Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Court Puts Partial Check on Gov. Walker’s Attacks on Working People

Today, a federal court ruled that parts of Act 10, Gov. Walker's union-busting law, were found unconstitutional under the U.S. constitution.  While this is a step in the right direction and shows that Gov. Walker disregarded the law when attempting to strip public employees of their rights on the job, it does not restore collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin workers.  The fight to reclaim Wisconsin by recalling Scott Walker continues. 

 

Below is a statement from officers of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO on today's federal court ruling.

“Gov. Walker’s extreme attacks on public sector workers has, in part, been reversed by the court of law today and found in violation of the U.S. constitution,” explained Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “This proves that Gov. Walker rammed through his radical and secret agenda without regard to the U.S. constitution, the rule of law, or to what is right and fair for Wisconsin families.  There is still much to be done to reverse the harm that Gov. Walker has done to nurses, teachers, snow plow drivers and other public workers.  The fight to fully restore public employee’s voices on the job and a strong middle class for Wisconsin continues.” 

 

“This is a better day for public sector workers but unfortunately does not fully restore the ability of public employees to have a meaningful voice in the workplace so that they can speak out on behalf of the communities they serve,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.   “Limiting collective bargaining, as Scott Walker has done, is unjust and un-American.   The fight to reclaim Wisconsin and restore the rights of working people to collectively bargain continues.” 

Union Solidarity at the Rose Bowl Parade

When the Red Raiders of the Pulaski High Marching Band marched through the streets of Pasadena, California for the Rose Bowl Parade on January 2, 2012, they took a moment to pay tribute to the working people of Wisconsin.

Watch and listen as the band plays Woody Guthrie’s “Sticking to the Union” in the middle of their TV coverage.  

Solidarity to the students of Pulaski, Wisconsin!

Video Credit: Youtube user, BrianvkGB

Working Families, Community Members Help Those on Strike This Holiday Season

In a show of solidarity and support for the middle class, community members are coming together and donating food and toys to striking families at Manitowoc Cranes.

 

Union and community members from across Wisconsin are showing support for the men and women on strike at Manitowoc Cranes. The company has pushed the workers out at a difficult time of the year for many working families.

Thankfully, in keeping with the Wisconsin holiday spirit, working people across the state have come together to support the workers with donations of food and toys.  Hundreds of toys and 3 truckloads of food were delivered to the Machinists Union Hall. 

 

“The support from the community has been overwhelming and much appreciated,” said Ben Elizondo, of the Machinists Union. “There is never a good time for a strike but during the holidays, when people are suppose to be coming together, it is a shame that Manitowoc Cranes have pushed these workers out. Thankfully, the Manitowoc and Wisconsin community realizes that this is a fight for all working people. This is the fight to be able to put a check on corporate greed, a fight to be able to join together with your co-workers for a better workplace.”

 

On Wednesday, December 21 striking workers and community members gathered at the Machinists Local Lodge 516 Union Hall on Conroe Street to distribute the donated toys and food to the striking families of Machinists Local Lodge 516.

 

“While the CEO of Manitowoc Cranes rakes in a paycheck of $5 million a year, these workers simply want a fair contract, void of all union-busting language,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “Our holiday hope is that we can get back to the table, negotiate and get the Machinists back on the job.”

 

Since Nov. 15 nearly 200 workers at Manitowoc Cranes have been on strike. At issue is not wages or benefits but the basic right to have a union. At the last minute, the Company slipped union-destroying language, similar to Gov. Walker’s union-busting bill, into a contract proposal.

The workers at Manitowoc Cranes have made their choice with an overwhelming vote of (180-2) to reject the language. The community has stepped up and supported the workers who are standing up for the middle class by donating food and toys so that the children of the striker’s can have a Christmas.

 

On Dec. 10 thousands of working families came together in Manitowoc to support the workers by walking the picket line and rallying in solidarity.  The labor movement stands firmly behind these brave workers as they fight for their union rights.

For more information visit the IAM Local 516 website.

 

Media Clips

•    Manitowoc Herald Times, Children of Striking Workers Receive Toys

•    NBC 26:  Striking Workers Get Holiday Help

•    WBAY:  Union: Manitowoc Crane Strike Could Last Months

•    Manitowoc Herald Photo Collection

Buy Union This Holiday Season

"Black Friday" marks the start of the holiday season.  As you head to the stores in order to take advantage of the great deals, we encourage you to continue to shop union.

