Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Thank you for your Action!

Thanks to those who contacted their legislators or testified in opposition to Special Session Senate Bill 1 “Corporate Profits Over People”.  Your actions led to a significant improvement in the language of the law before it was passed and signed.

Unfortunately, the bill did change Wisconsin’s corporate liability laws to make it more difficult for workers and consumers who are harmed by faulty products to hold manufacturers and sellers accountable.  However, with your help we did make a difference.  The original bill required that a victim prove that an employer or manufacturer “intended to cause harm” in order to bring a case to court. This standard would have been virtually impossible to prove, closing the courthouse door to many victims.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO participated in a press conference with many advocacy groups that expressed concern over the higher standard of proof and many other losses of individual rights contained in the legislation.  After hours of testimony from the public, and because you raised your voice and contacted your legislators, we were able to preserve the current standard of proof—which is “corporate indifference” or “intentional disregard of workers’ safety”.  This standard is more likely for victims to prove in court and will be significant in helping those injured on the job, hurt from a faulty product or harmed by negligent care. 

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference!

For more information on the Legislative Session so far, be sure to read the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Legislative Report to the Executive Board.

President Obama’s State of the Union Address

  The following is a statement from Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt on Tuesday's State of the Union Address:

We strongly support the vision laid out by President Obama on supporting infrastructure and American innovation to create good jobs right here in the United States.

The working families of Wisconsin are ready to work with the President and hold him to his promise.  Labor, business and everyday Wisconsinites are united in our desire to strengthen our economy and communities -- by rebuilding schools, bridges, highways and investing in green jobs.

A spending freeze, however, will slow down job growth -- it's simply the wrong medicine at the wrong time.  And it is essential to preserve our retirement security programs -- Social Security and Medicare.

We must move to put the 112, 082 unemployed Wisconsinites back to work and rebuild bargaining power and good jobs for our middle class.

 

Please join the effort to track and create high-quality family-sustaining good jobs by "liking" the Wisconsin Jobs Watch Facebook Page:

http://facebook.com/job.o.meter

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Ready for Bear Packing Jobs

 
Dear Illinois,

Governor Scott Walker might be sending our Wisconsin jobs to Illinois, but Wisconsin workers will have jobs packing Bear meat on Sunday.

 

Yours truly,

 

Phil Neuenfeldt and the Wisconsin Labor Movement

 

Special Session Serves Corporate Interests, Not Job Creation

The following statement is from Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt:

Governor Walker called a Special Legislative Session under the guise of job creation.  Yet there is scarcely a job associated with any of the four bills that passed this week.  These new laws will add millions of dollars to Wisconsin’s deficit, chip away at the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and amount to a handout for companies who have made no employment commitments in return.

Rather than pushing for measures that would alleviated the jobs crisis, Senate Bill 1 blatantly places the interests of negligent employers over the needs of workers injured or killed on the job.  It also strips the citizens of Wisconsin of important consumer protections.  This so-called reform doesn’t create a single job, and yet, it does immeasurable harm to ordinary people seeking justice.

Please join the effort to track and create high-quality family-sustaining good jobs by "liking" the Wisconsin Jobs Watch Facebook Page:

http://facebook.com/job.o.meter

So far the job-o-meter is moving in the wrong direction.

 

Profits Before People: Legislative Special Session Update

On Tuesday, the State Senate passed Special Session Senate Bill 1 (SS SB1).  The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is extremely disappointed with this decision.  The State Assembly is expected to vote on the same flawed proposal as Special Session Assembly Bill 1 (SS AB1) sometime today.

Though this Special Session was called to address job creation, there was not one additional job promised by anyone who testified at the hearing in support of SS SB/AB 1, during almost 10 hours of testimony. One business owner who testified in support was asked if he would hire more workers if the new corporate liability limits became law. He decried it as a trick question and refused to say that he would hire any more employees. At least he was honest.

