At noon on Wednesday, March 24th, more than 200 union members, activists, and leaders gathered outside Bank of America to demand that the bank start investing in good jobs for working people. After accepting bailout money, Bank of America and other financial institutions have continued paying bonuses to executives, but haven't starting lending or investing in small businesses and developments that will put people back to work.

 

Over 40 unions and organizations were represented at the event, which was initially sponsored by the Greater Boston Labor Council, SEIU State Council, and the Mass. AFL-CIO.  Speakers included Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo, who noted that he is pushing a plan to examine the city's placement of money in various banks to ensure that the banks behave responsibly, John Sweeney, the former President of the AFL-CIO, Bob Haynes, the President of the Mass. AFL-CIO, Enid Eckstein from SEIU Local 1199, Frank Callahan of the Mass. Building Trades, and GBLC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rich Rogers.

 

The event received coverage in the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, among various other local news outlets.