NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WTKR) — A bus tour advocating for union workers’ rights made a stop in Newport News on Saturday, giving voice to employees who fear for their job security and benefits.
The tour, titled “It’s Better in a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness, and Security,” is organized by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Its goal is to highlight the importance of unions in protecting workers and to address proposed funding cuts to key agencies that support them, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Chris Puckett, a member of United Steelworkers Local 8888 and an employee at the Newport News shipyard, voiced his concerns about the uncertain future for union members. “We want to be able to get a living wage, retire with dignity, and have healthcare. All these rights are under attack right now,” he said. Puckett emphasized the need for solidarity, stating, “These are my brothers, these are my sisters, and I care about these people.”…