Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Madison GOTV is a Family Affair

“I want my kids to grow up with a sense of civic duty.  I want them to understand that average people can make a difference,” says AFT Local 3220 Organizer Claiborne Hill.  When she isn’t working for the Teaching Assistants Association, Hill volunteers her time with the Labor 2010 program in order to ensure that candidates who will stand with working families are elected.

On Saturday, October 16^th, Hill and her four children, ages five through eleven, went straight from a morning soccer game to an afternoon Labor Walk.  “We might move a bit slower than other member-to-member walk teams, with the stroller and the extra potty breaks, but this is important work and we enjoy doing it together.”

“Corporate special interests have a disproportionate influence on our democracy, especially now that Supreme Court has ruled that their advertising dollars are free speech,” laments Hill.  “Fortunately, the labor movement is vibrant.  We are willing to take a position and do the real work that is necessary to win elections.”

Hill is troubled by the automatic, anti-incumbent mood that hangs over this election.  She reminds the union members that she visits that the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates have positive voting records on working family issues.

Senator Russ Feingold has strongly and consistently opposed trade policies that send Wisconsin jobs overseas, and he worked to hold Wall Street accountable for the economic collapse.  Similarly, gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett voted against NAFTA as a Congressman, and as Milwaukee Mayor he has fought to create family-wage jobs in spite of the slumping economy.

“Both Russ Feingold and Tom Barrett have been tested, and we know that they will do the right thing for working people.  Now we have to stand with them and reciprocate that loyalty.” Hill concludes, “There is so much misinformation circulating with the intention of discouraging workers so that they won’t vote.  We have to remind union households how much is at stake.  Progress is still possible if we act.”

With only two weeks left until Election Day, it is high time to get your working family involved.  Contact your local Service Area Organizer to volunteer with Labor 2010.

(Top Photo: Claiborne Hill of AFT Local 3220 with her children (from left to right) Elinor Hill-Gorman, age 8; Finn Hill-Gorman, age 5; Esme Hill-Gorman, age 7; and Henry Hill-Gorman, age 11.  Bottom Photo: Mom knocks while Esme and Elinor stand ready with Labor 2010 fliers. Credit for Both Photos: Sara Wallenfang. For more pictures from the Hill-Gorman family's member-to-member walk, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157625187253048/with/5091642563/.)

Barrett Stands With Working Families Statewide

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is the only candidate in the Governor’s race who supports the rights of working people to collectively bargain for a better future.  He is also the only candidate who has demonstrated his ability to create family-wage jobs and is running for office with a specific plan to rebuild Wisconsin’s middle-class. 

At Labor 2010 events in Eau Claire and Milwaukee last week, Barrett thanked union volunteers for their continued member-to-member political action and encouraged members to cast an informed vote on November 2nd. 

“Our goal is simple.  We are fighting to elect candidates who will support working families,” explained Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  Neuenfeldt was on hand in Eau Claire on Tuesday.    “Tom Barrett will protect workers’ rights and stop Wisconsin jobs from being outsourced. He has a plan which will create 180,000 new jobs during his first term by investing in job training and green technologies, as well as cutting through red tape on new construction.  That is the kind of leadership that we need to jumpstart our economy.”

“The fact that Barrett came to talk to us in the Eau Claire Labor Temple shows that he is serious about representing working people throughout the entire state,” says Katie Korbel, Chief Steward for AFSCME Local 2721.  Korbel works at the St. Croix County Nursing Home.  “Mayor Barrett is a wonderful speaker, and I think he has the passion and ideas necessary to be a great Governor.” 

About 120 union activists heard Barrett speak in Eau Claire on Tuesday afternoon and then followed up with member-to-member outreach to help get him elected.  Korbel visited fellow union members at home to talk about AFL-CIO endorse candidates, while other volunteers made phone calls to union households.

“We had very friendly reactions on the doors,” reports Korbel.  “People are worried about jobs, and many union families are looking forward to Tom Barrett’s administration because of that issue.”

Korbel knows that it will take a lot of hard work over the next two weeks to ensure victory for Barrett and other pro-worker candidates.  She is personally working to turnout volunteers for Labor Walks in St. Croix County to be held on October 27th and October 30th.  Contact your local Service Area Organizer to volunteer for this or other Labor 2010 GOTV efforts.

After visiting Eau Claire, Mayor Barrett received a warm welcome at a GOTV Rally at the Milwaukee Area Labor Council on Saturday.  Labor 2010 activists in Milwaukee County are familiar with both gubernatorial candidates and say that the choice between the two could not be clearer.

