The mercury was well above 90 degrees and the asphalt was even hotter outside the Capitol, where Quentin Blackman and Anthony Thomas sat in the beating sun waiting to be arrested.
Both received layoff notices last week for the second time from Senate dining contractor Restaurant Associates, and once again got a reprieve. They won’t lose their jobs after all, but they still came out Wednesday to voice their demands. They want a union contract with better pay and benefits — and they want senators to pay attention.
Soon they found themselves being led away by Capitol Police, along with other dining workers and members of their union, UNITE HERE Local 23. All were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding, which is a misdemeanor.
