Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Racine Union Members Have One Word for President Obama

And that word is JOBS. 

President Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Racine at 1:15PM this afternoon, and turnout from the labor movement is expected to be particularly strong.

Members of USW Local 1343 will be on hand to urge Obama to overturn a recent decision by the federally funded U.S. Export-Import Bank, denying loan guarantees that would have enabled Milwaukee-based Bucyrus International to export over $600 million dollars in equipment to India.  As a result, as many as 1,000 Wisconsin jobs could be lost.

Click here to read recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage about Bucyrus.

This town hall meeting is also a tremendous opportunity to question the president about other recent federal decisions that hurt Wisconsin working families.  This is what Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby had to say on the subject:

President Obama’s visit to our state couldn’t have come at a better time.

First, we need the President to intervene to break the logjam created by Republican Senators in Congress that is preventing the extension of Unemployment benefits to hundreds of thousands of laid-off workers and providing additional funds to the states to pay for desperately needed Medicaid benefits.  (Without this supplemental assistance, most states will have to cut eligibility for health care and the additional budget burden will also lead to the lay-offs of thousands of teachers, police and firefighters due to reduced state aid to local government.)

Second, we need to have a serious discussion about job creation in order to make sure that federal trade policies do not worsen our continuing economic slump.

On Wednesday working people in Racine will have the chance to tell the president that we cannot afford new trade agreements which will send more U.S. manufacturing jobs overseas.  Our economy is fragile and workers, particularly in Southeast Wisconsin, are already suffering.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is strongly opposed to President Obama’s plan to revive the U.S.-South Korea trade agreement (KORUS FTA) as negotiated by the Bush Administration.  This would exacerbate our already lopsided trade relationship with South Korea, jeopardizing thousands of family supporting American manufacturing jobs, most notably in auto and steel production.

Our negotiators should go back to the table to address these imbalanced market-access provisions. We also need to revisit the flawed investment, procurement, and services provisions as well, which limit the ability of our government at all levels to favor American-made goods and services and which grant foreign corporations legal rights which are denied to American corporations.

In the coming days, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO blog will post additional photos and updates from the town hall meeting in Racine.

(Photo: USW Local 1343 prepares to rally outside of President Obama’s town hall meeting today.  Photo Credit: Justin Geiger.)

Johnson Controls Workers in Milwaukee and Mexico Unite to Fight

“We must stand in solidarity with workers in Mexico and around the world,” says Phil Neuenfeldt, Secretary Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “As long as multinational corporations can silence employees by threatening to move operations to a place with fewer worker protections, our standard of living will continue to decline.”

Last Friday workers and organizers from Puebla, Mexico held a press conference outside of Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) headquarters in Glendale.  Local labor and community leaders turned out to support the visiting delegation, who asked to meet with JCI management about worker rights’ violations at JCI’s FINSA plant in Puebla. 

FINSA workers are fighting for the right to establish an independent, democratically run union. Although the company has repeatedly refused to meet with workers in the past, the attention from the press conference forced management to receive letters of support delivered by the delegation.

State Sen. Spencer Coggs, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, spoke at the press conference and delivered a letter of support signed by other state legislators including Rep. Pedro Colón.  According to Coggs, “Johnson Controls operates three different plants in Puebla, and they have already done the right thing by letting workers form an independent union at one location.  This time we hope that workers can be heard without resorting to a strike.”

Other speakers at the press conference included former FINSA worker Isidoro Aguila Lara,  Milwaukee Area Labor Council (MALC) Secretary Treasurer Shelia Cochran, Voces de la Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann Ortiz, and IAMAW Lodge 66 member Doug Curler who lost his job when JCI manufacturing moved from Wisconsin to Mexico.

Michael Rosen from AFT Local 212 worked closely with the U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project (USLEAP) to coordinate this visit and media event.  Wisconsin union members and community supporters from AFT, IAMAW, MALC, UA, UAW, UFCW, USW, Voces de la Frontera, and WFNHP-AFT showed up at the press conference to express their support.

Workers at the FINSA plant have organized the Organizing Coalition of Workers of Johnson Controls (COT-JC) to form an independent and democratic union and recently signed affiliation cards to the Mexican Mineworkers (Mineros).  Since February 2009, the COT-JC has attempted to contact Milwaukee management about these issues, but the company continues to refuse to meet with workers.

