic Congress lead and raised taxes. He was a one term president. Clinton's first 2 years was a disaster. The congress was replaced by conservative Republicans and we had prosperity. Those same conservative Republicans promised to serve for 3 terms and they stepped aside to be replaced by more moderate Republicans (I call them Rinos for they are really Democrats in a different party). The country replaced them with the current batch of Democrats and we have returned to the economy of the late 70's early 80's and we don't have a president who will stand up to them. And for all of his complaining while running Obama has adopted the same foreign and domestic policies as Bush II Only difference Obama is spending more. don't believe me look it up.
Martin Church
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.
I am going to ask the same question I asked the guy from AFSCMA who came to my door asking for my vote. 1. With me already paying over 50% of my income in taxes, Federal State Local. Why should I vote for a canidate who seeks to tax me more? 2. The governor as asked for a balanced budget by July 1. So far the state house has failed to pass such a budget. The senate has. Why should I vote for someone who can not get the work done. 3. The fact that AFSCME is asking for the vote, I can only conclude their candidate supports increasing my taxes to continue the high spending currently enjoyed by the state. I have taken a 30% pay cut to keep my job, what are they willing to give up. it's time to fire these representatives who have failed to understand the math of living today in this state. Give us a balance budget with 30% cuts across the board for the unions and elected representatives.
InsideTheHall
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 4:46 a.m.
My reports indicate about 20-25 people showed up mostly top union brass candidates. The rank and file was not be found. Plenty of incestuous back slapping but really no grass root support.
The Picker
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 10:49 p.m.
Shunhsif, I think this is a great idea, since no one will need to work anymore, how will the body politic be supported? I guess Obama will have to pay for this from his stash. But didn't I hear somewhere that democracy will end when everyone votes themselves a pension from the treasury? Please clarify
stunhsif
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 9:43 p.m.
Since Michigan has done so well as a union state ghost and DB, let's pass a law to make every full time working resident of this state a union employee and give them the same benefits that public school teachers and all the other state employees have. My only question though is, who is going to pay for it?
KeepingItReal
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.
One of the indicators I use to evaluate whom I will cast my vote for in any election is the source of the endorsements received by a candidate. In this case, Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson has endorsed Rebekah Warren in her campaign for the 18th district state senate seat. Commissioner Peterson has been a commissioners for over 12 years and represents one of the most troubled districts in the county. His district is plague by one of the high crime, high unemployment, low educational achievement, health issues, substandard housing, etc, yet during his tenure as a commissioner there has been no coherent strategy proffered by him to address the needs of his constituents. I assume that his endorsement of candidate Warren is because she shares his political philosophy and orientation and would be an ally in developing a coherent approach to serving his district. Yet, I see nothing in candidate Warren's background that tells me that she would be a good ally to commissioner Peterson in this regard. This leaves me to believe that his endorsement of Rebekah Warren is based on political ties and represent nothing but more of the same old ineffective representation. Its time that the voters in his district to voice their displeasure on August 3.
David Briegel
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.
Top Cat, what got us here was 30 years of the lie of trickle down Reaganomics and the deregulation of the criminal class on Wall St! And the people that got paid 40 million to bankrupt GM! And you blame the unions as if they had the fiduciary responsibility of the corporate board of directors! I hear they're hiring in China, the Victors of Ronnies Cold War! Inside, martini's attract Repubs. Edward R, we get the pennies, they get the big bucks!! Tax cuts always favor the billionaires! Reminds me of Marge in Fargo asking the criminal in the back of the Police Car. What, you did all this for a few bucks?
Top Cat
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
It is amazing that at 14%+ unemployment, how many people line up to defend the status quo and more of the same that got us here. Good Evening and Too Bad
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.
@InsideTheHall Sorry, we will not be there.
xmo
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.
"Michigan is never going to cut its way to prosperity" so when your Taxes go up and up and up thank a Democrat who was supported by BIG LABOR!
Top Cat
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 3:21 p.m.
Finally, there is some light showing between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. The good news is that one of them is gone by August 4.
InsideTheHall
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 3:19 p.m.
Offer free beer to the union boys and they might show up. Ryan: Will A2.com has someone covering this at the Corner Brewery? Let us know if there are more than 10-15 show up.