Hundreds of union members and tea party activists taunted each other Wednesday at the Georgia Capitol at dueling demonstrations prompted by the growing furor over efforts in some state capitals to reduce unions' bargaining power.
About 300 union members rallied on the Capitol steps in support of state workers who are protesting Republican-led proposals in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio to curb unions' collective bargaining power as they struggle with multibillion-dollar budget deficits.
Georgia is a so-called "right-to-work" state that prohibits unions and employers from compelling workers to pay union dues, and the General Assembly isn't considering any legislation like what has prompted much larger protests in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.
Still, Brad Bratcher, a union sheet metal worker for a private contractor at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, said he was protesting such moves to "make sure none of that stuff that's happening up in Wisconsin" happens here.
Across the street, Shawn Stafford was one of about 100 tea party activists protesting with patriotic songs and shouts of "You're fired." The construction supplies salesman from Red Hill said he was protesting because he believes unionized public employees have pushed pay and pensions too high at a time when states and struggling to pay their bills.
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