Hoisting signs that read "we are all cheeseheads" and "solidarity," Maryland public-sector unions rallied today in Annapolis to show suppport for their counterparts in Wisconsin.
Nearby, tea party activists also gathered. Their signs, including one that read "broke means broke," expressed support for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is trying to end collective bargaining for that state's employees.
As The Sun noted in a story this morning, the efforts of Walker and Wisconsin's Republican state legislature would be unlikely to find much legislative support in deeply Democratic Maryland. But union leaders here say the discord reflects a rising national trend against government employee unions.
"There are sharp attacks on public workers in a number of states," said Fred D. Mason Jr., president of the Maryland and District of Columbia AFL-CIO. He pointed to layoffs, pay cuts and benefit reductions occurring in states across the country.
"Wisconsin just happens to be very blatant about what it is doing," he said.
Pictured: Maryland labor rally. More photos after the jump.
Pictured: Tea party gathers in support of Wisc. Gov. Scott Walker (top), O.P. Ditch of Elkridge (middle), labor groups attract crowds and Democratic legislators (bottom).