Hundreds Rally in White Plains to Save Middle Class

Hundreds of union workers and members of activist groups rallied in downtown White Plains Monday in response to mounting attacks on labor organizations in the public sector.

"We are at war," said Robert Buckley, the president of the Westchester County Corrections Superior Officers Association. "It's an undeclared war against the middle class, by right wingers."

The rally was one of many scheduled across the country to coincide with the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. King was in Memphis at the time, helping striking sanitation workers.

At least 27 union locals and activist groups participated in the rally, which was spearheaded by Communications Workers of America Local 1103 Vice President Kevin Sheil. Dozens of speakers hammered home the message voiced by Sheil.

"Politicians like Astorino and Chris Christie [are] tone deaf,” Sheil said. “The one voice that consistently advocates for the middle class [is] the unions."

According to White Plains Police, about 500 people came. Wisconsin and Ohio have recently enacted legislation that limits collective bargaining and striking for public workers. Many other states are considering similar legislation.

But Billy Riccaldo, President of of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Region 3, said, "We will not let New York go the way of Wisconsin and Ohio."

Karen Magee, Secretary/Treasurer of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body, said, "Don't scapegoat out public employees for budget problems they didn't create."

"We vote, we're organized, and we're angry,” said Magee, at the rally speaking at a distance to Governor Andrew Cuomo. “This is what democracy looks like."

A lot of the crowd's anger was directed at the new state budget that allows the "millionaires tax," a temporary tax on high earners, to expire.

"It's time we stop allowing the wealthiest people to continue getting tax breaks at the expense of the worker,” said Westchester Working Families Party Chairman Patrick Welsh. “The real problem is tax cuts for the top 2%"

Barry McGoey spoke for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) local 628, which represents Yonkers.  He said, "I, too, am not a millionaire. I'm something much more important. I'm a firefighter."

"If there's a Republican out there that's against us, we're gonna get them. The same thing goes for the Democrats," McGoey said.

Maria Kercadio, Vice President of the Westchester SEIU said this: "Our message to the politicians is simple. We got you in. We will get you out. We'll remember in November."

Suzanne Arena, who came with her family and spoke with Westchester For Change, told White Plains Patch she was tired of seeing everyone struggle to make ends meet, while the rich gain benefits.

"I'm cutting coupons and these Wall Streeters will end up paying less taxes than I will," she said. "It's time to fight back."

The crowd began to show about half an hour before the rally officially began as police cordoned off the corner with barriers and organizers set up the stage and distributed signs. As the crowd arrived, loudspeakers played labor standards like Bob Dylan's "The Times They are a Changing", and John Mellencamp's "Ain't That America" before playing Martin Luther King's speech in which he spoke the words, "We Shall Overcome."

Clouds threatened rain, but it never came. The rally was raucous, but peaceful. Rally marshals kept the crosswalks clear while White Plains Police looked on. As speaker after speaker rose, their voices boomed over the loudspeakers and mixed with the chirping of the cross walk signals and the honking of cars passing.

By chance, when Alonzo West of the Westchester County Correction Officers' Benevolent Association spoke, the cars and signals went silent. If they don't act now, he said, "we're not gonna have pensions." 

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