Jeff Arnold, Field Representative for IUPAT District Council 7, claims that it all comes down to the economy.  “As Mayor, Tom Barrett created nearly 4,000 family-sustaining jobs through the Menomonee Valley redevelopment project.  As Milwaukee County Executive, Scott Walker made promises to develop the Park East and that land still sits vacant.  You can guess who I am backing in November, and we need every union voter to mobilize and spread the word.”

Arnold helped provide lunch for the army of volunteers who showed up at the Milwaukee Rally on Saturday.  As was the case earlier in Eau Claire, Milwaukee area activists who came to hear Tom Barrett speak stayed to help turnout the labor vote.

Time is running out, but you can still make a difference this election season.  Contact your Local Service Area Organizer immediately to leaflet at a worksite, visit union households, participate in a member-to-member phone bank, or send out local union mail. 

  PRESS COVERAGE OF LABOR 2010 EVENTS WITH TOM BARRETT

The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram ran a fantastic article about Tom Barrett’s visit:
http://www.leadertelegram.com/article_ab2fb3e2-d983-11df-8158-001cc4c002e0.html

All four Milwaukee television stations covered Saturday’s Labor 2010 Rally with Mayor Barrett.  The following clip is from CBS Channel 58:
http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=14480&

VOLUNTEER BREAKDOWN FOR BARRETT RALLIES 

In Eau Claire, union members from AFSCME Local 7, AFSCME Local 63, AFSCME Local 116, AFSCME Local 122, AFSME Local 254, AFSCME Local 278, AFSCME Local 284, AFSCME Local 560, AFSCME Local 727, AFSME Local 1151, AFSCME Local 1742, AFSCME Local 1751, AFSCME Local 1914, AFSCME Local 1946, AFSCME Local 2223, AFSCME Local 2721, AFSCME Local 2742, AFSCME Local 2748, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 2398, AFT Local 4018, AFT Local 4848, CWA Local 4390, CWA Local 4640, DALU Local 24111, IAFF Local 487, IBEW Local 14, OPEIU Local 277, UA Local 434, USW Local 19, USW Local 19L and USW Local 42 heard Tom Barrett speak and then participated in Labor 2010 actions on his behalf.

In Milwaukee, volunteers from AFSCME DC 48, AFSCME Local 80, AFSCME Local 82, AFSCME Local 91, AFSCME Local 104, AFSCME Local 423, AFSCME Local 645, AFSCME Local 758, AFSCME Local 882, AFSCME Local 883, AFSCME Local 1654, AFSCME Local 2748, AFSCME Subchapter 36, IAFF Local 215, IAMAW Local 2110, IAMAW Local 2560, IBEW Local 494, IBEW Local 715, AFT Local 212, AFT Local 2169, AFT Local 4822, AFT-WFNHP Local 5001, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, CWA Local 4603, IRON Local 8, IUPAT DC 7, IUPAT Local 770, IUPAT Local 781, IUPAT Local 802, IUPAT Local 941, IUPAT Local 1204, LIUNA Local 113, NALC Branch 397, UA Local 75, UAW Local 9, UAW Local 407, UAW Local 438, UAW Local 469, UBJCA Local 2283, UFCW International, UFCW Local 1473, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Local 150, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, SEIU Statewide Council, OPEIU Local 9, USW District 2, USW Local 114 and USW Local 2-209 heard from Mayor Barrett before visiting or calling union households for GOTV.

Our full weekly breakdown of all affiliated unions participating Labor 2010 statewide is still being compiled and will be posted on the blog within the next few days.  When so many volunteers are active, it takes a lot of time to pull that information together and give everybody proper credit.  Keep up the good work!

(Top Photo: AFL-CIO endorsed gubernatorial candiate Tom Barrett speaking to union members in Eau Claire.  Top Right Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt introduces Tom Barrett in Eau Claire.  Top Left Photo: Eau Claire Labor 2010 volunteers listen to Tom Barrett.  Second Right Photo: Jeff Arnold of IUPAT DC 7 mans the grill in Milwaukee on Saturday.  Second Left Photo: Greg Korn of IBEW Local 14 phone banks in Eau Claire.  Third Right Photo: USW members listen to Tom Barrett in Milwaukee.  Fourth Right Photo: Scott Kmetz of AFT phone banks in Eau Claire.  Third Left Photo: John Roberts and Adam Holmes of IUPAT DC 7 visit a fellow union member to discuss the midterm elections.

