Democrat Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, left, helps organize the annual rally

POUGHKEEPSIE – About 40 people gathered on the steps of the main post office in downtown Poughkeepsie at noon on Labor Day to call for more jobs and better pay for America’s working people.

Tom Midgly of the IBM Workers Alliance CWA Local 1701 said more must be done to protect workers, particularly at a time when IBM continues to outsource work overseas.

“I think we need a worker based, labor oriented movement in this country to help workers and not believe in these false prophets that stand up and try to lead people in the wrong direction and trying to blame the wrong people for the problem,” he said.

Conservative County Legislator James Doxsey also spoke in support of the working person.

“It’s imperative for the working class to get informed, get together, get some solidarity, otherwise, as Warren Buffett said, if there’s war among classes, his class is winning,” Doxsey said. “The middle class has to wake up and start standing up for our rights.”

This was the 15th year in a row that Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner rallied community activists, labor representatives and local public officials in support of the cause.