Rally Report

We boarded the bus at the Lehighton Park and headed off to East Stroudsburg.  On the way we sang “The Banks are Made of Marble” and “Solidarity Forever” accompanied by Pete Seeger on a CD.  

Joe, our driver, was worried about where to find parking.  No problem.  This was a rally by organized labor.  Big signs for bus parking and volunteers at every corner showed us the way to the parking lot.  We picked up our SEIU tee shirts and walked to the rally on the campus of East Stroudsburg University.  We heard rousing speeches by Danny Glover and other dignitaries, and occasionally we chanted “No justice, no peace” and “union bustin’, that’s disgustin.’ ”

The issue is this.  The Service Employees’s International Union represents hospital workers at the Pocono Medical Center.  The workers have voted twice for a union shop.  The management, which, by the way, had a profit of $22 million last year, refuses to recognize the vote.

Let’s be real clear about this.  States that have “right to work” laws, or, as they always should be called, “right to work for less laws,” have outlawed a union shop.  That means that even if your workplace has a union, you don’t have to join.  If the union negotiates a contract, you benefit from that contract, but you need not pay union dues.  Why not just enjoy the benefits of the union without paying the dues?  People who do that are called “free riders,” and if enough employees adopt that strategy, the union dies.  That is why in “right to work for less” states, the average yearly wage is between $4000 and $5000 less than in states that have union shops.

Governor Corbett has said he will sign a right to work for less law.  Both houses of the Penna. legislature are controlled by Republicans.  There is a good chance that such a law will pass, and that makes the Pocono Medical Center ground zero in this fight.  

After the speeches, all 5000 of us walked about a half a mile to Danbury Park for a picnic lunch.  My friend Marian said the only way we would all get fed is if Jesus were there with the loaves and fishes, but this was a rally put on by organized labor.  I have never seen so many people fed so well and so quickly.  It was amazing.  We also had face painting and clowns for the kids, and there were a lot of kids.  A wonderful day. 

By the way, here is the chorus for “Solidarity Forever,” sung to the tune of the chorus of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

     Solidarity forever,

     Solidarity forever,

     Solidarity forever,

     For the Union makes us strong.