All Eau Claire photos taken by Andy Thompson.  The picture of Jeff Arnold was taken by Leah Ganj-Bakhsh.  All other Milwaukee photos provided by Karen Hickey.  For more pictures from the Labor 2010 GOTV effort, visit: http://flickr.com/wisaflcio.)

LIUNA Local 113 Reaches Undecided Union Voters

"Our members are frustrated because they want the economy to improve faster.  But as we have one-on-one conversations they begin to realize that it took decades to get us into the mess that we are in, and that it is going to take more than a year or two to turn things around,” reports Steve Cagle, LIUNA Local 113 Business Agent and Labor 2010 Worksite Leafleting Coordinator. 

LIUNA Local 113 is proactively contacting members where they work and over the phone to make sure that they understand who their union has endorsed and why.  

According to Cagle, there is a lot at stake for building and construction trades workers during the midterm election.  “We don’t show up at the polls, we could lose the prevailing wage laws and project labor agreements that create a middle-class standard of living in our industry.  We could even see so-called Right to Work legislation be introduced in Wisconsin; that is really the Right to Work for less money, fewer benefits and greater sense of job insecurity.”

Chris Olig, an Organizer with LIUNA Local 113, estimates conservatively that his Local is distributing 2,500 leaflets at worksites per week and in averaging hundreds of phone calls everyday statewide.

“Certain candidates are opposed to public infrastructure and government in general,” says Olig.  “Someone like Scott Walker would not support Department of Transportation and fire station projects.  That hurts our members, who would build those projects, and it also hurts the communities that would benefit from the finished product.” 

Olig concluded, “I am active with the Labor 2010 program because there is nothing that will damage Wisconsin more than increased privatization and the loss of the prevailing wage laws.  The only way to get that message out is worksite by worksite, phone call by phone call, and member by member.”

Is your Local following the example set by LIUNA Local 113?  Time is running out, but you can still swing the undecided union vote by sending out local union mail, leafleting at your worksite, visiting union households or participating in member to member phone banks.  Contact your local Service Area Organizer for Labor 2010 volunteer details.

(All pictures were taken during Labor 2010 actions on Tuesday, October 12th.  Phone banking efforts took place at the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. Worksite leaflets were distributed at the WE Energies Washington Group construction site in Oak Creek, WI.  For more pictures of LIUNA Local 113 in action, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157625027923681/. 

Top Photo: Cris Olig and Steve Cagle of LIUNA Local 113 phone bank to fellow union members.  Photo Credit: Leah Ganj-Bakhsh.  Middle Photo: LIUNA Local 113 members including Chris Olig discuss fliers at the worksite.  Photo Credit: Jenissee Volpitesta.  Bottom Photo: Bill Dreps of LIUNA Local 113 holds up a worksite flier.  Photo credit: Jenissee Volpintesta. )

Hundreds of Volunteers, Tens of Thousands of Union Households

In the past week the Labor 2010 program filled 673 volunteer shifts statewide, reaching out to over 20,000 union members over the phones and at the doors.  

Enthusiasm for the midterm elections is palpable across the state, and it absolutely bubbled over in Milwaukee on Saturday as Senator Russ Feingold himself stopped by to thank volunteers before their member-to-member walk and phone bank efforts.  Rep. Gwen Moore and USW International Vice President John Geenen also fired up the crowd and reminded activists that there is still a lot of work to do before November 2nd.

Saturday’s Labor 2010 Rally at the Milwaukee Area Labor Council was sponsored USW District 2 in memory of recently departed union sister Julie Thorn.

"Julie was a great activist who will be remembered for her passion for the labor movement and her deep commitment to political action," says Julie Stein,   Regional Coordinator for the United Steelworkers’ Women of Steel program.  “A rally with hundreds of union political volunteers is a fitting tribute to her spirit.  If she were still with us today, I know that she would be out knocking on doors to make sure that the best working-family candidates get elected.”

Thorn was a proud member of USW Local 2-200, an amalgamated local in the Milwaukee area.  She was one of the founding organizers of the former PACE Region Ten Women’s Network.   When PACE and USW merged, Thorn made sure that her union sisters found a place in the already established Women of Steel program.

Women of Steel activists are dedicated to making sure that women’s voices are heard on the job and throughout the labor movement.  For more information, visit:  http://www.usw.org/action_center/women_of_steel
 
Cory Cramer of LIUNA Local 113 participated in the Milwaukee phone bank this weekend.  He also grilled brats to help feed the throngs of hungry volunteers.  Cramer remarked, “I volunteer with Labor 2010 to let our union brothers and sisters know that jobs are at stake in the upcoming elections.  We can’t afford to turn back to the failed economic policies that destroyed our economy in the first place.” 

