Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Condemns History-Making, Job-Killing, Privatization Bill Passed by State House of Representatives

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder agree that history was made today. It's the first time in our memories that the State House of Representatives approved legislation that eliminates thousands of good jobs including the 5,000 good jobs of the men and women who work in Pennsylvania's Wine and Spirits System.  

"This is one of the worst job-killing bills in my memory to be approved by the State House of Representatives, and I have been around here for more than 30 years.  How can anyone vote in good conscience to throw thousands of dedicated, hard-working men and women, and their families on the unemployment lines, especially when Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is going up. We urge the leaders and members of the State Senate to reject this cruel, heartless, job-killing legislation and support a reasonable alternative – modernization - which protects good jobs, protects public health and safety, and best serves the taxpayers and consumers," President Bloomingdale said.

"Yes, history was made today, and we will make sure that no one forgets," Secretary-Treasurer Snyder added. "The claims made by the supporters of this bill are just not the truth. The truth is that all of the improvements they claim that privatization will bring can be made through modernization of our current system. The truth is this bill turns good jobs into low-pay no-benefit jobs and gives more wealth to a few big corporations at the expense of the rest of us. The workers, whose jobs are threatened by this legislation, pay their taxes and help generate over $500 million to the Commonwealth each year. The big corporations and greedy individuals who support this bill aren't paying their fair share of the taxes. We urge the members of the State Senate to reject privatization and support modernization. In the meantime, we will work with our members and leadership, to deliver in the most clear and direct way to remind the so-called "friends" in the State House, we will not tolerate the total abandonment of 5,000 working families," Snyder said.

SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO