Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Join the Red School Bus Tour

Join the Wisconsin Education Associaton Council for an exciting community event to reclaim Wisconsin by making education a priority!

Last year, thousands of educators were laid off as a result of budget cuts. And this spring, more layoff notices will be issued in school districts across the state – representing a greater loss to our students and schools.

The “Red School Bus Tour” is one of the ways we’re responding to unprecedented school budget cuts.

The Red School Bus Tour will visit six communities in late April and early May:

•    Lodi: Wednesday, April 25, activities begin at 4:45 p.m.; speakers begin at 5 p.m., Habermann Park, Lodi (corner of Fair Street and South Main Street in downtown Lodi)

•    Eau Claire: Thursday, April 26, activities begin at 5 p.m.; speakers begin at 5:30 p.m., South Middle School, 2115 Mitscher Ave., Eau Claire

•    Rhinelander: Monday, April 30, activities begin at 4 p.m.; speakers begin at 4:30 p.m., South Park Elementary School, 511 S Pelham St., Rhinelander

•    Racine: Tuesday, May 1, activities begin at 5 p.m.; speakers begin at 5:30 p.m., Monument Square, 502 Main Street, Racine

•    Green Bay: Wednesday, May 2, activities begin at 5 p.m.; speakers begin at 5:30 p.m., Joannes Park, East Walnut Street, Green Bay (across from East High School)

•    Wausau: Thursday, May 3, activities begin at 5 p.m.; speakers begin at 5:30 p.m., Wausau Labor Temple, 318 S. 3rd Ave.

 

All across Wisconsin, citizens are expressing their concern about the impacts historic cuts to education are having on schools, students, and Wisconsin’s future. Educators, parents, and community groups from your area will share their stories about making public education a priority in Wisconsin.

 

Join to rally around public education and remember to “wear red for public ed”!

May 8 Primary Voter Guide

With the May 8 recall primary elections less than two weeks away, we wanted to be sure that you had the necessary information to cast an informed ballot at your local polling location. 

You can look up your polling place and check to see if you are a registered voter by visiting https://vpa.wi.gov/.  Early voting is now underway in all six recall primary races.  You can cast an in-person absentee ballot until the close of business on May 4 at your local municipal clerks’ offices. 

Remember, you do NOT need a state issued ID to vote and can register to vote in-person on the day of the election.  For more informatio on how to register to vote visit http://www.wisconsinvote.org/.

There are two statewide primary elections being held on May 8.  One for the office of Governor and one for Lieutenant Governor.  There are also primaries in four Senate Districts.   Republicans are running fake Democrats in all six primary races so it is important to know the facts about the candidates before heading to the polls.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has made the following endorsements:

•    Lori Compas - Senate District 13
•    John Lehman - Senate District 21
•    Kristen Dexter - Senate District 23
•    Donna Seidel - Senate District 29
•    Mahlon Mitchell – Lieutenant Governor
•    Kathleen Falk – Governor

The above candidates are committed to fighting for worker rights, education, health care and a fair economy.  They will work to advance the needs of working class and middle class Wisconsinites – not out-of-state millionaires and billionaires. 

Cast your ballot on Tuesday, May 8 and mark your calendars for the general election which will be held on Tuesday, June 5. 

New Documentary: Koch Brothers Exposed

The billionaire Koch Brothers have been funding extreme attacks on Wisconsin workers and Wisconsin democracy for years.  Many of you remember the fake phone call Gov. Walker held with who he believed to be David Koch at the height of the Madison protests.

 

During the call, Gov. Walker tells David Koch that he had considered planting disrupters into the crowd and was willing to use layoffs as a political threat. David Koch tells Gov. Walker that a trip to California is waiting for him after he crushes the unions.

 

From attacks on unions to voter disenfranchisement laws and “Stand your Ground” legislation the Koch Brothers have been behind some of the laws which threaten our ability to have a strong and healthy democracy. They have poured millions and millions into funding the campaigns of puppet politicians who will do their bidding.  They even gave $1 million  to a pro-Walker group in an attempt to drown out the voices of the people of Wisconsin.

 

But citizens are fighting back and educating each other. A new documentary, Koch Brothers Exposed, by activist Robert Greenwald seeks to take a look at how the Koch Brothers' extremist Tea-Party agenda is impacting everyday citizens.

 

As Greenwald himself puts it: "When I learned about the damage the Kochs were doing to our democracy, I wanted to make sure more Americans understood what they're up to."