The Johnson Controls FINSA plant is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Tlaxcala section of the CROM, a Mexican union frequently used by employers to establish a “protection contract” and keep out independent unions. Workers report that they do not have a copy of the union by-laws or collective bargaining agreement. They also say the union has never consulted them or taken any action to oppose the bank of hours, 12-hour shifts, or other measures imposed by the company.

Labor and academic experts estimate that about 90% of all collective bargaining agreements in Mexico are negotiated with company-funded unions whose sole purpose is to protect corporate interests. This has real consequences for workers north of the border too.  The JCI Milwaukee auto part jobs that were lost to outsourcing in Mexico are just one example.  U.S. owned companies comprise 60% of the multinational corporations operating in Mexico, many of which allow protection contracts.

The Glendale press conference earned extensive media coverage including stories from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Magazine’s News Buzz, In These Times, Wisconsin Public Radio, Workers Independent News, ABC-WISN Channel 12 news, CBS WDJT Channel 58 news, NBC-WTJM Channel 4 news, and Fox WITI Channel 6 news.  Milwaukee Public Television’s Spanish language program ¡Adelante! conducted interviews to air later in the week.  A few sample press clips are listed below.

CBS-WDJT Channel 58 news:
http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=12819

In These Times story from local labor writer Roger Bybee:
http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6120/johnson_controls_bad_faith_on_both_sides_of_rio_grande/

Milwaukee Magazine’s News Buzz:
http://www.milwaukeenewsbuzz.com/?p=123290

To read more about the events leading up to this press conference and the ongoing struggle for workers' rights in Central and South America, visit the USLEAP website:

http://usleap.org

http://usleap.org/major-victory-johnson-controls-workers-mexican-plant-struggle-goes-second-factory

http://usleap.org/johnson-controls-refuses-meet-workers-puebla-mexico

(Top Photo: The visitors from Puebla were given a warm welcome on Thursday night at Conejito's Restaurant in Milwaukee. (from left to right) State Sen. Spencer Coggs, MALC Secretary Treasurer Sheila Cochran, former FINSA worker Isidoro Jorge Aguila Lara, Voces de la Frontera Vice President Juan Luis Gutierrez, Lupita Aguila of USLEAP, Carlos Esquer from los Mineros, State Rep. Barbara Toles, and Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Phil Neuenfeldt. 

All other photos taken at the Glendale press conference.  Top Right Photo: State Rep. Barbara Toles, Michael Rosen of AFT 212, and former JCI Puebla worker Isidoro Jorge Aguila Lara with former JCI Milwaukee worker and current IAMAW Lodge 66 Secretary Treasurer Doug Curler. Left Photo: Voces de la Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann Ortiz.  Bottom Right Photo: Doug Curler of IAMAW Lodge 66, speaking about his experience as a dislocated worker. 

Credit for All Photos: Jenissee Volpintesta.  For more pictures from the press conference, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157624327085080/)

Waukesha Union Members Build Ramps for Camps

Over the weekend volunteers from the Waukesha County Labor Council built wheelchair accessible ramps at Menominee Park.  Camp Pow Wow within the park hosts campers from the Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps (ARCh) during the summer.

“Union members are community members first and foremost,” says Jeff Arnold, President of the Waukesha County Labor Council.  “We fight for access and equality on the job, and we want our kids to be able to enjoy the great outdoors with ease and dignity as well.”

The United Way coordinated this community service effort through labor liaison Kurt Schmidt.

IUPAT DC 7 donated the wood for this project.  The participants included members from BAC Local 7, DALU Local 24111, IAMAW Local 1377, IBEW Local 2150, IUPAT Local 781, LIUNA Local 113, OPCMIA Local 599, and the Wauksha County Labor Council.

Click here to watch video of union members building ramps which access tent platforms.

(All photos of union volunteers at Camp Pow Wow in Menominee Park on June 12, 2010. Photo Credit: Scott Carstens of IUPAT DC 7.  For more pictures, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157624268683114/.)

