The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Change to Win labor federation are wasting no time in seizing the political moment as anger flares over AIG's commitment to its own executives' bonus payments.

The unions, along with several other partners, are launching takebacktheeconomy.org and planning protests on Thursday at the regional offices of bailed-out banks in more than 100 cities. The goal of the day: pressuring Wall Street into substantively changing its bonus-happy culture.

But there is a bigger goal for the day, one that goes beyond expressing anger at corporate abuse of power. The labor movement sees an opportunity to link the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), the union organizing bill that is its No. 1 priority this year, to the growing tide of post-bailout populism.

Two of the banks to be closely targeted on Thursday are Citigroup and Bank of America, both of which have lobbied hard against EFCA while taking taxpayer money.

One labor official said that unions are "hoping this is going to be a real outlet, hoping we can seize this moment in time to advance EFCA" as voters connect the corporate influence that helped bring about the bailout with the influence that's keeping EFCA from achieving the necessary level of support in the Senate.

Late Update: After the jump, you can read the full letter that SEIU sent out today announcing the Thursday protests.

Dear ______,

Insurance giant AIG is the poster child of corporate irresponsibility. It gambled on the housing market and lost, big time. That's why the government had to dole out nearly $200 billion in bailouts just to keep the company afloat.

But word broke yesterday that despite being crowned the "Bailout King," AIG is going to pay out more than $400 million in bonuses.

We've had enough. On Thursday, March 19, thousands of people nationwide will demonstrate outside major banks and demand real change. We want you to join us.

Watch this video about our actions and sign up to attend a demonstration near you:

Watch the video and join

Click here to join: http://www.TakeBackTheEconomy.org

The outrage doesn't stop at the bonuses. We finally found out how AIG has spent its bailout funds - it gave billions of dollars to other bailed out banks, including banks like Bank of America and Citigroup that are actively organizing against change for working families.

Just last week it was revealed that Citigroup organized a call to "build opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act." Bank of America did the same thing just days after it received its first bailout from the government.

We have major banks and financial institutions taking government money with one hand, and slapping working people in the face with the other. The very same people who destroyed our economy are now actively working to prevent its recovery.

Enough. Join our demonstration against corporate excess on Thursday.

http://www.TakeBackTheEconomy.org

It's up to us to take back our economy. We hope you'll join our efforts.

Thanks for all you do.

In solidarity,

Michael Whitney
Change that Works
SEIU.org