It only helps confirm that this legislation is not about job creation. The “business climate” sought by this bill is one that sharply limits real accountability to citizens for corporate indifference to worker safety and health, the production and sale of harmful products, and reckless conduct that results in injury or death. It denies meaningful remedies in the courts for workers who are injured or killed on the job, as well as consumers and other ordinary citizens who have suffered harm. It undermines an essential element of our system of liability law—to act as a meaningful deterrent so that there are many fewer victims.

Victims such as ironworkers Jeffrey Wischer, William DeGrave and Jerome Starr who fell to their deaths from a crane basket during the construction of Miller Park stadium in Milwaukee, when portions of the roof were being installed. A jury concluded that Mitsubishi Corporation disregarded the safety rights of the workers when its agents insisted that a crane operator hoist a roof load in very high winds, when no wind speed calculations had been made, and the crane was lifting a load of nearly one million pounds, exceeding its limitations. Construction employees had been alarmed about conditions, but were told by management: “… that we were hired from the neck down…that we were basically hired as a labor force and they would do the thinking, and we would do the labor.” *

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO stands ready to work together with anyone in a sincere effort to retain and create family-sustaining jobs in our communities, but that is not what SS SB/AB 1 is about.

We continue to oppose this legislation, and we thank each and every union member who took the time to contact their elected officials about it.

Please join us as we continue to fight for the creation of high quality jobs. 

 

The easiest way to get involved is to "like" the Wisconsin Jobs Watch Facebook page:

http://facebook.com/job.o.meter

*Wischer, et al v. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America. Inc. et al, 2005 WI 2. Testimony in deposition by Kirt Upton, pages 205-208.

Repeal Health Care? Working Families Say NO!

Yesterday in Racine, working families spoke up and said NO to the House of Representatives repealing the new health care law.  Congressional Republicans - who have high quality, tax-payer funded healthcare - want to roll back the new health care reforms which are helping millions of Americans everyday.

Labor activists and concerned citizens gathered outside of Congressman Paul Ryan’s office in downtown Racine to express their alarm over the possible repeal of the Affordable Health Care Act.  Many had personal stories about how they or a loved one have been helped by health care reform. 

Constituents later met with Rep. Ryan’s staff to officially encourage the Congressman and the House of Representatives to start focusing on job creation and stop playing political games with health care. 

“Health care is a right for every American.  Repealing the advances that have been made is not the way to go forward.  Politicians must put aside their partisan differences and work together on improving the current legislation so that the medical system can work for all of us,” stated Bob Haase, Iron workers Local 8 retiree who was on hand to show his support for health care.

Many of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act are already in place.  Here are some of the ways in which health care reform is helping Wisconsin’s working families:

•    Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and young people can stay on their parents’ policies until age 26.  

•    Insurance companies can’t drop people from coverage when they become sick or put a lifetime cap on benefits.

•    Insurance companies must cover preventive care such as mammograms, annual physicals and cancer screenings without deductibles or co-pays.

•    For Medicare recipients, the new law will eventually close the donut hole, the gap in coverage when seniors must pay full price for their needed medications and it has already provided a $250 prescription drug rebate for needed medication.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office repealing the Affordable Care Act would threaten the lives of 30,000 people who could die needlessly without it, and it would add $230 billion to the Federal deficit.

“Many Wisconsinites depend on the new provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Instead of focusing on creating jobs, politicians are choosing to go after health insurance reform which is a historic first step in guaranteeing all Americans quality health care.  The law is not perfect, but like the original Social Security bill and virtually every other great program in our history, it is an important start to build upon,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

Has the health care law helped you?  If so, please share your story by clicking here.

Affiliates who participated in the action included Iron workers Local 8, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, SEIU Wisconsin State Council, UAW local 180 and UAW local 1866.  The event was co-sponsored by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Community for Change,  Health care for American Now and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans.

(Top Photo: Working families rally in support of health care outside of Rep. Paul Ryan's office.  Photo Credit:  Justin Geiger.  Middle right photo:  Bob Haase, Ironworker Local 8 retiree with Gary Mikolajczyk, UAW 1866 retiree.  Photo Credit:  Karen Hickey.  Bottom Right Photo:  Activists say NO to the repeal of health care in Racine.  Photo Credit:  Justin Geiger.)

