120 union leaders including A.F.L.-C.I.O. president John J. Sweeney and Bruce S. Raynor, the president of Unite, the nation's largest apparel workers' union were arrested for civil disobedience at a rally to support workers on strike at Yale University. Workers at Yale went on strike 18 days ago; rejecting the university's new contract proposal which they believe contained an increase in wages and pensions that was far too low. Representatives for Yale believe that they are offering a fair contract and criticize the rallies as unions' national campaign to attract media attention.
See "Labor Leaders Arrested at Rally for Yale University Strikers", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, September 14, 2003