Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Union Made Fun: Take Kids Fishing Day 2023

Take Kids Fishing Day events were held in Beloit, Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Madison over the weekend. Union members set up fishing sites at local parks and provided free fishing poles, bait, and a picnic lunch for children in the community.

 

Nate Tell, newly elected President of the Southern Building Trades Council of Wisconsin, helped organize Take Kids Fishing Day with union brothers and sisters at Riverside Park in Beloit. Before fishing along the Rock River, Tell recognized all the hard work that goes into hosting this annual event.

“Union volunteers set up Take Kids Fishing Day to give back to the community and introduce kids to both fishing and to careers in the trades,” said President Tell.

 

Tobin Boyle, Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Building Trades Council of Wisconsin grilled hot dogs along the river on Sunday and explained that, “Take Kids Fishing Day is a great way to get involved in our community. We have family-sustaining jobs with benefits through our unions and we want to get the word out about good careers in the trades and let kids know there are options out there for your future. As union members, we give back in any way we can.”

 

Jesse McKnight, a member of Ironworkers Local 383 handed out gift bags with tee-shirts and duck calls as she pointed kids to the free fishing poles. “Ironworkers promote community service,” said sister McKnight. “We enjoy volunteering and helping youth find positive opportunities in the communities we build.”

 

Take Kids Fishing Day is held in tandem with the Union Sportsmen's Alliance Boots on the Ground program and has been a union tradition for over a decade in Wisconsin. Take Kids Fishing Day is sponsored by the Southern Building and Construction Trades Council of Wisconsin, the South Central Building and Construction Trades Council of Wisconsin, the Western Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the Greater West Central Labor Council, the South Central Federation of Labor, the Rock County Central Labor Council and the Union Sportsmen's Alliance.

 

“This is what it is all about. You see all the kids running around, smiling after they caught a fish. They’re all laughing and playing, it’s great,” said Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Mike Davis Jr. at Chad Erickson Memorial Park in La Crosse. “Not only do kids love to fish, but it’s satisfying for grown-ups to watch a kid who’s all smiles while catching a fish, large or small … and with school ending, there’s no better time than now to get a youngster hooked on fishing. It’s also a great way to show area residents the cornucopia of public access fishing spots in the Coulee Region.”

 

Thank you to all the union brothers and sisters who volunteered to make Take Kids Fishing Day a great success!

Wisconsin Café Workers Ratify First Union Contract at Colectivo Coffee

History has been made. The workers of Colectivo Coffee have voted in favor of their first Union contract with the owners and management of Colectivo Coffee Roasters. The partnership coined the Colectivo Collective, made up of the Colectivo Coffee workers in the Milwaukee/Madison markets who are represented by Local 494 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Chicago market who are represented by IBEW Local 1220, have negotiated and the workers have voted to accept and ratify their first contract with more than 95% of voters in favor of acceptance.
  
“This contract ratification is the culmination of the efforts of hundreds of workers over the past three years. We could not have made it to this point without their bravery, the tireless work of the folks at the IBEW, as well as the vocal support of thousands of customers and members of the community. I am beside myself with gratitude for all of them this week. I look forward to what the future holds for those of us behind the counter and throughout Colectivo Coffee,” said Hillary Laskonis, Milwaukee area Colectivo Coffee cafe co-worker and original member of the Volunteer Organizing Committee of the Colectivo Collective.

The start of this Union organizing campaign dates back to mid-2020 with a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) administered election taking place in the spring of 2021. Then in August of that year, the NLRB ruled the workers had successfully won their election and organized a Union at their workplace with a majority of the workers voting in favor of unionizing.

“Congratulations to the workers of Colectivo Coffee who have just ratified their first ever union contract with the IBEW Local 494 and IBEW Local 1220,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “It has taken years of organizing, hard work, and steadfast solidarity to secure this landmark collective bargaining agreement at one of Wisconsin’s most iconic coffee shops. Our community can continue to enjoy Colectivo Coffee knowing that the workers have a union voice and a collective say in their working conditions.” 
 