Relief for Workers Affected by International Trade

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) was recently awarded over 398 thousand dollars in grant money to develop training and education modules which will assist Wisconsin workers who have been adversely affected by foreign trade.  The grant is part of the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

TAA helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of international trade. The program offers a variety of benefits and services to eligible workers, including job training, income support, job search and relocation allowances, a tax credit to help pay the costs of health insurance, and a wage supplement to certain reemployed trade-affected workers 50 years of age and older.

“In the long run, we must address our nation’s unfair trade policies, such as NAFTA and the WTO, which give advantages to companies that exploit cheap overseas labor,” says David Newby, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “But in the meantime, this grant is an important stopgap measure to help the workers who have already been displaced.”

“The new training modules developed for Wisconsin workers will then be shared with other states,” according to Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer.  “We are very excited to be in on the ground floor of this effort.  Our members in manufacturing and other hard hit sectors want a helping hand, not a handout.”

Congresswoman Gwen Moore supports the unions' efforts in creating new and innovated training and retraining modules for a 21st century workforce.

IAMAW affiliates will work together with Wisconsin Workforce Investment Boards, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Labor Education & Training Center and the Wisconsin Technical College System to provide workers with the information and tools necessary to apply for, prepare for, and follow through with the TAA application process. 

Julie for Jobs, Julie for Congress

Earlier today the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education unanimously voted to endorse State Senator Julie Lassa in her run to represent the state’s 7th Congressional District.
 
“Sen. Lassa’s record speaks for itself.  She fights for working people,” says Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby.  “Her dedication to job creation and government accountability is sorely needed in Washington.”

According to Newby, Lassa’s leadership will bolster our delicate economy.  “As co-author of the Green to Gold Initiative and the C.O.R.E. Jobs Act, she has proven herself to be an innovative problem solver who is committed to rebuilding the middle class.”

Newby also noted Sen. Lassa’s work on “truth in contracting” legislation as an important indicator of her priorities and abilities.  “Lassa made sure that taxpayers are getting real value for their money, and that family supporting jobs remain in our communities.”

Newby concludes, “Wisconsin’s 7th District deserves a relentless advocate who will serve in the proud tradition of Rep. Dave Obey.  Sen. Lassa is right choice to guide us towards a robust economic recovery.”

As the statewide coordinating council for AFL-CIO unions, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO determines union policy on state issues, speaks for working men and women on matters of public concern, provides services to local unions, and coordinates political and legislative action with its over 1,000 affiliated unions which represent over 250,000 members in the state.

In 2010, Let’s Do It Again!

  The 2008 election yielded incredible gains for Wisconsin working families.  Pro-worker candidates swept the Governor’s office, the State Assembly and the State Senate because union volunteers leafleted their worksites, participated in member to member phonebanks, sent out local union mail and went door to door to talk to fellow union members.

Over the past year and a half, our newly elected majorities have made significant progress in many areas, including laws and budget items which will:

• Make Wisconsin a safer, more equitable place to work.

• Create tax fairness and strengthen the public services that make Wisconsin a great place to live.
  

• Rebuild our state infrastructure with family-wage jobs.

• Expand our manufacturing sector as part of a Green Economy for working people.

In 2010 we must protect the successes that we’ve seen and secure further victories for working families.  That means working hard to re-elect leaders who stood with labor and the middle class, as well as supporting newcomers who are committed to advancing working families. 

In the closing weeks of the 2009-2010 Legislative Session, union members managed to raise a lot of awareness on outstanding issues such as energy policy, minimum wage, the need for additional regional transit authorities, and our inadequate wage lien laws (click here to read more about the Wage Protection Act).

“We have a much better chance of revisiting our unfinished business from a fresh angle if an even stronger majority of working family candidates are re-elected,” according to Phil Neuenfeldt, Secretary Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “One day can make quite a difference, especially if it is Election Day.  We must pull out all of the stops on behalf of leaders who support workers.”

To find out how you can volunteer with the Labor 2010 political program, contact your local service area organizer.  Click here for contact information.

To read more about the legislative achievements of 2009-2010, click here for a full report.

