DENVER—Dozens of union workers lined the railing of a crumbling highway bridge into Denver on Thursday, urging Congress to support federal transportation projects as a deadline nears for a deficit-reduction supercommittee to come up with its own plan to cut spending.
A similar rally was held in Pueblo, emphasizing the concern union members have that the supercommittee appointed by Congress will recommend even more sweeping budget cuts when it reports next week.
The rallies at noon were part of a national day of action by unions as Congress debates more budget cuts.
Echoing the cries of anti-Wall Street protesters, Colorado AFL-CIO executive director Mike Cerbo said union workers are among the 99 percent of workers struggling to make ends meet while the rich get richer. He said union members have much in common with the anti-Wall Street protesters who were gathered at the same time at the Denver City and County Building several miles away, holding their own demonstration.
“This is a groundswell of frustration and anger about obstructionists,” Cerbo said as union supporters shouted slogans through bullhorns. “What’s holding this up is politics.”
Building and Construction Trades business manager Neal Hall says Colorado’s roads and bridges are crumbling, with 128 bridges on the state’s poor condition list. He says unemployed construction workers should be put to work to fix them.
Kicking a large chunk of concrete that fell from a bridge column while the protesters were gathering, Tom Parson hung a sign on the exposed rebar proclaiming “Fix This Bridge.”
“This is crazy. We have things that need fixing and money in banks and no political will to get this fixed,” Parson said.
In Pueblo, union members called on Congress to create jobs, stop cuts, and make Wall Street banks pay.
“The economy, the banks and our leaders are failing the 99 percent,” said Caroline Casteel, a displaced worker from Pueblo.
“We can’t wait any longer for action. We need jobs, not more budget cuts,” she said in a statement.
Tanner Spendley, one of the organizers of Occupy Denver, said unions and the anti-Wall Street movement have much in common, including a desire to create jobs. He said they differ on political strategy, with the movement trying to remain nonpartisan and unions blaming Republicans for the gridlock.
In Washington, Republicans and Democrats said Thursday the deficit panel is still at a stalemate.
