In a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Tuesday appearance on the state
capitol steps to oppose the "Employee Free Choice Act" or "card
check" Joe the Plumber, AKA Joe Wurzelbacher, was jeered and
heckled by members of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. The union members
were bused in at the order of union president William M. George.
A radio on one union bus was deliberately cranked up to try and
drown out Wurzelbacher.
"Rat! Rat! Rat!" the angry union members yelled as Wurzelbacher
attempted to speak.
The dramatic event captured local headlines and filled local
television screens. It had the ironic impact of vividly
underscoring the point opponents have been making of the bill,
that removing the secret ballot from workers asked to decide
whether they wish to join a union would open them to acts of
intimidation. In a front-page
story by reporter Laura Vecsey the Harrisburg
Patriot-News described the rally appearance by the union
members as a "display of union anger, intimidation and outrage
that helps make the point that strong-arm tactics are the reason
union organizing activity should be done by secret ballot," a
point made by Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips.
AFP was a rally sponsor, along with Pennsylvania Right to
Work.
According to the news account, union boss George had ordered
union-owned buses to "haul carpenters, sheet-metal workers,
Teamsters, steel workers and, yes, ‘real’ licensed plumbers" from
an area union hall. When questioned, one vocal union protestor
identified himself as "Bill Smith" and refused to say where he
worked. Others identified themselves as members of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 143, while
a leather jacketed man with the words "steel workers organizer"
emblazoned on the back of his jacket was seen working the
crowd.
The rally was originally intended to persuade U.S. Senator Arlen
Specter to oppose card check. In an announcement several days
ago, Specter said he would do just that.
Ironically, Wurzelbacher began his remarks by noting his support
for unions. "Let me start off right now by saying I’m not against
unions. Not at all. Unions have made America strong, no doubt. I
have a brother and other family members who are union members and
they tell me they want to work their 40 hours and go home without
coercion or intimidation."
The union organizers would have none of it.
Wurzelbacher drove to Harrisburg from his home in Toledo, Ohio,
and returned after the rally. In his pickup truck.