That sentiment is shared by working people across Wisconsin.  Philip Swanhorst of ATU Local 1310 participated in an Eau Claire area phone bank over the weekend.  He had this to say about his personal motivations, “We have to elect good, labor-friendly candidates who are committed to creating and retaining family-wage jobs.”

If job creation and the economy are your top priorities, then the difference between the candidates is pretty overwhelming.

“I am participating in member to member walks because Ron Johnson and Scott Walker scare me,” admits Adam Holmes, Training Coordinator for IUPAT District Council 7.  “Both men see privatization as a good thing.  As County Executive, Scott Walker has eliminated or outsourced every job he’s gotten his hands on.  His ‘deferred maintenance’ strategies are bad for our communities and our infrastructure, not just for the individual families who rely on that particular paycheck.”

“Russ Feingold is an excellent representative for Wisconsin workers and one of the best Senators in the entire country,” says IAMAW District 10 Lodge 2110 release staffer Leah Ganj-Bakhsh.  “It is painful to watch mulit-millionaire newcomer Ron Johnson try to railroad him with deep-pocketed corporate ads.  We may not be able to provide the same level of financial support to Feingold that Johnson is receiving from the Chamber of Commerce, but we can talk to union members one-on-one to make sure that they get out and vote.”

Ganj-Bakhsh is also keeping a close eye on the race for governor.  “As a lifelong resident of Milwaukee County, I know that we can’t afford to handover our state government to Scott Walker.  His leadership at the county level has been deplorable.  Fortunately we have an alternative.  As mayor of Milwaukee Tom Barrett has focused on development and created jobs.  He’s my choice for governor.”

20,000 informed union households is a great start, but over the next 20 days we need to make sure that all 250,000 Wisconsin union members know which candidates the AFL-CIO has endorsed and why. 

Contact your local Service Area Organizer to find out how to do your part to elect candidates who will rebuild the middle-class.

VOLUNTEER BREAKDOWN BY LOCATION

Appleton:  IBEW Local 388, IBEW Local 577, LIUNA Local 330, USW District 2, USW Local 815 and USW Local 3657

Eau Claire:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 284, AFSCME Local 1240, AFSCME Local 1914, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 2398, AFT Local 4018, ATU Local 1310, CWA LOcal 4390, DALU Local 24111 and LIUNA Local 268

Fond du Lac: AFT-Wisconsin, CWA Local 4622 and NALC Branch 125

Green Bay:  AFSCME Local 1889, IBEW Local 577, IBEW Local 2150, OPEIU Local 9, UAW Local 1102, UFCW Local 1473 and USW District 2

Green Lake County:  AFSCME Local 514

Janesville:  IAMAW Lodge 66, NEA and USW District 2

Kenosha:  UAW Local 72

La Crosse:  AFGE Local 1346, ATU Local 519, IAMAW Lodge 21, LIUNA Local 140, NALC Branch 59 and SEIU Health Care Wisconsin

Manitowoc:  AFSCME International, IAMAW Lodge 516, LIUNA Local 330 and USW District 2

Madison:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 1, AFSCME Local 52, AFSCME Local 60, AFSCME Local 65, AFSCME Local 68, AFSCME Local 171, AFSCME Local 705, AFSCME LOcal 720, AFSCME Local 1871, AFSCME LOcal 2079, AFSCME Local 2412, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 223, AFT Local 3220, AFT Local 3732, AFT Local 4848, AFT Local 4999, CWA Local 14549, IBEW Local 159, IUPAT DC 7, IUPAT Local 941, LIUNA 464, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, SEIU Local 1199 and UFCW Local 1473

Menasha:  IBEW Local 158, IBEW Local 577, LIUNA Local 330, USW District 2, USW Local 2-469, USW Local 2-1970 and USW Local 3657

