We caught glimpses Tuesday of Pittsburgh union organizer Nila Payton and striking Post-Gazette worker James “Hutchie” VanLandingham in Washington, D.C, where the two were guests for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
An organizer for Western Pennsylvania’s Hospital Workers Rising, Payton posed in front of the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Summer Lee, who had invited her. Lee posted a picture on Twitter with the text, “The State of our Union is strong because of workers, organizers, and moms like Nila Payton. Solidarity to the workers. Together, we’ll make livable wages, safe conditions, universal health care, and union power a reality for all.”
Hutchie, guest of Rep. Chris Deluzio, stood with the congressman a few blocks away. “When owners like the Post-Gazette’s Blocks try to destroy a union and workforce behind a treasured paper, I’ll be there in Congress to fight them, standing with workers,” read a Twitter post by Deluzio. “An honor to host Hutchie at this year’s #SOTU to put workers’ rights in the national spotlight.”
The PUP is the publication of the striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
