Illinois Governor Delivers $10,000 Check To Help Feed Striking Workers [View all]
Source: THINKPROGRESS Economy
Workers at a Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, have been on strike to protest their company’s attempt to freeze wages and pensions for several years. The company is demanding these concessions despite making billions of dollars in profits and paying its CEO $17 million.
Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) visited the striking workers, lending them financial support in the form of a $10,000 check:
Striking Caterpillar employees received a show of support Friday, when Gov. Pat Quinn visited the Joliet picket line to meet workers and donate $10,000 to a food fund set up for their benefit.
“We believe that when somebody in our state needs a helping hand, we help them out,” Quinn said to the cheering crowd. “As governor of our state, I wanted to make sure that, tomorrow, this big food drive here gets a good start. So, I gave a $10,000 check.”
Members of the International Association of Machinists Local 851 have been on strike for over three months. Friday’s visit was Quinn’s first and it followed up an appearance by U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) earlier in the week.
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/08/13/684981/illinois-striking-workers-quinn/
= new reply since forum marked as read