Milwaukee:  AFGE Local 1346, AFSCME International, AFSCME DC 48, AFSCME Subchapter 36, AFSCME Local 20, AFSCME Local 33, AFSCME Local 48, AFSCME Local 80, AFSCME Local 82, AFSCME Local 91, AFSCME Local 104, AFSCME Local 107, AFSCME Local 170, AFSCME Local 423, AFSCME Local 502, AFSCME Local 567, AFSCME Local 645, AFSCME Local 758, AFSCME Local 882, AFSCME Local 952, AFSCME Local 1053, AFSCME Local 1654, AFSCME Local 2754, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 212, AFT Local 269, AFT Local 322, AFT Local 2169, AFT Local 3535, AFT-WFNHP Local 5001, ATU Local 998, CWA Local 4603, DALU Local 19806, IAMAW Lodge 66, IAMAW Lodge 1916, IAMAW Lodge 2110, IAMAW Lodge 2560, IBEW Local 494, IBEW Local 715, IUPAT DC 7, IUPAT Local 770. IUPAT Local 781, IUPAT Local 934, IUPAT Local 1204, LIUNA Local 113, LTC Local 776, OPEIU Local 9, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Local 150, SEIU Statewide Council, UA Local 75, UAW Local 9, UAW Local 72, UAW Local 438, UAW 469, UFCW International, UFCW Local 1473, USW District 2, USW Local L006, USW Local 20, USW Local 220, USW Local 681, USW Local 850, USW Local 904L, USW Local 1096, USW Local 1114, USW Local 1527, USW Local 2006, USW Local 3657, USW Local 3740, USW Local 4845, USW Local 4846,  USW Local 7076-2 USW Local 9040, USW Local 9184, USW Local 11527, USW Local 2-144, USW Local 2-200, USW Local 2-202, USW Local 2-209, USW Local 2-224, USW Local 2-232, USW Local 2-364, USW Local 2-469, USW Local 2-614, USW Local 2-1279 and USW Local 2-1932

Oshkosh: AFSCME Local 597

Racine:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 67, AFSCME Local 892, AFT Retirees, CWA Local 4611, IBEW Local 430, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, UA Local 118, UAW Local 72 and UAW Local 180

Rice Lake:  LIUNA Local 268

Sheboygan:  AFSCME Local 1750

Stevens Point:  AFSCME Local 584, IBEW Local 388, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin and UA Local 434

Two Rivers:  AFSCME Local 76

Wausau:  AFSCME Local 373, AFSCME Local 514, IBEW Local 388, LIUNA Local 330 and USW Local 2-0224

Wisconsin Rapids:  USW Local 2-187

(Top Photo: Sheila Cochran, Secretary-Treasurer of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, introducing the family and friends of the late Julie Thorn, USW sister and activist.  Second Photo: Senator Russ Feingold and Hazel Felch of USW Local 2-1279.  Third Photo:  Julie Thorn memorial button.  Fourth Photo:  Labor 2010 participants from AFSCME, AFT, SEIU and USW in Milwaukee.  Fifth Photo:  Rep. Gwen Moore.  Sixth Photo:  USW International Vice-President John Geenen.  Seventh Photo:  USW District 2 Director Michael Bolton.  Eight Photo:  State Representative Kristen Dexter and State Senator Pat Kreitlow thank Labor 2010 volunteers in Eau Claire.  Ninth Photo: Mary Jane Holland of USW Local 9184 and Mary Quinn of USW Local 9040 participate in the member to member phone bank.  Tenth Photo:  Kathy Antoniewicz of CWA Local 4603 phone banking in Milwaukee.  Bottom Photo: Marie Britt-Sharpe of UAW local 9 phone banking in Milwaukee.  Credit for the Eighth Photo: Andy Thompson.  Credit for All other Photos: Leah Ganj-Bakhsh. For more Labor 2010 Pictures, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/collections/.)

Elections Are Won One Conversation at a Time

Becky Flagg of SEIU Local 150 is a classroom aid in Milwaukee.  She doesn’t like what she sees going on around her, and she is particularly concerned with the push to privatize food services workers at Milwaukee Public Schools.

By volunteering with the Labor 2010 program, Flagg is pushing back against outsourcing and other public service cuts which harm working families and lower the standard of living for the whole community.  In the video above, she shares the story of how she united one union household to vote for Tom Barrett in the governor’s race.

Across Wisconsin, Labor 2010 is backing candidates who will support the public institutions that make our state strong, including public schools.  With exactly three weeks until Election Day, every volunteer is appreciated and every effort really does count. 

Contact your local Service Area Organizer to find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you.

Labor 2010: UFCW is on the Job

UFCW Local 1473 knows how important it is to talk to union members one-on-one about the midterm elections.   With a goal to leave no worksite uncovered, UFCW volunteers are doing their part to inform their co-workers about the high stakes on Election Day.

While distributing flyers in support of  gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett and Sen. Russ Feingold, activists from Local 1473  discuss politics with fellow union members at locations across the state.  Last Thursday and Friday, leafleting took place at Hormel Foods in Beloit, Klement’s Sausage in Milwaukee, Patrick Cudahy in Milwaukee, Seneca Foods in Janesville, and Usinger’s Sausage in Milwaukee.  In just two days, UFCW volunteers covered eight different shift changes and reached hundreds of union members.

