The Southwest Council of Carpenters held a union rally in Phoenix this weekend.
Frank Hawk is the chief operating officer for the union, which represents more than 50,000 carpenters in six states. He says it’s important for labor unions to show solidarity and protect the workers rights they’ve fought for.
"There’s forces out there that want us to work for less, not have the healthcare plans and pension plans that we have, we’re under constant attack," Hawk said. "The only way we’re going to combat this is if we’re all sticking together."
He also emphasized the importance of living wages — not just for workers, but for the broader economy.
"That increases the tax base, we build better schools, better parks, better roads, when everybody’s working, and we’re working for a good wage and we’re not dependent on healthcare from the government," he said.
The union hasn’t yet endorsed a presidential candidate.
