AFSCME Police Officers Rally for Jobs Bill with Vice President Biden

October 22, 2011

Police officers from AFSCME Council 15 rally for the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act.

On Wednesday, October 19th, police officers from AFSCME Council 15 in Connecticut participated in a rally in Washington, DC, urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act (S. 1723).

Officer Jennifer Pierce from Meriden Local 1016 highlighted recent layoffs of law enforcement officers in Connecticut, and urged the Senate to pass the bill quickly.

“As police officers we are trained to run toward the problem, and I hope politicians in Washington, DC, do the same and run toward the Teachers and First Responders Act and pass the bill,” Pierce said.

She was joined by Officer Brian Wilkinson (Meriden Local 1016) and Officer Todd McCormack (Waterbury Local 1237).

Vice President Joe Biden headlined the rally, which also featured Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Assistant Majority Leaders Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). Video of the full event can be viewed here.

Immediately following the rally, Officers Pierce, Wilkinson and McCormack met with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) who, despite their appeal urging him to vote yes on the bill, ultimately voted against the legislation.

On Friday morning, the Washington Post featured Council 15 members in their morning primer, “Wonkbook”