Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

WI Students Win "Dreams of Jobs and Freedom" Scholarships

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO congratulates local scholarship winners of the AFL-CIO “Dreams of Jobs and Freedom” Scholarship.  Dailen Harris of Madison, Melissa Behling of Racine, Tyler Holman of Dousman and Corinne Demler of Blanchardville, all received a one-time $5,000 scholarship for the academic year beginning in fall 2013 through summer 2014.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, the AFL-CIO is offering scholarships to help graduating high school seniors realize their dreams of a college education.  The Wisconsin students are among 60 recipients around the country from union households and community groups to receive the scholarship.

These scholarships will further educational dreams for many, but the scholarship will also continue the legacy of the March on Washington.  “Dreams of Jobs and Freedom” scholarship recipients will be acknowledged at the upcoming AFL-CIO convention in Los Angeles this September.

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO congratulates Dailen, Melissa, Tyler and Corinne on receiving the “Dreams of Jobs and Freedom” scholarship and wishes them great success in their future endeavors.

For more information on the Dreams for Jobs and Freedom Scholarship visit: http://www.aflcio.org/About/Member-Benefits/Scholarships/2013-Dreams-of-Jobs-and-Freedom-Scholarship

Madison Area Health Care Workers Vote 'Union Yes'

Employees of Madison Health Services (MHC) have voted to join AFSCME Council 40, becoming the second Madison-area health care provider to recently join the statewide public service union.

The center’s 18 counselors and LPNs provide drug and alcohol treatment services. They reached out to AFSCME after their own attempts to negotiate with management were rebuffed earlier this year.

“We’ve got many concerns and are eager to create a better working environment that would clearly improve patient outcomes,” said James Benkard, a counselor with three years of experience at MHS.

Stagnant wages, heavy caseloads and lack of workplace rights have contributed to high turnover at the facility.

AFSCME successfully organized workers at Journey Mental Health Services last year. Journey employees joined AFSCME staff to help guide MHS employees through the process of collecting enough cards to trigger a certification election.

“We’re all committed to providing the best care we can, and part of providing great care is to have a voice in how we do our jobs. The union gives us that voice,” Benkard said.

MHS employees voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with AFSCME. Now, they are preparing an initial proposal in hopes of beginning bargaining in the near future.

“We are looking forward to sitting down and having a productive discussion with management. They’ve expressed their commitment to good faith bargaining. We’re eager to get started,” Benkard said.

Meanwhile, Journey employees are in the process of negotiating with their employer after their own union election victory late last year.

Nationwide strike for $15 and a union

This is huge!  Fast-food workers in Milwaukee and cities across the country have called for a nationwide strike on August 29 to stand up for $15 and a union. 

Fast-food and retail workers are striking on Thursday, August 29, against profitable companies that don’t pay workers enough to afford basic necessities such as food and rent. We’re fighting for $15 an hour and the right to form a union without retaliation.  

JOIN US at a 4:00 p.m. RALLY on the corner of MLK Drive and North Ave on Thursday, August 29 to stand up for living wages and the right to organize a union free from employer retaliation.

When workers are paid more, we spend more, spurring the economy, creating more jobs, and making Milwaukee better for everyone. Wisconsinites can’t survive on $7.25 and profitable fast-food and retail chains can afford to pay workers living wages.

Stand in solidarity and show your support for workers walking the line to “Raise up MKE.”  Follow #raiseupMKE and #829strike on Face Book and Twitter for updates.  

Fire Fighters Local 311 Member Arrested at Solidarity Singalong

Yesterday, August 19, hundreds gathered inside the Capitol Rotunda for the daily Solidarity Singalong to express their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly.  Gov. Walker recently signed a law stating that all groups of 20 people or more must request a permit to gather in the state Capitol. The Solidarity Singalong did not have a permit.

Multiple members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Local 311 joined veterans, grandmothers, union members and concerned citizens for the singalong to stand up for their rights.

In the video below, Local 311 member explains why he joined the singalong to stand up for collective bargaining, worker rights for all people and a strong democracy with freedom to assemble.

 

Immigration Reform Vigil in Janesville

Join faith leaders, union members, and the community as we say a prayer for fair, comprehensive immigration reform.

 

When:    12:30 p.m, Sunday, August 25


Where:   St. Patrick’s Church, 315 Cherry Street, Janesville, WI

 

Reception to immediately follow in the Old 4th Ward Park, 410 West Racine St. Janesville, WI

For more details or to get involved contact Justin Geiger at 414-745-4177,  jgeiger@wisaflcio.org, or Mike Sheridan at 608-322-4577.

