Struggling Springfield Workers & Families Battle for Economic Survival Legislation
| [image:1004]Over 160 increasingly poor Springfield workers and families gathered in the basement of Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield on Thursday to win legislator's support for bills to help them make ends meet. Rick Brown, President of the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO, said "Legislators need to understand that things are getting much tougher for families. If their needs are ignored, communities in our area will see increasing poverty and decline. The AFL-CIO is committed to getting the voice of working families heard." |
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The audience, comprised largely of Springfield's North End and surrounding inner city neighborhoods, gathered for over an hour to listen to testimony from a parade of advocates and community members about issues impacting the lives of families. Issues covered were health care expansion, affordable prescription drugs, raising the minimum wage, affordable housing, state funding for the City of Springfield, and closing corporate tax loopholes to help fund programs for working families.
Representative Michael Kane, Holyoke, received praise from the gathering as the only legislator to personally witness the testimony given. Aides from representatives Sean Curran and Gale Candaras' office also attended. Speakers expressed some frustration at the lackluster attendance from the legislators. Brown urged the audience to get on the phone and ask State Representatives to ask 'Where were you last night?'"
Other speakers at the event, held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield, included Father Juan Garcia of Blessed Sacrament Church; Lena Entin, Neighbor to Neighbor; Carlos Gonzalez, Neighbor to Neighbor; Rick Brown, Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO; John Bennett, Massachusetts Senior Action Council; Monica Reyes, Neighbor to Neighbor; Shirley McCreety, Massachusetts Senior Action; Rachel Maximo, Neighbor to Neighbor; Dan Clifford, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1459; Patrick Reavey, Neighbor to Neighbor; Peter Gagliardi, Housing Assistance Program; Ross Kiely, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 448. The event was was co-sponsored by the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO, Neighbor to Neighbor, Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. The event was emceed by Neighbor to Neighbor's Monica Calderon.