(With the help of sympathetic elected officials, working families have achieved many important legislative goals over the past year and a half.  But there is still a lot of work to do in 2010 and beyond.  In the photos above, union members take action on some unfinished business.

Top Row, Right Column and Bottom Row:  Union leaders write to Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan in support of the Wage Protection Act, which would have made it possible for workers to collect more of the money they are owed if their employer goes out of business.  Although SB2 did not pass through the Assembly during this legislative session, the dialogue that union members have started is likely to continue if working family candidates are re-elected.  

Top Row (left to right):  Mike Koziara, Vice-President of the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO; Mark Shoemaker of BLET Local 13; Dave Hahn of BAC District Council of Wisconsin; Gregg Korn, Business Manager of IBEW Local 14; and Dean Rink, Vice-President of IAMAW Local 1115.  Right Column (top to bottom): Melanie Schaller, Co-President of AFT Local 1907; and Mike Grimslid of Ironworkers Local 383. Bottom Row (left to right): Jeff Starr of IBEW Local 388 and Randy Radtke, President of the Marathon County Labor Council; Kenosha AFL-CIO Council Secretary Treasurer Judy Jensen and President Ron Fredrick; IAMAW Lodge 1377 President Mike Kluth and Vice President Roger Sullivan; and Jeff Klein, Unit 7 Chair for IBEW Local 2150.

Bottom Left Photo: Kurt Randorf, President of USW Local 2-150, holds a flier explaining the new federal health insurance reform laws.  Reform was only possible because working people got engaged in the 2008 elections and stayed involved through the legislative process.  Now some of important details about how to apply the changes will be in the hands of state and local officials.  In 2010, we must elect candidates who will interpret and implement the new health care laws for the benefit of working families rather than big insurance companies.

Bottom Right Photo:  Union member Ross Winklbauer and Beth Norris of Waukesha, Ozuakee and Washington County (WOW) Workforce Development Center at the Waukesha Unemployment Resource Expo on June 4, 2010.  The event was cosponsored by the Waukesha County Central Labor Council and the United Way of Waukesha County as a response to the staging unemployment rates that are crippling working families.  The creation of stable, family-wage jobs is the number one political priority of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO heading into the 2010 election cycle.

Photos taken by Andy Thompson, Justin Geiger, Scott Wright and Greg Neil.  For more pictures, visit the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO flickr page at http://flickr.com/wisaflcio.)

Election Day Made a Difference: Expanding Our Manufacturing Sector as part of a Green Economy

  “Wisconsin's workforce is second to none in terms of productivity, skill and quality.  This is an extremely valuable asset as we transition into a green economy,” says Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer.  “In large part because of our politically active labor movement, Wisconsin is making the investments needed to keep our manufacturers and personnel on the cutting edge."  

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO’s Good Jobs Agenda scored a high profile victory last month when the Green to Gold bill proposed by Sen. Julie Lassa and Rep. Cory Mason was signed into law. 

Green to Gold will create a revolving loan fund which will align existing state resources and federal dollars to ensure that Wisconsin’s manufacturers have the capital they need to invest in energy efficiency, use renewable energy, and make products that support a green economy.

“We are very excited about this legislation,” says Secretary Treasurer Neuenfeldt.  “Reducing energy costs through efficiency makes manufacturers more competitive and profitable and creates high quality green jobs retooling existing facilities.  This is a win for business, workers and our environment.”

Green to Gold was just one of several important measures that passed during the 2009-2010 Legislative Session which will position Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector to grow and lead in a greener economy. The Legislature approved $5.2 million dollars more than what was originally budgeted for the Wisconsin Technical College System, which amounts to a $1.84 million dollar increase over the next two years.  Funding for student financial aid was also increased.  

This is the first statewide increase for the Wisconsin Technical College System in many years.  It will help people gain and maintain essential skills for the green jobs of the future.

“In 2008, we elected strong leaders who are committed to green manufacturing in Wisconsin.  In 2010, we have to work hard to keep them and add to their ranks,” concludes Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Executive Vice President and Political Director Sara Rogers.   “Now is the time to start volunteering with the member to member political program.”

For more information about victories achieved during the 2009-2010 State Legislative Session, click here to read a detailed report.

