Unions protest health plan

Aurelio Rojas
Sacramento Bee

Prodded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of a plan backed by Democrats to expand health care coverage, labor unions Wednesday began 48-hour vigils around the state to oppose the Republican governor's proposal.

The vigils, including prayer and fasting, outside the Capitol and the governor's district offices mark a change in what until now has been a behind-the-scenes effort by labor to influence the debate over the 6.7 million Californians without health insurance.