Iowans Tell Gov. Branstad: No More Corporate Agenda!
by Clyde Weiss | July 18, 2011
PUT PEOPLE FIRST! – Demonstrators, including members of AFSCME Council 61, march on the governor’s mansion July 16 to protest Gov. Terry Branstad’s anti-worker agenda, which favors corporations and the wealthy over middle class working people. (Photo by Dana Berry, AFSCME Council 61)
Demanding an end to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s “corporate agenda,” approximately 500 activists – including members of AFSCME Council 61 – rallied in downtown Des Moines July 16 to deliver a message: “Put People First!”
Marching under a scorching sun, the protestors carried a letter to the Republican governor’s mansion. The letter, signed by 400 people, urged him to support “an economy that works for everybody, and public policy that puts communities before corporations and people before profits, politics and polluters.” Branstad was not there, however. A spokesman said he was in Salt Lake City for the National Governor’s Conference.
The rally was organized by the group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and co-sponsored by Council 61 and other unions and organizations.
“I’m proud that this union can come together with so many other people from different walks of life,” said Danny Homan, president of Council 61 and also an AFSCME International vice president. “We all must stand together or our communities fall apart. Governor Branstad, we’re here to let you know that won’t happen on our watch.”
Protestors cited Branstad’s anti-worker record, including efforts to eliminate services, restructure statewide preschool, increase the age when public employees become eligible for full retirement benefits, and other Draconian measures – all while pushing for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks for corporations.
Deb Shepherd, a Workforce Development advisor and secretary-treasurer of AFSCME Local 3450 (Council 61), was among those who addressed the rally. Concerned that Branstad is trying to close 35 Workforce Development satellite officers and replace them with self-service computer terminals, she noted that lawmakers from both parties agreed to fund the program “and keep us doing our jobs.”
Shepherd said the “Branstad administration has an ‘on your own’ philosophy for governing that does not reflect our values. We’re all in this together, and we can do much better!” Check out her speech in this YouTube video:
For more on the rally, check out these other YouTube videos.
