What Do We Do When We're Under Attack?

President Obama stood up for union workers this week, condemning the "right-to-work" bill signed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

In West Virginia, the state legislature's attempt to pass a right-to-work bill and eliminate the state's prevailing wage got nearly 7,000 union workers to show up at the state capitol on Saturday in protest.

"It's inexcusable that, over the past several years, just when middle-class families and workers need that kind of security the most, there's been a sustained, coordinated assault on unions, led by powerful interests and their allies in government," Obama said. "I'm deeply disappointed that a new anti-worker law in Wisconsin will weaken, rather than strengthen, workers in the new economy."

The president urged Wisconsin to take "meaningful action" to raise wages and offer families the security of paid leave. "That's how you give hardworking middle-class families a fair shot in the new economy – not by stripping their rights in the workplace, but by offering them all the tools they need to get ahead," he said.

Obama's words echoed what our brothers and sisters are saying across the country.

In West Virginia, nearly 7,000 union workers gathered on the steps of the state capitol on Saturday to protest the legislature's attempt to pass right-to-work and eliminate the state's prevailing wage. In the last week left in the legislative session, workers were determined to make their voices heard.

CWA members from Missouri State Workers Union, Local 6450 in Kansas City and Local 6300 in Saint Louis, joined with allies in SEIU Local 1 for this year's Public Workers Lobby Day. They met at a local church before marching to the State Capitol.

Below: State Sen. Jill Schupp, standing with CWA activists, was elected last fall with support from union members and community allies. She has co-sponsored an equal pay bill to address gender pay disparities in public employment. State Rep. Stephen Weber has sponsored the house version of the equal pay bill and one of the leading opponents in the House against efforts to destroy bargaining rights for workers.

The Missouri State Workers Union, CWA Local 6450 in Kansas City and CWA Local 6300 in St. Louis, joined allies for a public worker lobby day last Wednesday. Missouri workers are fighting a major battle to defeat right-to-work and paycheck deception laws moving through the legislature. Last month, for the first time in the state's history, the Missouri House passed a right-to-work bill, though the state's Democratic governor will likely veto it. And even though the governor's veto of previous paycheck deception bills was sustained, the corrupting influence of big money in politics means workers are again fighting this issue this year. Workers asked their lawmakers, "If you're interested in 'protecting' paychecks, why don't you pass an equal pay law? Why do Missouri state employees continue to be the most poorly paid government employers in our nation?"

In New Mexico, hundreds of protesters packed a Senate committee hearing room to speak out against right-to-work over the weekend. "The tone was at times sharp, with one union member warning committee members to 'choose wisely' on how they vote with 2016 elections looming and a Republican state senator telling the crowd he is not a 'stooge' for out-of-state backers of right-to-work laws," the Albuquerque Journal reported. On Tuesday, a Senate panel tabled the bill.

This fight has only just begun. Nearly 800 anti-union bills have been proposed in statehouses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. 

"Right-to-work will not create jobs and will lower wages for all workers – making it harder for working families to reach the American Dream," said Mark Frey, a CWA activist in Wisconsin.