GIGANTINO, HENRY W.

Entered into rest, Mar. 8, 2021 Henry W. Gigantino, 81, of West Haven; beloved husband of Antonette Ferraro Gigantino; devoted father of Michael (Lori), Steven (Alison), and Cathy Gigantino and Kimberly (Jude) Ahern; also survived by siblings Helen Maselli and Joseph Gigantino, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson; born May 26, 1939 son of the late William and Philomena Zimbardi Gigantino. Henry was a butcher and owned and operated the former Custom Meats of Guilford for 12 years. He also worked as a meat cutter for several area supermarkets. He was an avid reader and a wonderful husband and father. Friends may visit at

HOME 592 Chapel St. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and proceed directly to St. Michael’s Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Interment in All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis,TN 38105.Offer condolences at marescafuneralhome.com

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday signed into law legislation banning nearly all abortions in the state, a sweeping measure that supporters hope will force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its landmark Roe v. Wade decision but opponents vow to block before it takes effect later this year.

The Republican governor had expressed reservations about the bill, which only allows the procedure to save the life of the mother and does not provide exceptions for those impregnated in an act of rape or incest. Arkansas is one of at least 14 states where legislators have proposed outright abortion bans this year.

Hutchinson said he was signing the bill because of its ”overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held prolife convictions.“

The bans were pushed by Republicans who want to force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide. Conservatives believe the court is more open to striking down the decision following former President Donald Trump’s three appointments to the court.

Hutchinson has signed several major abortion restrictions into law since taking office in 2015, but he had voiced concerns that this bill directly challenges Roe and about the lack of rape and incest exceptions.

This isn’t a run of the mill letter on the topic mentioned in the title, but a broader view on the issue. With the devastating effects of this past year both economically and health insurance-wise, I believe it’s finally time to admit the past 40 years of destruction and derailment of the labor movement need to come to an end. The pandemic has shown a bright light on the tremendous difficulties and disparity working people face every day — the hunger, lack of access to health care, impossible rent and eviction situation.

Unions can help fix and repair a lot of the economy for working people. Unions can make lives more livable and affordable to millions who now work in low-wage service jobs. Hence, the pro-life aspect. They can give working people a voice and leverage of which they now have none. They can promote a healthier life because workers can have health care and less stress about meeting the bills and obligations of living. Of course, the current group of oligarchs and corporate rich will fight tooth and nail to prevent this from happening. They like the status quo as they reap billions in profit from the working poor.

Unions can give citizens the right to a good life and to actually pursue happiness as the right loves to quote the Constitution. They also can contribute to people feeling secure enough in the economy to have the child they want without the fear of going broke to have it.

They can ease in to parenthood and have time off with pay and possibly child care. This would make people not consider an abortion for economic reasons.

Unions seem to be the answer to so very many problems highlighted this past year. I feel its high time in America to see this happen and get citizens educated to the value of forming and keeping a union. A wise former union president of mine said ‘’If you don’t have collective bargaining, you have collective begging.” The time has come to end the begging and make better lives.

Marc DeGregorio

North Haven