Jobs Bus Honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Vision

Hundreds of community members celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by calling attention to the jobs emergency in the state of Wisconsin.  Along with fighting for civil rights, Dr. King devoted much of his life to the fight for economic equality.  Community members and labor activists continued King’s legacy on Monday by demanding family-supporting jobs for every citizen of Wisconsin.  

Milwaukee Jobs Now! - a coalition of labor, community and faith-based organizations - sponsored a Jobs Bus filled with community leaders, union members and unemployed workers to celebrate King Day. 

The Jobs Bus kicked off the day with a rally at the Talgo parking lot.  Activists reminded Gov. Scott Walker and elected officials of a missed opportunity to bring thousands of good jobs to Wisconsin.  The group vowed to hold Gov. Walker accountable for the 250,000 jobs he has promised to create for the state. 

The next stop for the Jobs Bus was a Justice Rally in downtown Milwaukee.  Despite the wintery weather and snowy roads, hundreds of people packed St. Francis of Assisi Church to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and rally for jobs.  Participants donned orange ribbons in solidarity with workers in need of jobs. 

“Let us not forget that Dr. King died fighting for the rights of workers,  so that justice could be brought to the work place and people could have a voice on the job,” explained Rep. Gwen Moore, one of many speakers who paid tribute to King. 

“The teachings of Martin Luther King still stand in that we cannot allow ourselves to be divided by those in power if we want a better future and the future is in our hands,” said Juan Soto, an unemployed worker who has been out of a job for over two years.

Soto is a former employee of Southwest Metal Finishing, polishing parts for Harley Davidson.  He was laid off when the company moved part of its operation to Mexico.  Although the company is rehiring, it is doing so through a temporary agency and the rehired workers are receiving a fraction of their former wages.

 
“The struggle to put pressure on representatives to create jobs and support the unemployed depends on a strong alliance between all workers and the broader support of the community,” concluded Soto.  “I am honored to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with you and continue his fight for working people.” 

Participants braved the cold and marched through the streets to a nearby statue of Dr. King.  A microphone was passed around for all to have their voice heard in celebration of the accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Top Photo:  Community members gather around Dr. King statue to pay tribute to his legacy.  Upper left Photo:  Ralliers march to Dr. King statue to call attention to jobs crisis.  Lower Right Photo:  Ken Greening Plumbers Local 75 says that justice is in jobs.  Bottom left hand photo:  Got Jobs?  Activists use MLK Day to demand good jobs for Wisconsin.  Credit for all photos:  Karen Hickey)

Profits Before People: What You Can Do To Stop It

Yesterday’s blog post explained in great detail how Senate Bill 1/ Assembly Bill 1, which is currently under consideration by a Special Session of the Legislature, will eliminate corporate accountability and endanger the public without creating a single Wisconsin job. 

Click here to read yesterday’s article.

If you still haven’t called or emailed your legislators and urged them to vote NO, now is the time to do so.

Click here to find out who your State Senator and Assembly Representative are.

Not sure what to say?  It’s as simple as this:

Senate Bill 1 and Assembly Bill 1 put corporate profits before people.  As your constituent I strongly urge you to vote no on this legislation and focus on measures that will actually create family-sustaining jobs.

Be sure to state your name and where you live.
   
The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO will continue to speak up whenever a law is introduced that would negatively impact working families, and we will continue to fight for the creation of high quality jobs.  Thank you for join us in action!

Profits Before People: Senate Bill 1 / Assembly Bill 1 Are All Wrong

“The special session on job creation is being used as a cloak for corporate interests to achieve a long-desired goal – to deny meaningful access to the courts for workers who are injured or killed on the job, as well as consumers and other victims who have been harmed,” warned Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

On January 11th, labor and community groups gathered at the State Capitol to express opposition to Special Session Senate Bill 1/ Assembly Bill 1 (SB 1/AB 1).  After the press conference, the legislature heard almost 10 hours of testimony, much of it critical of the intent and consequences of the proposal.

