“The United Congress of Industrial Miners marched in protest today outside the Citadel building in New Arara on the planet of Thessia. An estimated 1.5 million union workers and advocates came out to voice their opposition to the Council's plan to lay off more than 90,000 eezo miners, shippers, and refiners. Ostensibly designed to trim the budget deficit in a year of financial turmoil, the plan is seen as a pretext for union-busting by the UCIM. "We know this galaxy runs on eezo, and in a year of recession and slow growth, now is not the time to commit financial suicide", stated UCIM spokesperson Nareesha Rajput. Council press secretary Vaninth T'Joan responded with a prepared statement: "It is our job to remain fiscally responsible to our member planets, and in tough times like these, we are forced to make unpopular decisions". Asked if robots could do the jobs the Council has cut, T'Joan said, "That is my understanding, yes".”