The scene at the hotel explained the dispute between groups battling over how labor unions should be allowed to organize.
On the street, about 30 people dressed in hats and T-shirts with union logos waved at drivers to blow their horns and showed signs that said "Employee Free Choice Act -- We Need It Now!"
In a hotel dining hall with seats for 240, a roomful of people ate dinner and listened to elected officials speak, and when one of them asked, "Is our government spending too much money?" they roared: "Yes!"
The quarrel over proposed legislation that would make it easier for workers to unionize reached the Roanoke Valley on Friday night when Americans For Prosperity, a self-described grass-roots group that advocates for limited government, held a rally at the Holiday Inn-Hotel Tanglewood.
The bill would allow workers to unionize if a majority of employees at a workplace publicly sign cards agreeing to join a union. Groups such as Americans For Prosperity are working to defeat the bill partly because it would eliminate the requirement for secret-ballot elections by workers.
"When we first had elections in this country, we didn't have the right to the secret ballot," U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, told the crowd. "We want to make this issue go away, and you know what? There are some folks in Washington who also wish this issue would go away, so keep the pressure on."
Part of a national tour, the meeting aimed to sway U.S. Sen. Mark Warner to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill has support from Democrats in Congress and President Obama. Warner, who received support from both organized labor and business groups in his 2008 campaign, has not taken a firm position.
"This issue has stirred strong feelings on both sides," Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said. "Senator Warner will continue to work with the business community and labor to try to achieve an appropriate balance that does not give an unfair advantage to either side."
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb has said he would like to make the bill equitable. His spokeswoman, Jessica Smith, said the senator does not believe this is an appropriate time to debate the bill.
Officials at the event, which included Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County, said unions might bully people to join.
Outside the hotel, local members of the Communication Workers of America and the Service Employees International Union claimed that the AFP has fought against minimum wage increases, paid sick leave and expanding children's health care coverage.
"We're here to present a counter to the AFP," said Michael Alexander, an SEIU leader. "It's just a group of people who for some reason want to keep the class disparity."
Back inside, a Colombian immigrant who owns a small construction company in Prince William County roused the crowd. In October "Tito the Builder," also known as Tito Muñoz, got national attention for standing up for Joe the Plumber.
"There is nothing free in this" bill, he said. "I cannot believe there are senators and representatives who can look us in the eye and say this is a good piece of legislation. ... I don't want the unions to come and take my company."
Then, the crowd chanted his name.