One of the most moving stories came from Dawn Kellner, whose 15 year-old son Jared was crushed when chunk of concrete fell from a poorly maintained parking garage O'Donnell Park last summer.  Under the proposed law, it will be almost impossible for Kellner to hold negligent contractors responsible for her son’s death.  “I want to know why Governor Walker wants to protect the worst of the worst.”

Click here to watch a short news clip of Kellner’s testimony, and Governor Walker’s inadequate response. 

The destructive consequences of this legislation include:

• Changes punitive damages criteria for those injured on the job.  Victims of at work accidents will now have the burden of proving that the injury was “intended” by the employer in order to be awarded punitive damages.  This new heightened standard effectively closes the courthouse door to most victims of egregious conduct resulting in serious injury or death. Had this proposed new standard been in place at the time that three ironworkers; Jeffrey Wischer, William DeGrave and Jerome Starr; fell to their deaths from a crane basket during the construction of Miller Park stadium in Milwaukee, their families would have been denied a punitive damage award.

• Changes to product liability law that encourage the export of jobs.  The bill requires that victims harmed by faulty products seek compensation from the manufacturer first. Since it is near impossible to track down manufacturers and pursue legal remedies in countries such as China, this bill creates a perverse incentive to shift more manufacturing jobs out of Wisconsin. 

• Eliminates retailer responsibility for harmful products sold in sealed packages.  This means that if a child is injured by a faulty toy the family has limited rights and options. 

• Limits the rights of nursing home residents’ families to protect their loved ones from negligent care.  The bill changes legal standards for nursing homes making it significantly harder to hold institutions accountable.  It would deny families access to reports that show a pattern of abuse or mistreatment.
  

Testimony on the proposal stretched late into Tuesday night, and Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Legislative Research Director Joanne Ricca was one of the last people to offer comment.  "Stripping away individual legal rights and protections for workers, consumer and seniors to the extent this legislation does is not a small step.  It cannot be justified by a few anecdotes and vague references to a 'friendlier business climate.'"

Ricca ended by reminding the legislature that the bill is offered as part of an emergency special session to create jobs and should be measured by that stated purpose.  “Again, after over 9 ½ hours of testimony, where are the jobs?”

Indeed, this bill will not create a single job in Wisconsin, and yet, it would do immeasurable harm to citizens seeking justice.

Both houses of the Legislature are expected to vote on SB 1/ AB 1 early next week.  Your action is urgently needed. 
 
There is no time to lose. Please call or email your elected officials and urge them to vote NO on Senate Bill 1 and Assembly Bill 1. 

Click here to find out who your State Senator and Assembly Representative are.

It only takes a moment to tell your elected officials to stop protecting criminal corporate activity and start working on meaningful job creation legislation.  Please speak up before it’s too late.

(Top Photo: Working families gather at the Capitol to oppose SB 1/AB 1.  Bottom Photo:  Brenda Giles, an unemployed Milwaukee teacher, says that The Legislature needs to focus on jobs for Wisconsin residents.  Credit for Both Photos: Karen Hickey.  For more pictures from Tuesday's press conference, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157625803492140/.)

Introducing What’s Working: Building Good Jobs in Wisconsin

Jobs.

It’s the political buzzword of our time. But anyone who’s been unemployed knows that it is more than a word. So does the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

That's why we are launching a new blog to tell the story of how labor unions and labor-affiliated organizations continue to work hard for the people in our state. “What’s Working” will offer a glimpse into the efforts to get people into family supporting jobs and to help responsible employers thrive.

Click here to visit What's Working. 

The link will also be prominently featured in the right column of this page.  In the coming months you can expect regular updates about the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership(WRTP)/Big Step and other labor-affiliated groups that are improving training opportunities and creating high quality jobs across the state.