“This is important work.  People should be informed and have their say on November 2nd.  Don’t let that day pass you by because these elections will have an impact on your life.  As workers, we need to come together and support people like Russ Feingold and Tom Barrett who will have our backs once elected,” explained Milwaukee area UFCW Local 1473 leaflet participate John F. Sanford. 

Have you participated in a worksite leaflet?  Contact your local Service Area Organizer to see how you can make a difference through the Labor 2010 program.

 

(Top Photo: Griselda Villegas of UFCW Local 1473 leaflets outside of Patrick Cudahy in Milwaukee.  Photo Credit: Karen Hickey.  Middle Photo: Don Collins of USW District 2 helps out with the worksite leaflet at Seneca Foods in Janesville.  Photo Credit: Justin Geiger.  Bottom Photo: Clara Fernandez and John F. Sanford of UFCW Local 1473 handout flyers in support of Tom Barrett and Russ Feingold outside of Klement's Sausage in Milwaukee.  Photo Credit: Karen Hickey.  For more worksite leafleting pictures, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/collections/72157624329244553/.)

IBEW and LIUNA Work Together on Labor 2010

“We don’t tell people how to vote, but we want to make sure that they are aware of the candidates who fight for working families,” says Paul Abrego, Labor 2010 release staffer from LIUNA Local 330.  “Our goal is to provide union members with accurate information about pro-workers candidates such as Congressman Steve Kagen, Senator Russ Feingold and gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett.”

On Tuesday, volunteers from IBEW Local 158, IBEW Local 388, IBEW Local 577 and LIUNA Local 330 reached out to about 100 workers at the St. Elizabeth's Hospital construction site in Appleton to discuss the critical midterm elections.

“We were received very favorably.  These guys really understand what is at stake,” reports Terry Roovers, International Rep. for IBEW.  “We have made great strides recently in terms of prevailing wage laws and project labor agreements.  When we talk to members one-on-one, they realize we can’t afford to turn back.  Those individual conversations will be a determining factor on Election Day.”

Worksite leafleting efforts are ongoing around the state, and you can help workers choose candidates who will rebuild the middle-class.  Contact your local Service Area Organizer for Labor 2010 volunteer opportunities in your area.

(Photo: Guy LePage of IBEW Local 388, Terry Roovers of IBEW, Mark Linsmeier of LIUNA Local 330, Paul Abrego of LIUNA Local 330 on the job site in Appleton. Not pictured Dave Jungbluth of IBEW Local 158.  Photo Credit: Greg Hinds.)

Who Works for Us? On Trade Issues, it’s Russ!

USW Local 2-469 member Norb Gossens had an epiphany during the 2008 election cycle.  He realized that many of the candidates he had previously supported actually worked to ship Wisconsin jobs overseas.  With economic concerns at the top of his agenda, he began volunteering with the AFL-CIO’s member to member political program.

This year, Gossens is contacting fellow union members in Northeast Wisconsin, working harder than ever to ensure that candidates who will rebuild our middle-class get elected or reelected. 

Senator Russ Feingold is at the top of that list, because Feingold opposed unfair trade deals such as NAFTA  and CAFTA from the very beginning.  Feingold is also a cosponsor of the TRADE Act which will level the playing field for American manufacturers.

Feingold’s challenger, multi-millionaire Ron Johnson, supports the trade policies that have sent tens of thousands of Wisconsin jobs overseas.  He has famously celebrated such job losses as “creative destruction.” 

With only 27 days left before the election, every volunteer shift counts!  Contact your local Service Area Organizer to get involved with Labor 2010 today.

(Photo: Norb Gossens of USW Local 2-469 encourages a fellow union member to vote for Sen. Feingold and other AFL-CIO endorsed candidates during a recent Labor Walk.  Photo Credit: Linda Gossens.)

A Double Helping of Alphabet Soup

Wisconsin Labor 2010 member-to -member walks and phone banks are going stronger than ever.  

The numbers speak for themselves.  Over the last two weeks, more than 600 volunteers have visited or called union households in 26 different towns and cities in order to support candidates who will rebuild the middle-class.  Thousands of working families are now aware of the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates, but we need to reach tens of thousands more before Election Day.

Is your Local listed below?  If not, contact your local Service Area Organizer and get involved this week.