 

November 25 – December 2 is also “Buy Union” week.  Given the volatile state of the economy—marked by huge job losses, declines in take-home pay and increased costs—it makes more sense than ever to focus the purchasing power of union families on the goods and services that those families create. Supporting union made products helps keep good jobs in the community.

Look for the union label as you shop this holiday season.  Stand with Wisconsin gear is 100% union-made in the U.S.A. You can purchase T-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, and more at http://www.standwisconsin.org/.

 

 

 

Simply click on the “Shop Our Store” button on the bottom left-hand area of the http://www.standwisconsin.org/  page for a list of great union-made holiday gifts and apparel. 

Brand new items include posters and greeting cards by local artist Susan Simensky Bietila.  Simensky Bietila is a Milwaukee Public School Nurse and MTEA union member.   With scratchboard and watercolor she captures the Rotunda at the height of the protests. 

#OccupyWisconsin

Across the country, the 99 percent are standing up and speaking out against corporate greed, the corporate takeover of politics, joblessness and the financial meltdown which tailspinned our economy.  

This weekend marks a global day of solidarity with the Occupy Movement.  The 99 percent will not be silenced as the 1% consolidates our country’s wealth.

Occupy events are taking place at various locations across Wisconsin beginning Friday, October 14.

• Appleton, Saturday, Oct. 15:   Gather at Jones Park at 9:00 am, bring your own lunch for noon.  March to Chase Bank at 1:00 pm.  3:00 pm march to Houdini Plaza. 5:00 pm march back to Jones Park.

• Eau Claire, Saturday, Oct 15:  10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Owen Park.
  

• Green Bay, Friday Oct. 14:  Rally at Green Bay City Hall, 3:00 pm.
  

• La Crosse:  Visit the Occupy La Crosse Face Book page for up to date information.

• Madison, Saturday Oct. 15:   March with Occupy Madison in the March to End the Wars, sponsored by the Madison Area Peace Coalition. 11:30 am, Library Mall.

• Milwaukee, Saturday Oct. 15:  11:00 am rally at Zeidler Park followed by a march to Chase Bank.

• New Berlin, Friday, Oct 14:  Meet at Malone Park at 3:30pm and march to Chase Bank on 155th & National Avenue

We are protesting the misplaced priorities that have rewarded corporate CEOs and Wall Street bankers and left millions of Americans to suffer.  Wall Street and corporate America wrecked our economy, it is time that banks and big corporations step up to fix it. It is time they invest in America and start creating the kind of good jobs that support a family by rebuilding our infrastructure and improving our schools.

Support a local Occupy action this weekend. Stand up and speak out for good jobs in our communities and a better direction for our state.

National Day of Action to Save America's Postal Service

Join us this Tuesday, September 27, for a national day of action to protect the United State’s Postal Service. 

On Tuesday, September 27, America’s Postal Service Members of the four Postal Service employee unions – APWU, NALC, NPMHU and NRLCA –  and community allies will rally in every congressional district to let people know what’s at stake for our families and neighbors and urge lawmakers to save the Postal Service by supporting H.R. 1351.  Click here for a list of rallies in Wisconsin.

Read more about the national day of action here: http://www.saveamericaspostalservice.org/

 

One of our country’s great responsibilities is to ensure the safe, efficient delivery of our mail at a reasonable price.  The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a trusted American institution, delivering mail, medicine and packages to millions of Americans at a price families can afford.

Yet under the guise of a “budgetary crisis,” Congress is going after the U.S. Postal Service, proposing massive cuts.  Cuts proposed include laying off 120,000 workers, closing thousands of post offices, eliminating Saturday mail service and closing mail processing facilities. 
 
These cuts won’t just hurt Postal Workers – they will hurt every American, every community and every business.

Postal workers are fighting back and mobilizing for a massive day of action at post offices around the country on Tuesday, September 27.  Join them!  Click here for a list of rally locations and times in Wisconsin. 

Republicans in Congress are hoping if they downgrade the postal service, they can privatize some of the services out to their corporate friends and allies.  This will result in poorer service and increased prices as well as destroy a great American institution.   

If we don’t stop Congress from cutting Postal Service programs, it will embolden extreme lawmakers who are already committed to privatizing public services – political maneuvers that will cause the loss of good, middle class jobs.

Join the national day of action to save USPS.  Click here for a list of rally times and locations around Wisconsin. 

Statewide Film Screening: “Broadcast Blues”

(Watch the trailer for Broadcast Blues, a film which takes a look at our nation's media)

 

Free and open to the public, The Wisconsin Media Reform Tour, is traveling the state through September 27 with free screenings of the award-winning documentary “Broadcast Blues.” 

