Labor march hits Wall Street

The New York City Central Labor Council, in conjunction with the National People’s Action, held a march on Wall Street April 29. After some speeches from labor leaders, including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, the march took off down Broadway to the statue of the Charging Bull, south of Wall Street.

Trumka’s speech focused on the AFL-CIO’s demand for 11 million new jobs at good wages. He demanded Wall Street stop fighting reforms, stop speculating and invest, and pay its “fair share of the cost of creating the jobs you destroyed.”

Earlier the NPA occupied the lobbies of JPMorgan Chase and Wachovia to demand these banks “invest in America.”

Between 6,000 and 8,000 people participated in the march. A number of unions, especially from the building trades and American Federation of Teachers, had significant delegations. A number of African-American community groups, some carrying NPA placards, also marched.