VOLUNTEER BREAKDOWN BY LOCATION

Appleton:  AFSCME International, AFT-Wisconsin, IAMAW Local 1947, IBEW Local 2150, USW District 2, USW Local 815, USW Local 1822, USW Local 3657, USW Local 2-20, USW Local 2-144, USW Local 2-169, USW Local 2-469, USW Local 2-482 and USW Local 2-1279

Baraboo:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 720 and AFT Local 3220

Beaver Dam: AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 720, AFT Local 3220 and IAMAW Local 873

Chippewa Falls:  AFSCME Local 284

De Forest:  AFSCME Local 60 and AFSCME Local 65 

Eau Claire: AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 1240, AFSCME Local 1914, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT-TAUWP, AFT Local 2398, AFT Local 4018, CWA Local 4390, DALU Local 24111, LIUNA Local 268 and UFCW Local 1473

Edgerton:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 2412, AFT Local 3220 and IBEW Local 159

Fond du Lac:  AFT-Wisconsin, USW Local 2-145 and USW Local 2-469

Green Bay:  AFSCME Local 1889, IBEW Local 158, IBEW Local 2150, OPEIU Local 9, UAW Local 1102, UAW Local 1981, USW District 2 and USW Local 2-469

Horicon:  AFT Local 3220

Janesville:  UAW Local 95

Kenosha:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 2748, ATU Local 998, UAW Local 72 and UFCW Local 1473

La Crosse: AFGE Local 1346, AFT-Wisconsin, ATU Local 519 and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin

Madison:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 1, AFSCME LOcal 52, AFSCME Local 60, AFSCME Local 68, AFSCME Local 705, AFSCME Local 720,  AFSCME Local 1871, AFSCME Local 2412, AFSCME Local 6090, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 3220, AFT Local 3732, AFT Local 4848, AFT Local 4999, CWA Local 4630, IAMAW Local 873, IBEW Local 159, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin and UFCW Local 1473

Marinette: AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 1752 and LIUNA Local 330

Menasha:  USW District 2, USW Local 2-144, USW Local 2-224, USW Local 2-469, USW Local 2-1279 and USW Local 3657

Milwaukee:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 20, AFSCME Local 33, AFSCME Local 36, AFSCME Local 47, AFSCME Local 170, AFSCME Local 423, AFSCME Local 645, AFSCME Local 882, AFSCME Local 952, AFSCME Local 1053, AFSCME Local 1654, AFSCME Local 1954, AFSCME Local 2412, AFSCME Local 2754, AFSCME Subchapter 36, AFT-Wisconsin, AFT Local 212, AFT Local 2169, AFT Local 3047, AFT Local 3535, AFT Local 4822, AFT-WFNHP Local 5001, AFT-WPEC, ATU Local 998, CWA Local 4603, IAMAW Local 1916, IBEW Local 494, IRON Local 8, IUPAT Local 770, IUPAT Local 781, IUPAT Local 1204, LIUNA Local 113, NALC Branch 397, OPEIU Local 9, SEIU Local 150, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, SEIU Statewide Council, UAW Local 75, UAW Local 438, UAW Local 439, UAW Local 469, UBJCA Local 1053, UFCW Local 1473, USW District 2, USW Local 2209, USW Local 2232, USW Local 9184 and USW 2-209

Neenah:  GMP Local 121-B, IBEW Local 2150, IBT Local 77P, UAW Local 291, USW District 2, USW Local 3657, USW Local 2-144 and USW Local 2-1279

Racine: AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 67, AFT-Retirees, IUPAT Local 108, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, UAW Local 180 and UFCW Local 1473

Sheboygan:  AFSCME Local 1750, AFT-Wisconsin, IBEW Local 965 and LIUNA Local 330   

Stevens Point:  AFSCME Local 373 and USW Local 2-248

Superior:  AFT Local 202 and AFT Local 8047R

Waukesha:  IBEW Local 494, UA Local 75 and USW Local 3740

Wausau:  USW Local 2-224 and USW Local 2-248

Wisconsin Rapids:  LIUNA Local 268, NALC Branch 1083, USW District 2 and USW Local 2-0224

Whitewater:  AFSCME International, AFSCME Local 68, AFSCME Local 171, AFT Local 2169 and AFT Local 3220