Broadcast Blues explores how the consolidation of the media into corporate hands is jeopardizing our news, information and even public safety.  Broadcast Blues reminds us that the airwaves belong the people, and that we can take and must take our media back. 

"This is a great opportunity to remind the people of Wisconsin that they actually own the Radio and TV airwaves," says filmmaker Sue Wilson.  "Local TV and radio stations receive licenses for the privilege to broadcast, but there's a catch:  in exchange for their licenses, the law requires them to 'serve the public interest.' […] The question is, are the broadcasters serving the public interest of Wisconsinites?"

Sue Wilson, the film’s director, will be on hand to survey the audience on how well they believe their local media is serving local needs.  If people feel that the local media is not serving the public interest, Wilson will explain how to reach out to broadcasters with the goal of improving the quality of local broadcasting.

The 2011 Wisconsin Media Reform Tour kicked off September 17 in Madison with continuous screenings at the FightingBobFest. The tour continues in Appleton on Sept. 19, Mequon Sept. 21, Milwaukee Sept. 22, Hartland Sept. 23, Racine Sept. 24, Wausau Sept. 26, ending in Eau Claire Sept. 27.  Click here for a flyer with local dates and locations. 

The Wisconsin tour developed when Delafield resident Barbara Begale went to see a documentary film about media reform in Florida.  After seeing the award winning Broadcast Blues Begale decided to organize a film tour.  She contacted the film’s director and the rest is history.   

"Suddenly I understood why the United States is so divisive," explained Begale.  "The film explains why the news is filled with lies and why there is so much hate speech.  If people know the truth, people will make the right decisions, but they're not getting the truth.  Everyone in this country needs to see this movie."

Wisconsin Loses 2,300 Jobs in August

The August jobs report continues to show that Gov. Walker’s “open for business” policies are not working. 

The Department of Workforce Development released bleak numbers today.  In August, Wisconsin lost 2,300 jobs, including 800 in the private sector, as the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.9 percent.

Scott Walker continues to head in the wrong direction for the 250,000 new jobs he promised to create for Wisconsin.   Instead of wasting precious time on voter suppression laws, redistricting maps, union-busting legislation and political payback for his campaign allies, Scott Walker should focus on jobs. 

We have heard lots of talk, but little action from the Governor on jobs.  The time is now.  We need to get America back to work.  The number of Americans living in poverty is growing and the median income of households is falling.

Instead of attacking unions, the Governor should be working with labor to create family-sustaining jobs.  Report after report continue to show that a strong union movement goes hand-in-hand with a strong economy. 

Poverty Level Up, Median Income Down

This week, the Census Bureau released bleak numbers showing that the American Dream is further away from more and more Americans.  Despite the fact that many U.S. companies are reporting profits and CEO pay is sky high, the U.S. poverty rate continues to rise. 

The report, which can be read here, reveals sobering figures:

• The poverty level in the United States is 15.1%, a 20 year high 

• Over 46 million, or 1 in 6 Americans is currently living in poverty

• Incomes continue to drop, with the median household American income plunging 2.3% from 2009 to $49,445

• A middle income family earns only 11 percent more then they did in 1980, while consumer prices have grown by about 155 percent.

• Americans without health coverage rose from 16.1 percent to 16.3 percent — or 49.9 million people

For last year, the official poverty level was an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four.

This report highlights the fact that millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed and income inequality is on the rise.  As our economy struggles and more and more of us can’t find work, our elected officials need to put politics aside and focus on creating family-supporting jobs with good benefits. 

 

Check out the AFL-CIO's Six Point Plan to get our country working again and be sure to follow the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO on Face Book and Twitter for updates on how you can get involved in the fight for good jobs in Wisconsin. 

The Workers

From the New York Times, interactive testimony from the 3,200 workers rebuilding the World Trade Center site in New York City. 

The World Trade Center site employs more than 3,200 workers. At present, it is the largest construction project in the United States.  These portraits and audio narratives are a testament to the myriad skills and talents of the workers. From the ironworker who provides for her family to the contractor who lost his brother on Sept. 11, each of these workers has a unique story to tell, but they all share a common goal: rebuilding a piece of New York that was once lost.  View their testimony here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/wtc-workers.html

 
Nearly all of the construction workers at the World Trade Center site are union members.  Often showing their union pride on their hardhats, these members of the building trades understand that their work is extremely meaningful.