July 15th, 2009

Unionized state workers rallied yesterday against the budget impasse that is leaving many of them with only a fraction of their paycheck starting Friday, reports The Patriot-News.

Calling themselves “pawns” and “the hostages,” they all came together to push for Gov. Rendell and legislators to come to a budget deal so that they can continue paying their bills and supporting their families.

They did this across the state, gathering at county assistance offices from Allentown to Altoona, Carlisle to Pittsburgh, demanding action and making very personal pleas.

But mostly, they worried.

In hushed conversations away from the din of the protests, these prison guards, social workers and transportation and revenue clerks wondered what will happen when their take-home pay is squeezed to a fraction by the budget feud.

Lasheba Dillard, 35, of Harrisburg, spends her days processing vehicle titles at PennDOT. But the recently separated mother of four said she stays up at night worrying about paying the bills on a household budget that’s already stretched to the limit.

Meanwhile, Dept. of Public Welfare workers in Philadelphia were protesting as well.