Kansas Machinists braved cold, snowy weather to show solidarity with Wisconsin workers, and to protest anti-union legislation in the Kansas House.
"We stand strong with the Wisconsin workers," said Kansas State Council President Terry Haskins."An injury to one is an injury to all, and the workers in Wisconsin must not fail in their fight to keep collective bargaining rights."
The Kansas State Council of Machinists were meeting in Topeka to rally and lobby the state government. One of the anti-union bills was passed out of the house Thursday over the loud objection on union members. "The bill would prohibit union members from voluntarily donating to labor PACS such as the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League through payroll deduction," said District 70 Business Representative Mark Love. "This is a unconstitutional attempt to silence the free speech of union members, and must not stand. It's as if the right-wing legislators don't give a damn about the Bill of Rights."
The bill now goes into committee in the state senate.
"Our members are fighting now on almost every front," said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. "It is an unprecedented attack upon the working men and women of our nation. The IAM will stand up and fight, and this is a fight we must and will win, across the country."
