8 Arrested in Protest of GOP’s ‘Contract’ : Demonstration: Union activists are frustrated in their demands to speak with the traveling Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead.

Eight union leaders, among nearly 100 union activists who jammed the office of Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) on Friday to protest alleged tax cuts for the wealthy, were arrested when they refused to leave until the congressman reversed his position on the issue.

Joyce Moscato, a spokeswoman for the Service Employees International Union, said the protesters allowed themselves to be arrested because Moorhead “isn’t getting the message.”

Waving placards, banging drums and shouting “Tax the rich, not the poor!” members of eight union locals entered the congressman’s district headquarters just before noon and vowed not to budge until Moorhead--who was flying back from a two-week legislative trip to Asia--contacted them by telephone.

The protesters, ranging from janitors to health-care and food-service workers from Los Angeles, called the GOP’s “contract with America” an “attack” on the working class and children that will erode everything from job security for union members to school lunch programs.

“We believe the role of government is to provide and ensure the health, safety and education of our men, women and children,” said Gil Cedillo, general manager of the union’s Local 660, which represents 42,000 workers. “The programs embodied in the ‘contract’ endanger the very role of government.”

Others charged that the “contract”--a 10-point legislative plan enacted by the Republican congressional majority--is a “sham” that uses the poor, illegal immigrants and minorities as scapegoats for the mounting national debt and other problems plaguing the country.

Though Moorhead was unavailable, the protesters were able to speak with his district director, Peter Musurlian, by telephone from Roswell, N.M., where he was serving Army Reserve duty this week. Using a speakerphone, Musurlian tried to reassure about 50 union members that the congressman would meet them upon his return from China.

But the conversation quickly turned confrontational, with union leaders insisting that the congressman be reached immediately. After a few minutes, some in the crowd began calling Musurlian a bureaucrat, and the crowd exploded in a cacophony of “Carlos Moorhead’s got to go!” The protesters then marched in circles through the three-room offices for more than an hour.

“Non-controversial methods just have not been effective. We have to speak up in opposition to the right-wing agenda,” said Dave Bullock, regional director for the union’s Local 535, which represents about 15,000 social service workers and nurses.

“They rammed this thing through in 100 days, by blaming certain people and certain groups for the woes of this country. They’re fooling people into believing they’re doing something for the country, when all they’re doing is creating a divisive country. It’s not a rational plan, so you can’t debate with them in a rational way,” Bullock said.

Two police officers and Moorhead’s three staff members sat and watched throughout the afternoon as the protest dwindled to about a dozen union leaders who vowed to stay until either the congressman appeared or they were arrested. Despite a few complaints from other businesses in the building, police said the congressman’s office is considered a “semi-public place” and the protest was legal.

In contrast, Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) spent Friday talking up the Republican agenda in his district.

Addressing community leaders from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, McKeon touched upon GOP accomplishments during Congress’ first 100 days and outlined its top five goals for the future.

McKeon said GOP leaders want to cut welfare, switch federal programs to private industry, eliminate regulation to foster economic growth, pursue new information technologies and balance the federal budget.

“It’s going to be hard, but the goal is worth it,” McKeon said.

McKeon, who was elected in 1992 before the GOP secured a majority in Congress, said he’s excited by the opportunity to make changes while his party has a majority.

“It’s either the status quo or some meaningful change,” McKeon said. “People who come in and tell the sad stories and call us names are going to be for the status quo.”