State labor leaders due at Saturday morning rally in opposition to job cuts at LHU

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Shawn O’Dell, President, AFSCME Council 13 Local 2360, Lock Haven University, has announced Richard Bloomingdale, PA AFL-CIO President, and Frank Snyder, Secretary-Treasurer, PA AFL-CIO, will participate in a “ Rally to Save Jobs” at Lock Haven University Saturday at 10 a.m. at Triangle Park in downtown Lock Haven.

According to an AFSCME release, Bloomingdale has worked tirelessly to ensure workers’ rights and was a major force in the enactment of agency shop legislation in Pennsylvania vital to workers and their families. He is currently serving on the General Board of the AFL-CIO, President of the AFL-CIO Northeast Council, Director at Ameriserv Trust & Financial Services Bank, Vice President of the National Council Senior Citizens USA Housing-Development Corporation, and the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council as a Board Member.

According to O’Dell, Snyder, a third-generation steelworker, who began his adult working life at a steel mill in Beaver County, was a major force in the Employee Free Choice Act campaign and most recently, the national field operation for healthcare reform.

Other speakers are to include students, as well as faculty, staff and coaching staff representatives.

O’Dell said, “We want everyone to understand how these furloughs among custodians and grounds crews could hurt our rural community.” She stated, “These are family sustaining jobs that are part of our campus and city.” She said, “The PA State System of Higher Education Chancellor and Board of Governors are pushing these furloughs among working Pennsylvanians and we want them to understand the economic impact this could have upon Clinton County.”