CAMDEN — The Rev. Jesse Jackson today warned a crowd of union workers and their supporters gathered in Camden that a “toxic wind” was blowing across America to wipe out collective bargaining and the rights of working-class families. “Save the workers, save the families. Save the workers, save the families,” chanted Jackson, who spent much of his youth in...
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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, seen in a 2008 photo, today spoke to a crowd in Camden about what he calls a "toxic wind" blowing across America.CAMDEN — The Rev. Jesse Jackson today warned a crowd of union workers and their supporters gathered in Camden that a “toxic wind” was blowing across America to wipe out collective bargaining and the rights of working-class families.
“Save the workers, save the families. Save the workers, save the families,” chanted Jackson, who spent much of his youth in the struggling South Jersey city. “The police, the teachers, the firemen, the nurses, save the workers, save the families.”
The outspoken civil rights activist said the country was too focused on its wars overseas while failing to reinvest in cities like Camden, where services including police protection are being cut as a result of dire budget times.
Jackson said the battle for workers rights and collective bargaining has already been won, and called on the crowd of about 70 people not to let Gov. Chris Christie roll back the clock on those achievements.
“Workers are being dumped on as if you are the reason we’re in an economic crisis,” Jackson said. “State workers must hold ranks and fight back. When we fight back we never lose.”
He added: “You have the votes. You must not let this governor break your spirit.”
The rally was Jackson’s second stop in a two-day “Solidarity Tour” of the New Jersey area aimed at firing up public workers, who are under pressure by Christie and state Republican lawmakers to relinquish some pension and health benefits.
Previous coverage:
• Rev. Jesse Jackson to lead Camden rally for state worker unions
• Rev. Jesse Jackson to rally in N.J. for state union workers
• Gov. Christie seeks to change health benefits of state workers through collective bargaining
• Gov. Christie, state employees union begin bargaining over health benefits
• Christie, unions spar over history of skipping collective bargaining to change health benefits
• N.J. Senate President Sweeney says costs of benefits are breaking local government budgets
