Union workers rally for support
As the standoff between unions and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker continues, hundreds of union workers rallied at the Capital Saturday to show solidarity. Our Brandon Walker was there and has more.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Their messages are just as strong as their frustration.
"So are you saying Governors Scott Walker and Chris Christie are on the same playing field as Moammar Gadhafi and Mubarak?" our reporter asked.
"Absolutely. There's no debate here. There's no talking going on. They're telling us what's going to happen and they don't even want to talk about the issues," said Patty Messmer.
"I'm here to support my union sisters and brothers in Wisconsin and their right to collective bargaining," said Karla Guererri.
Hundreds of union workers gather at the west lawn of the Capitol Building Saturday urging Wisconsin governor Scott Walker to leave union worker's collective bargaining rights alone.
"If the governor of Wisconsin has his way it would potentially being the destruction of the last bastion of unionism and the middle class in this country," said Michael Blue.
The back-and-forth in Wisconsin has sparked a contentious debate over the future of unions at the national level.
Republican governors like Walker say their budgets are nearly bankrupt, calling on unions to fork over their right to negotiate wage scales and health care benefits.
Unions, meanwhile, say it's all a larger plan to kill the middle class, accusing Walker of catering to corporate suits and the rich.
"I think that corporate powers want to do away with unions, more money for the rich. I mean, greed stop, but I don't think they're ready to make it stop yet," said Gary Pavlic.
"I'm outraged by the idea that anyone, Scott Walker or anyone else, would dream of depriving teachers of their given right to bargain for their compensation," said Sarah Gardner.
Some at the rally even called on Governor Cuomo to scale back his proposed cuts to education, healthcare and aid to local governments.
They say they'll continue their fight until the so-called attack on workers comes to an end.