• Rolling Stone recently wrote an article on the documentary, which can be read here.

• You can purchase a copy of the Koch Brothers Exposed DVD by clicking here.

 

For every DVD sold, $5 will be donated to the Wisconsin Worker Defense Fund helping to fuel the people-powered movement to reclaim democracy by recalling Scott Walker on June 5. Click here to get your copy of Koch Brothers Exposed today.

April 21 Member-to-Member Walk Schedule

In addition to this upcoming Saturday's canvasses, walk packets are available daily from Service Area Organizers. 

Milwaukee
April 21st: 10am-2pm
Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53214
Contact: Jenissee Volpintesta: (414) 771-7070 x12; jvolpintesta@wisaflcio.org

Racine
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Racine Labor Temple, 1840 Sycamore Avenue, Racine, WI 53406
Contact: Justin Geiger: 414-745-4177; jgeiger@wisaflcio.org

Madison
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715
Contact: Greg Neil: 608-556-9521; gneil@wisaflcio.org
Additionally, the Madison Labor Temple phone bank is running daily.

Eau Claire
April 21st: 10am-1pm
Eau Claire Labor Temple, 2233 Birch Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Contact: Andy Thompson: 715-831-3353; athompson@wisaflcio.org

Wausau
April 21st: 10am-2pm
Wausau Labor Temple, 318 S. 3rd Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401
Contact: Scott Wright: 920-450-2121; swright@wisaflcio.org

Fox Valley
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Fox Valley Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah, WI 54956
Contact: Greg Hinds: 920-540-2309; ghinds@wisaflcio.org

More Job Losses for Wisconsin Highlight Gov. Walker’s Failed Policies

When Gov. Walker ran for office last November he promised the state of Wisconsin 250,000 new jobs.  The facts are that since Gov. Walker has taken office, Wisconsin has lost more jobs than any other state in the nation.  Wisconsin lost 4,500 jobs in March and 23,900 jobs in the last twelve months -- signaling to all voters that Gov. Walker’s leadership is taking us in the wrong direction. 

 

The people of Wisconsin must stand up and take control of our democracy by recalling Gov. Walker on June 5 and electing a champion who will work to create family-supporting, middle class jobs.

 

“Gov. Walker says Wisconsin is open for business.   Give me a break," says Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.   “Is this a cruel joke that he is playing on the working men and women of Wisconsin?  We see breathtaking Wisconsin job losses again in March.  The middle class is taking a hit under Gov. Walker’s so-called “leadership.”  The people of Wisconsin are wide awake and ready to reclaim our state and recall Scott Walker on June 5." 

A Message from Illinois Workers

 

Over four thousand protesters gathered along Adams Street outside of the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 to speak out against Gov. Scott Walker.  Video Credit:  The State Journal-Register.

Solidarity in Springfield! Thousands Protest Walker in lllinois

A spirited crowd of over 4,000 rank-and-file union members and community supporters demonstrated against the extreme agenda and failed record of Gov. Scott Walker earlier today in Springfield, Illinois.  Gov. Walker is in the capital city today to address the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.  After his talk he will be flying to a GOP dinner in Troy, Michigan where the UAW and other working families are expected to protest his appearance. 
 
 

Over the weekend Illinois oldest newspap er The State Journal-Register wrote about Walker’s visit in an editorial entitled “Chamber’s invite to Walker a huge risk” explaining that “it’s difficult to decipher the intent or rationalize any expected positive outcome” of Walker’s visit and that “it is beyond baffling to us how a group like the Illinois Chamber — whose mission is to promote business in Illinois — believes its members will benefit by high-fiving the guy famous for starting a war against organized labor in his state.”  
 
Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, addressed the crowd in Springfield bringing a message of solidarity from Wisconsin workers. 

 

“It is amazing to see over 4,000 working people standing together in Springfield, Illinois today to tell Gov. Walker that his job-killing agenda of union-busting, cuts to health care and education and rolling back women’s equal pay protections are the wrong way for any state in the nation.  The energy and excitement here in Illinois is providing fuel for the people of Wisconsin as we undertake the historic effort to reclaim our democracy by recalling Gov. Walker on June 5.” 

 

Media Coverage

• ABC 12 WISN:  Demonstrators Protest Walker in Illinois

• Illinois State Journal-Register, What Would Abe think about Gov. Scott Walker?