(In the photos above union leaders and volunteers from around the state show their support for the Wisconsin Good Jobs Agenda, which includes expanded green manufacturing.  

Top Row (from left to right): Chad Whiteside, Business Representative for UFCW Local 1473; Kathy Brenden, Political Coordinator for CWA Local 4640; Jack and Bruce Bollerud (Father and Son) of SEIU local 1 and WEAC respectively; Dave Hinkley, Recording Secretary of USW Local 3740; OPEIU Local 39 member Sarah Przybylski.  Photo on the Right: UAW Local 833 members Andrew Segovia and Mike Cline.  Left Column (from top to bottom): Craig Olsen, Financial Secretary for UAW Local 180; John Valko, President of UAW Local 180; Joel Kapusta, Business Agent for IBEW Local 159. 

For more pictures from the Good Jobs Now campaign, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/collections/72157623211438772/.)

Election Day Made a Difference: Rebuilding Wisconsin Infrastructure with Family-Wage Jobs

Thanks to the political efforts of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and affiliated unions, the 2009-2011 Biennial State Budget included adequate funding for transportation and provisions to ensure the creation of high-quality construction jobs. 

Construction related to several newly created Regional Transit Authorities will be subject to prevailing wage laws, which have been used since the 1930’s to make sure that public construction projects pay wages that are appropriate in a given geographic area. 

“When public money goes into a project, taxpayers should demand that the jobs created won’t erode the local standard of living,” explains Phil Neuenfeldt, Secretary Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “These rules benefit the community and lead to higher quality construction.”

In fact, the state budget included significant improvements and reforms to existing prevailing wage statutes.  These reforms will verify that employers are complying with prevailing wage requirements.  Smaller public projects will now be subject to the prevailing wage law and the regulations will now extend to private construction projects that receive over $1 million in public taxpayer funds. 

Strengthening and extending prevailing wage laws raises the standard of living for workers and has a positive ripple effect throughout our economy as those workers spend the wages that they have earned.

The State Recovery Package, which was passed by the legislature as Senate Bill 62 and signed into law separately from the budget, is also a significant victory for families and individuals longing to get back to work.  This new law positions Wisconsin to productively and efficiently channel federal stimulus funds into transportation projects and improved workforce training opportunities, especially in jobs related to the green economy.

And last but not least, Senate Bill 672 cracks down on employers who commit fraud by deliberately misclassifying employees as “independent contractors”. This is an especially serious problem in the construction industry, where unscrupulous contractors routinely under bid law abiding ones.  

Before SB 672, companies that broke the law could save as much as 30% in labor-related costs by not paying Workers Compensation coverage, Unemployment Insurance taxes, federal and state payroll taxes, and benefits that would normally apply to regular employees, such as health insurance.

Workers who are misclassified as independent contractors are also denied the protections afforded by wage and hour laws.

SB 672 requires the state Department of Workforce Development to provide more education on the proper classification of employees, to coordinate stronger enforcement of current laws with other agencies, and to investigate construction job sites to ensure that individuals are properly classified as employees or independent contractors. If a construction contractor refuses to comply with the law, a “stop work order” can be issued.

To learn more about how the 2009-2010 Session of the Wisconsin State Legislature benefited working people, click here to read a more detailed report.

“Pro-worker legislation, such as prevailing wage improvements, sat idle in the legislature for the past 20 years, until we elected a better government in 2008,” says Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby.  “In 2010 we have to do it again.  We’ll be out there, backing the candidates who support working families.”

(Top Photo: Rich Abelson, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 48 speaking at yesterday's Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Press Conference. Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Christine Neuman-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera are also pictured. Top Left Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Phil Neuenfeldt talking about job creation at the UAW Fair Trade Rally in outside of the shuttered Delphi Automotive plant in Oak Creek, WI.  Top Right Photo: Kelly Buss of LIUNA Local 330 at the 23rd Annual Labor Leaders Conference in Neenah, WI.  Participants at the conference discussed how to engage union members in political action, which will lead to more family-wage jobs.  Middle Left Photo: Jim Wegand of IBEW Local 2150 enjoying an educational day at the conference.  Middle Left Photo: Louann Bougie of USW Local 2-144 at the 23rd Annual Labor Leaders Conference.  Bottom Left Photo: Congressman Steve Kagen talking to Lyle Balistreri, President of the Milwaukee Building Trades and Construction Council at a recent Wisconsin State AFL-CIO political steering committee meeting.  Bottom Right Photo: Tim Coughlin and Jim Coumen of Carpenters Local 314 brave the elements to raise funds for political education at the South Central Federation of Labor's 51st Annual Bean Feed.  Pictures contributed by Jenissee Volpintesta, Greg Hinds, Justin Geiger, and Greg Neil. 

