Boston Labor to Bank of America: "We See Your Greedy Side"

by Jesse Kirdahy-Scalia, Jan-15-09

• Financial District
• Labor
  

BOSTON/Financial District - Members of local labor unions, labor justice and housing justice groups, SEIU and AFL-CIO spokespersons rallied today outside Bank of America's building on Federal Street as part of a national campaign to demand the company cease its attempts to defeat the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and use Troubled Assets Relief Program funds to help Americans.

View more photos from today's rally.
View video from today's rally.

Among the approximately 65 people who rallied outside Bank of America's building today in 15° weather were members from SEIU Locals 615, 509, 1199 and the SEIU Massachusetts State Council, AFL-CIO and its affiliates, Jobs with Justice, Massachusetts Interfaith Worker Justice, and City Life. Protesters held a banner which read, "It's time our economy worked for everyone: support Employee Free Choice" and signs depicting piles of money and corporate jets while they chanted, "Banks get bailed out, people get thrown out!" and "Bank of America, you can't hide! We can see your greedy side!"

According to an action alert about today's rally sent through state and local listservs, Bank of America has joined other employers such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and McDonald's in trying to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act. Harris Gruman, Massachusetts Political Director for the State Council of SEIU in Massachusetts, said Employee Free Choice, health care reform and a stimulus package for working Americans are all necessary for economic recovery. Gruman said Bank of America is not using TARP money to benefit working people and communities. "They're exhibiting all this corporate greed. They're not helping people facing foreclosures, not helping workers have a better life, they're not loaning money, even, to other business. They're sending the money overseas. It's not part of what we need for a real recovery here."

Gruman identified new opportunities for labor reform within the incoming Obama administration, but said there are parties that have a vested interest in maintaining old leadership. "We have a new president, we have a new congress. We have a real opportunity for what we're calling 'change that works.' Bank of America is a classic example of an enemy of change. They want the same old, same old that got us into this economic jam we're in now, which is speculative money chasing money."

Gruman, SEIU Local 509 officer Stephen Lewis and SEIU International representative Bill Ragen entered the Bank of America Building to deliver a $25 billion check from the American taxpayer with a "stop payment" stamp on it to Bank of America management, but were directed to leave by police who were standing by at the rally.

Bank of America did not comment on the rally, but a spokesperson for the company responded to Gruman's charges that Bank of America is not helping people facing foreclosure, saying, "We've restructured almost 200,000 mortgages in the first 9 months of 2008. Bank of America is updating those numbers and will disclose more in its earnings report, which will be released January 20, 2009."

Labor groups plan to hold weekly vigils each Thursday on the same spot to continue calling attention to Bank of America's labor practices.

Dorchester and Other
Boston Residents:
Stand Up! Speak Out!
Picket! Rally!

Sat, Jan 31st, 12 noon
Corner of Columbia Rd and Dorchester Ave

Campaign for Economic Justice:
Demonstrate against Bank of America
and corporate greed

Where’s the bailout for the working class?

Saturday, January 31st at noon demonstrate your anger against the bailouts, foreclosures and high prices with your neighbors. We will visit Bank of America and other local landmarks that contribute to making life harder for working people.

We say:

Quality, Affordable Homes: No homes should be foreclosed by big banks in 2009. Abandoned properties should be turned into construction projects for good jobs, new homes and community centers. There should be a cap put on rent so that everyone can afford a home. Good housing should be a right, not a privilege.

No Budget Cuts: The proposed cuts to healthcare and other social services will disproportionately affect people in Dorchester. With already under-funded schools and rising tuition costs, the politicians want to cut over $12 million from education. With health care costs forcing people into bankruptcy, the rich politicians are trying to cut well over $50 million from the Commonwealth’s health system. While the big banks get bailouts and tax loopholes, there is a proposed $2 million cut to public housing.

Tax the Rich and End the War: The money is there to improve our social services. Trillions (that’s right: trillions!) of dollars are being wasted on bailouts for the big companies that created this crisis while the rest of us are expected to suffer for it. Again, over a trillion dollars is being wasted on the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fund human needs, not War and Wall Street!

Struggle Can Win! Human blockades organized by City Life/Vida Urbana have stopped home foreclosures in Dorchester. From the labor movement to the civil rights movement, history shows that ordinary working people and youth have the power to change society if we stand up, speak out, get organized and fi ght for a better future!

Saturday, January 31st: We will be standing out on the corner of Columbia Road and Dorchester Avenue beginning at 12pm. We will share stories, share ideas and organize to fight back! We will picket nearby big businesses who are trying to make us pay for their crisis.