(Top Photo: Judy Gatlin of AFSCME 1914 talks with a SMWIA member as part of the Chippewa Falls Labor Walk.  Photo Credit: Dean Scanlon.  Top Right Photo: Melba Redmond of AFT Local 212 in Milwaukee calls on fellow union members to support Russ Feingold and Tom Barrett. Photo  Credit: Jenissee Volpintesta.  Middle Right Photo: Steve Meyer, President of USW Local 224, talking with retired IBEW members as part of a Labor Walk in Wisconsin Rapids.  Photo Credit: Scott Wright.  Top Left Photo: Christine Kistner of AFSCME 1240 phones Eau Claire area union members in support of AFL-CIO endorsed candidates. Photo Credit: Andy Thompson.  Middle Left Photo: Brice Smith of AFT Local 2169 and Katherine Ford of AFT-WFNHP Local 5001 out on a member to member walk in Milwaukee.  Photo  Credit: Jenissee Volpintesta.  Bottom Right Photo: Kevin Rutkowski of AFT Local 212 calls on Milwaukee area union households to support AFL-CIO endorsed candidates. Photo  Credit: Jenissee Volpintesta.  Bottom Left Photo: John Hutto of USW Local 2-145 on a member to member walk in Fond du Lac.  Photo Credit: Greg Hinds.  Visit http:/flickr.com/wisaflcio for the latest Labor 2010 pictures.)

New Leaders, New Vision: Convention delegates adopt the “Solidarity Wisconsin” vision with jobs at the top of their agenda

It should come as no surprise that the theme of the 26th Biennial Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Convention, which concluded on Wednesday, was “Good Jobs Now!”  These are trying times for workers. High unemployment is crushing the dreams of millions of families.  Millions more are bringing home smaller paychecks and have fewer benefits.  Meanwhile, companies are sitting on record profits and cash reserves.  Yet the mood of the convention was optimistic as delegates representing 250,000 Wisconsin workers in over 1,000 affiliated unions chose new leadership and committed to a plan of action.
   
“We don’t think Labor’s best days are behind us. In fact, we believe the time is right to inspire a new generation to fight for justice and prosperity for all workers.  Together we can turn a new page in the history of Wisconsin’s labor movement,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, the newly elected President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

Prior to Monday’s election, Neuenfeldt had served four terms (16 years) as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  Stephanie Bloomingdale, who was until recently the Public Policy Director for the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Care Professionals, AFT, was elected to the office of Secretary-Treasurer.  Neuenfeldt and Bloomingdale ran on a detailed “Solidarity Wisconsin” platform. 

“Solidarity Wisconsin is the vehicle through which Wisconsin’s workers will build a bridge to a new era for organized labor in our state,” explained Bloomingdale.  “We are guided by the principle that each union is only as strong as our overall movement. We commit ourselves to this important work in the firm belief that working people must organize and stand together in order to be fairly paid for the work that we do.”

“Moving forward, we will honor the struggles of the union brothers and sisters who went before us, and recognize that their hard-won gains on behalf of the labor movement are under assault,” pledged Neuenfeldt.  “We will stand together to mount an aggressive response to the challenges of the 21st century and bring justice and prosperity to Wisconsin’s working families.”

Other highlights of the convention included a speech by national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and remarks by AFL-CIO endorsed political candidates including Sen. Russ Feingold, Rep. Steve Kagen and gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett. 

Over the course of three days, prominent speakers from academia and within the labor movement discussed a plethora of topics related to job creation and the economic power of Wisconsin working families including: international manufacturing and the need to renegotiate failed trade policies; the effective use of economic stimulus to retain existing jobs and spur job creation; the implementation of the health care reform bill and the long-term strategy to achieve quality, affordable health care for all; eroding retirement security and what can be done to reverse the trends; the need for sensible immigration reform; and corporate media consolidation and the implications for labor news coverage.  The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance also introduced its first “Boots on the Ground” conservation project, in which union members will weld deer traps for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources white-tailed deer study.

“Don’t be fooled; there is an economic recovery happening in America today — but it’s banks and businesses that are benefiting, not America’s working families,” warned President Neuenfeldt.  “By developing a common agenda, coordinate strategy and hold each other accountable, I believe that working people can reign in Wall Street, and in the process, bring good jobs and a higher standard of living to Main Street.”

Click here to read the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Officer biographies.

 

(Top Photo: Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale and President Phil Neuenfeldt on election night.  Photo Credit: Connie Smith.  Top Right Photo: President Neuenfeldt. Photo Credit: Jenissee Volpintesta. Left Photo: Secretary-Treasurer Bloomingdale.  Bottom Right Photo: Newly sworn in Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Executive Board Members sing "Solidarity Forever."  Photo Credit: Sara Wallenfang.

Convention photos are still being added to our Flickr page.  For updates, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/collections/72157625061807812/.)