For more pictures of union leaders and volunteers building the political power necessary to strengthen our economy, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/.)

Area Labor Federations Elect New Executive Boards

In order to respond to the continuously changing social, political and global environment that affects the livelihoods of working families, local unions and central labor councils are coming together regionally to work toward common goals. 

As a democratic voice for members from diverse backgrounds and occupations, Area Labor Federations (ALFs) are uniquely positioned to identify job creation opportunities, build strategic community alliances, educate the public about unions, and advance the political priorities of working people.

ALFs in North Central and Northeast Wisconsin, which met for the first time last fall, recently held their first annual meetings to elect officers.

The North Central Wisconsin ALF, which serves Adams, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca and Wood Counties, met on May 15th and elected the following leaders to serve on the Executive Board:

Chair Sally Feistel of USW District 2

Secretary-Treasurer Deb Foth of AFSCME Local 1751

Vice Chair Todd Bencke of UA Local 434

Vice Chair Pat Nelson of IUOE Local 139

Vice Chair David Northup of IBEW Local 388

Vice Chair Craig Wagner of SMWIA Local 18

Vice Chair Joseph Helmuth of IBEW  Local 1147

Randy Radtke, Labor Council Rep. for the Marathon County Labor Council

Ron Holden, Labor Council Rep. for the Wood County & Vicinity Central Labor Council

Mark Westphal, Labor Council Rep. for the Fox Valley Area Labor Council

Traci Parrott, Labor Council Rep. for the Stevens Point - Portage County Labor Council

Gary Ruhl, Building Trades Rep. from the Northeast WI Building & Construction Trades Council

John Durben of APWU Local 2247, Rep. for Unions Comprising 30% of ALF Membership

Ken Curry, Rep. for the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans

Karen Bays of AFSCME Local 323, Rep. for Unions Comprising 70% of ALF Membership

The Northeast Wisconsin ALF, which serves Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Oconto, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago Counties, met on May 27th and elected the following leaders to serve on the Executive Board:

Chair Michael Bolton of USW District 2

Secretary-Treasurer Paulette Feld of AFSCME Local 579

Vice Chair Mike Haak of IBEW Local 2150

Vice Chair Shane Griesbach of IUOE Local 139

Vice Chair John Rolbiecki of IAMAW District 10

Vice Chair Missy Sorenson of AFSCME Local 514

Vice Chair Merril Wyatt of IAMAW Local 1260

Dennis Bomberry, Labor Council Rep. for the Marinette/Menomonie Central Labor Council   

Barb Felde, Labor Council Rep. for the Sheboygan County Labor Council

Larry Lautenschlager, Labor Council Rep. for the Winnebago County Labor Council

Robert Lutze, Labor Council Rep. for the Lakes Regional Labor Council

Dave Page, Labor Council Rep. for the Fond du Lac County Labor Council

Jeff Selin, Labor Council Rep. for the Fox Valley Area Labor Council

Tony Vanderbloemen, Labor Council Rep. for the Greater Green Bay Area Labor Council

Gary Ruhl, Building Trades Rep. for the Northeast WI Building and Construction Trades Council

Denny Lauer of USW Local 2-1279, Rep. for Unions Comprising 70% of ALF Membership

Mark Buss of UA Local 400, Rep. for Unions Comprising 30% ALF Membership

Timm Driscoll, Rep. for the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans

Nancy Becker of AFSCME Local 1288 was elected to one of three Diversity Seats on the Executive Board.  The other two remain open at this time.

Delegates to the Northeast Wisconsin ALF also approved a constitutional amendment which would expand the ALF’s jurisdiction to include Marinette County.  (That amendment must be approved by the national AFL-CIO before it goes into effect.)

