Thousands rally in Trenton in support of unions

TRENTON - Thousands of people are rallying in the rain at the New Jersey Statehouse this afternoon in solidarity with public-union employees in Wisconsin and to protest against Gov. Christie's proposals to scale back benefits for government workers.

"Not in WI! Not in NJ! Not anywhere!" read one sign waved by a protester, as the crowd sang and shouted.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech and New Jersey Education Association President Barbara Keshishian were among the union leaders on stage. Also attending were Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), Senator Linda Greenstein (D., Middlesex), and Assemblyman John McKeon (D., Essex).

The crowd began cheering and chanting as the Rev. Reginald Floyd told union members that when leaders want to give tax breaks to the wealthy and ask public unions to pay for it, union members must say, "Hell, to the double no!"

Christie's refusal to extend a so-called millionaire's tax last year sparked an outcry from unions. The budget he proposed this week features nearly $200 million in corporate tax cuts and seeks more concessions from public employees, such as having them pay 30 percent of their health care premiums.

A small group of people from New Jersey Tea Party groups held their own counter-rally.

At some points, state troopers formed a blue diving line to separate the rival groups of protestors as they argued with one another. The Tea Party activists had their own speakers, including Steve Lonegan, the conservative who lost in the Republican primary to Gov. Christie.

Union rally attendee William Lang of Secaucus, a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike, said he opposed the Christie administration's efforts to privatize toll jobs.

"He's attacking the public workers and the unions," said Lang.

Jason Cuts said he came out in support of his wife, a teacher in Haddonfield.

He held up a letter Christie issued on the campaign trail assuring union members that their benefits would be protected.

"What we're seeing is a 180" of that, said Cuts. "Total lies."