Earlier this week, a coalition of 161 teachers, firefighters, social workers and other public service workers from across Southern California flew to Madison to show solidarity with the workers there who are fighting bravely to protect their bargaining rights.
Blanca Gomez was among the people who went to Wisconsin. She’s a social worker with LA County.
“When I heard we were organizing to go to Wisconsin,” she says, “I didn’t have to think twice about it.” Gomez says she went to Wisconsin to show the workers there that “it’s our fight too. I wanted to show them we stand united with them and we are going to get through this by uniting together.”
Gomez says she was overwhelmed by the incredible feeling of unity she felt among her fellow workers as they all protested Governor Scott Walker’s scheme to strip them of their collective bargaining rights. “It was amazing how we could come together with one voice.”Gomez says the Wisconsin workers couldn’t have been more appreciative of her support. “People cried and thanked us for coming,” she says. In fact, she remembers one teacher she met who told her, “‘Now I know why they call it the City of Angels. It’s because you guys are truly angels for coming here.'”
Did you go to Wisconsin? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
For photos of SEIU members in Wisconsin, click here.