• NBC TMJ4:  Protests at Gov. Walker appearances in Illinois, Michigan

• Fox 6 News:  Protests expected as Walker speaks to Illinois Chamber Tuesday

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Politics Blog:  Demonstrators Angered by Walker Illinois Visit

Teamsters protest Walker in Oklahoma City

This is a cross-post from the Teamster Nation Blog.  The original post can be found here. 

Last night's protest of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was a big success, according to our brothers and sisters at Local 886 in Oklahoma:

The Protest Rally for Scott Walker was a success for Organized Labor. Approximately 450 to 500 Union Members and Labor Supports attended the rally and voiced their opinion about Scott Walker's attack on the working class. Many motorists passing the rally honked and showed support for the workers of Oklahoma. We will continue to push back against the destruction of our livelihoods and way of life. More information about future rallies and events will follow as the information becomes available. Thank you to everyone who participated in the rally in person and behind the scene.

Walker was speaking at a $1,500-a-plate fund-raiser at the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Churchill blogged at Daily Kos,

Premium tables were rumoured to cost $25,000 for 8 atendees, or $3,125 for each person.

Many of the attendees were shocked that there were so many people there waiving signs of protest.  However, there were many people that honked their horn as they drove by.

The Associated Press reported,

Outside, a boisterous crowd of more than 200 protesters and union workers lined the street and expressed support for Walker's ouster in Wisconsin.

 "I've been able to provide for myself and earn an education because of the union," said 34-year-old Josh Diffin, a union electrician who carried a sign that read "Stop the War on Workers." "We need things like retirement benefits, health care, the ability to put food on the table for our kids."

The Oklahoma Gazette quoted Local 886 President Ron Cobb before the big rally.

Ron Cobb, president and business manager for the Teamsters Local Union 886, said the union plans to protest the event at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, as well as hold a competing fundraiser nearby.

Cobb said the Teamsters plan to raise money for eyeglasses for Capitol Hill High School students who need them.

“We intend to express our freedom of assembly,” he said. “We’re going to do a peaceful protest against Scott Walker’s legislation that certainly destroys working families and collective bargaining.

“We do not want him bringing that type of legislation or suggesting that type of legislation in Oklahoma.”

Great work, Oklahomans!

Walker's War on Women: Walker Repeals Equal Pay Law

Late last Thursday, as many were checking out for the holiday weekend, Gov. Walker quietly signed a bevy of controversial bills attacking Wisconsin women.  One of which was repealing the 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act. 

Among many things the Equal Pay Enforcement Act gave women workers more options to seek justice for pay discrimination at work.  The act served as a deterrent for employers to discriminate based on gender and allowed for workers to take their case to the less costly, more accessible state circuit court system.

Gov. Walker wants to turn back the clock on women’s rights and deny them their day in court.  Equal pay is an economic security issue for millions of Wisconsin women and this act threatens the livelihood of many workers. 

In the United States, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men make.   According to the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health (WAWH), in Wisconsin, women earn 75 cents for every dollar men earn.  As Amanda Terkel reports for the Huffington Post, the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health also estimates that families in the state "lose more than $4,000 per year due to unequal pay."

 

“Gov. Walker is shamefully signing legislation into law that threatens the economic security of Wisconsin women,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Repealing the Equal Pay Enforcement Act is not the Wisconsin way and shows just how disconnected Gov. Walker is with the issues facing working women in today’s economy.”

 

 

Amanda Terkel's Huffington Post report, "Scott Walker Quietly Repeals Wisconsin's Equal Pay Law" contributed to this blog post.

Take Me Out to the (Union) Ball Game

As Major League Baseball season kicks off around the country, let's take a minute to remember all the workers who make a day at the ballpark possible. 

• Miller Park, where the Milwaukee Brewers play, was built with union labor. Tragically, three union brothers lost their lives building the stadium. On July 14, 1999, three iron workers, Jeffrey Wischer, William Degrave, and Jerome Starr were killed in a crane accident. 


• The Brewers -- and all Major League Baseball players -- are union members represented by the Major League Baseball Players Association.


• If you are enjoying a cold beverage, many beers including, Budweiser, Miller, Leinekugel, Michelob, Labatt's, Rolling Rock and Pabst are union-made.  Miller Beer is made right here in Milwaukee by proud members of the UAW. 

• Klement's sausages and brats are made by UFCW members in Milwaukee. 

• Many ushers and ground crews at parks across the nation are also members of unions. 

Next time you head to the park or watch a game on T.V. please take a moment to remember all the hard-working men and women who make enjoying the game possible.