Because Area Labor Federations are designed to coordinate and strengthen the political clout of working people, delegates also heard from guest speakers during the annual meetings.  State Senator Julie Lassa spoke to the North Central Wisconsin ALF.  Lassa is running for the Congress, hoping to replace retiring Rep. Dave Obey.  Julie Heun, Campaign Manager for Rep. Steve Kagen, addressed the Northeast Wisconsin ALF.

(Top Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Sara Rogers swears in the newly elected Executive Board of the Northeast WI ALF.  Second Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Phil Neuenfeldt discusses recent legislative victories with the Northeast WI ALF, Chair Michael Bolton also pictured. Third Photo: The newly elected Executive Board of the North Central WI ALF with Wisconsin State AFL-CIO officers Phil Neuenfeldt and Sara Rogers.  Fourth Photo: State Senator and congressional candidate Julie Lassa at the North Central WI ALF meeting.  Fifth Photo: The newly elected Executive Board of the Northeast WI ALF. Bottom Photo: Julie Heun, Campaign Manager for Rep. Steve Kagen, at the Northeast WI ALF meeting.  All photos by Scott Wright and Sara Wallenfang.  For more pictures from recent ALF meetings, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/collections/72157622253244477/.) 

Election Day Made a Difference: Fair Taxes Support Public Structures and Vital Services

“Wisconsin is a great place to live because of our public infrastructure and institutions,” says David Newby, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “After decades of tax breaks for the wealthy and tax loopholes for corporations, the 2009-2011 state budget filled some important revenue holes to create fairness in funding for public structures.”

The 2009-2011 state budget created a new income tax bracket for individuals who make more than $225,000 per year and married couples who make more than $300,000.  The richest Wisconsin residents will now be taxed at a rate of 7.75%, which is one percentage point higher than the previous top tax bracket.

Capital gains, the income generated from the sale of stock, real estate or other nonproductive assets, are treated more favorably under Wisconsin tax code than income earned through actual labor.  Prior to the current state budget 60% of capital gains income was exempt from state income tax. 

The most recent state budget reduced the capital gains exemption to 30%.  (Gains made from the sale of a primary residence are still excluded, up to $500,000.)  

“It is a matter of basic fairness that income from wages and capital gains should be treated equally for tax purposes.  This budget was a step in the right direction,” says Phil Neuenfeldt, Secretary Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “41 other states apply their income tax to 100% of capital gains.  In other words, Wisconsin was losing out on a common source of revenue."

Of course, our improved tax codes mean little if they aren’t enforced.  That is why the state budget included funds so that the Department of Revenue can hire more staff.   $1.3 billion in delinquent taxes, fees and interest are currently owed to the state.  The investment in new workers will be more than offset by the revenue collected.

In addition to the progress made through the budget, the Wisconsin State Legislature also closed the so-called “Las Vegas Loophole” which allowed corporations dodge taxes by setting up subsidiaries in states without a corporate income tax.   80% of Wisconsin banks took advantage of this dodge, and prior to the new combined reporting requirements 62% of corporations that made profits in Wisconsin paid no corporate income tax whatsoever.   It is estimated that the stricter law will bring $215 million into the state’s general fund in each two-year budget cycle.

“We have more fairness in our tax structure today, because we elected working family candidates in 2008,” says Secretary Treasurer Neuenfeldt.  “In 2010 we must continue to turn out the vote for politicians who will make corporations and the rich pay their fair share towards strong, stable public structures.”

While those who can afford it will be taxed at a higher rate, middle-class working people in Wisconsin actually received some significant tax breaks over the past two years.  Click here to read our previous blog post on fair taxation.

For more information about improvements in our tax code and other victories during the 2009 -2010 Legislative Session, click here to read a detailed legislative report.

(In the photos above AFSCME Council 48 members protest the proposed Milwaukee County budget outside of a listening session held by County Executive Scott Walker.  If Walker becomes our next Governor, all of the progress towards a fair tax code that has been made over the past two years will be in jeopardy.  Photos taken on May 10, 2010 by Dominique Noth.  For more pictures of the listening session protest, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157623917045015/.)