| A marching band with several full size drums added to the sound, energy, and sense of being part of history. THIS was a real rally, with hand made banners long enough to require five and six people to carry them. SEIU was there. The Unite union which is supporting the housekeepers directly, and wanted to unionize them was a strong and vocal presence. Unite Note the "union hotel" listing and patronize them first, please.
Why did the Hyatt fire the housekeepers: Well, per one speaker, the Hyatt filed an "IPO" today. They want to sell off, go public, have a high stock price. Hyatt didn't can those housekeepers 'cause of the recession; they wanted fewer workers on the rolls and to pitch their profit within cash flow. Once again, "the economy" was just an excuse; you know - a lie.
Today is the one year anniversary of the bail out; that is why it was chosen for this rally. Speechs were in English and in Spanish; the cheering was LOUD - and the one mile route appeared to me to be filled with marchers.
When Bobbie Haynes, the president of the Massachusetts AFL CIO asked for the press to come up front - no one was there from the Boston Globe. No one was there from the Fox network.
Only the Boston Herald and WBUR. And, of course BlueMassGroup. I was there to give you all this first person report.
Who did I see and recognize: Senator Kenneth Donnelly of the 4th Middlesex marched the entire route. George Noel, probably every VP and major local president; I was introduced to so many I stopped taking notes. Grace Ross was there, and about 400 or more other citizens. Also Michael P. Ross from the Boston City Council. My apologies to those I did not mention; I am sure other leaders of both labor and neighborhoods were there. Like me, not all the marchers were union members - some of us are just fed up with corporate greed.
Perhaps the most notable attendee was Lucinda Williams - NOT the singer, one of the fired housekeepers, who has truly found her voice and connected with the crowd.
Like the post card, I can truly say:
I am having a great time. Wish you were here. |