"Collaborating with my coworkers to get to a final agreement we’re excited about is something I’ll always be proud of. Connecting with my fellow Colectivo Collective members in the months leading up to this agreement has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, and our successful ratification is proof that hard work and solidarity in the workplace pays off. I’m thrilled to see the changes already taking place throughout my cafe and look forward to continued collaboration with my co-workers throughout the Colectivo Collective about the positive impact of this contract thus far and in the future,” shared Zacary Heren, Chicago area Colectivo Coffee cafe ambassador and contract Bargaining Committee member.
 
“We could not be prouder of the workers of the Colectivo Collective, who for three years now have been putting in the work to stand up and make sure their voices are heard in their workplace. Both of us would like to thank all the past and present frontline Colectivo Collective workers, the members and officers of both Local Unions, our International Union’s organizing team, the community, and the organized labor movement for their hard work, support, and partnership throughout this effort. This has been a long and inspiring journey and we look forward to the road ahead as we continue to build and strengthen our partnership with Colectivo Coffee Roasters,” concluded Local 494 Business Manager Dean A. Warsh and Local 1220 Business Manager John Rizzo.

June 3 and 4: Annual Take Kids Fishing Day

Local Area Labor Councils and Regional Building Trades Councils in Wisconsin have teamed up with the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) Boots on the Ground conservation program to host the annual Take Kids Fishing Day. Kids will receive free fishing poles, bait, and a light picnic lunch at events across the state. Union members will be on hand to help teach kids how to fish and respect our waters. 

 

Take Kids Fishing Events in Wisconsin

• Beloit:  Sunday, June 4, Sun, 9:00 AM, Riverside Park-Midlawn Shelter, 1160 Riverside Drive​. Register here.
• Eau Claire: Saturday, June 3, 9:00 AM, Carson Park, Carson Park Drive. Register here.
• La Crosse: Saturday, June 3, 9:00 AM , Chad Erickson Memorial Park, 3601 Park Lane Drive. Register here.
• Madison: Saturday, June 3, Vilas Park, 1400 Vilas Park Dr. Register here.

 

​​Fishing events are free and open to the public. Advance registration encouraged. Participants must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Take Kids Fishing Day is sponsored by the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Western Wisconsin, the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the Greater West Central Labor Council, the South Central Federation of Labor, the Rock County Central Labor Council​, and the Union Sportsmen Alliance. It is the hard work and volunteer hours of union members that make this annual family-friendly community event possible.

Dust off those fishing skills and we will see you on the water!

Senator Tammy Baldwin joins the OPEIU Local 39 strike line

Senator Baldwin joins OPEIU Local 39 members on the strike line outside TruStage/CUNA Mutual 

 

Senator Baldwin joined the OPEIU Local 39 strike line outside TruStage/CUNA Mutual in Madison.  

Union brothers and sisters at TruStage/CUNA Mutual have been working without a contract for over 425 days. Union members are holding an unfair labor practice strike as they continue to call on TruStage/CUNA Mutual to come to the table and bargain in good faith for a fair contract. A total of nine unfair labor practices have been filed, charging that TruStage has violated the law by refusing to bargain, retaliating against union members, failing to provide information, and surveilling union members. 

Senator Baldwin brought solidarity and support as she marched on the picket line and met with OPEIU Local 39 working families.  

Show your support for striking OPEIU Local 39 families by joining the picket line, Monday – Friday, 7am to 6pm at 5910 Mineral Point Road. Parking available at Garner Park, corner of Mineral Point Road and South Rosa Road. 

Join the Community Caravan in support of OPEIU Local 39 on Wednesday May 31 from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The car caravan will launch at 4:00 pm from the Garner Park parking lot (333 S Rosa Rd, Madison). Car-safe markers will be provided to deck out your car with pro-union phrases.

Sign the Wisconsin AFL-CIO solidarity petition here.  

You can also support OPEIU members by donating to the South Central Federation of Labor’s Solidarity Fund here.

OPEIU Local 39 members at TruStage/CUNA Mutual in Madison are taking a stand for good union jobs, quality and affordable healthcare, fair wages, and to retire with dignity after a lifetime of work. Join workers on the picket line and sign the solidarity petition today as we continue to call on TruStage/CUNA Mutual to bargain for a fair contract.