Labor Day 2013

Information for Labor Day celebrations across Wisconsin! All events are on Monday, September 2, except Janesville which runs August 31 to Sept. 2.

Eau Claire Labor Day Picnic:  10:30 am Solidarity Walk, 11:00 am rally, noon to 3:00 pm Picnic and Prizes at Phoenix Park, 330 Riverfront Terrace.  Open to all.  Brats, hot dogs, potato salad, beans, coleslaw, ice cream, plates, utensils, coffee, and pop provided by the Greater West Central Area Labor Council.  We ask each family to bring a packaged item (due to City/County Health Department regulations) and/or a deli-made item, and/or baked goods.  Bring a nonperishable food item and lawn chairs.  Please, no pets. 

Fond du Lac Labor Day Picnic:  1:00pm-5:00pm, Lakeside Park, 555 N. Park Avenue.

Green Bay Labor Day Picnic:  11:00am-4:30pm at Bay Beach Amusement Park, 1313 Bay Beach Rd, Green Bay, WI, 54301.

Hawkins Harvest Festival:  Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2. Includes Breakfast in the Park, Chicken Dinner, KAMO games, dances at nights and fun for the whole family. The parade on Monday starts with a kiddie parade at 10:00 a.m. and the street parade follows. The UBC Local 1435 will be in the parade showing support for all who labor, past and present.

Janesville Laborfest: August 31 - Sept. 2, 8:00am-11:00pm, 1795 Lafayette St., Janesville, WI, 53546.  Music, rides, bike show, craft show, mud volley ball, car display, parade and more!  Visit www.laborfest.org for more info.

Kenosha Laborfest:  10:00am-5:00pm at St. Therese church grounds, 91st. St. & 22nd Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53143. The annual Kenosha Laborfest features booths from all labor organizations in the Kenosha area.  Raffle prizes, beer tent. There will be Pony rides and a moonwalk for the kids. Rain or Shine!

La Crosse LaborFest: Parade starts at 10:00 am at corner of Gillette St. and Kane Street.  Food, games, and  music to follow at Copeland Park, 1130 Copeland Park Drive, La Crosse, WI, 54603.  Over 50 unions, local businesses and individuals have come together to sponsor Labor Day 2013 in La Crosse. This year's Parade Marshal is Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  After the parade, festivities will move to Copeland Park with free kids games, face painting, and other activities.  Two musical acts, a bagpiper and rhythm and blues band, will entertain during the festivities.  Soda, beer, brats, and snacks will be offered for sale.  This year's celebration is dedicated to the memory of Jack Reihl, La Crosse native and former President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

Madison Laborfest:  Noon-5:30pm at Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park St, Madison, WI, 53715. There will be food, music and fun!  

Marinette Annual Labor Day Family Picnic:  12:00pm-5:00pm, Marinette City Park (between Carney Ave. and Mary St.).  Cheap food and refreshments. Great music provided by  Reverend Raven and The Chain Smokin' Altar Boys to celebrate working families and to promote solidarity. The park is a beautiful setting and we'll have a bouncy house and a playground for kids. All proceeds will go to the Tri-City United Way.

Milwaukee Labor Day March & Picnic: 11:00AM  march from (1) MLK and Vine at the MLK Statue or  (2) 1027 S 5th Street.  Ending Location is Zeidler Union Square Park, 301 W. Michigan St.  Free food and refreshments at NOON at Zeidler Park.  All are welcome.

Neenah Labor-Fest  Parade and Picnic:  10:00am-11:00am parade. 11:00am-6:00pm picnic.   

(Parade info):  The day begins at 10:00 am with a parade through the cities of Menasha and Neenah. The Parade starts in Menasha by Curtis Reed Square and proceeds into Neenah. The Parade ends in Neenah at the intersection of Wisconsin and Church Streets (Green's Pour House).       

(Picnic info): After the parade, festivities move to the Neenah Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road. Live music begins playing at 11:30 am and continues until 6:00 pm. Food and refreshments are available along with activities for children like Badger Bouncers Inflatables, face painting, miniature golf and with weather permitting "Bucket Rides" from members employed with WE Energies. Paddle Wheel, a corn roast, retirees club Food Tent, raffles and a large White Elephant Sale will be some of the activities offered for adults.        

Oshkosh Labor Day Picnic and Car Show:    11:00am-5:00pm at South Park, 1496 W South Park Ave, Oshkosh, WI, 54902.

Racine Laborfest: 12:00pm-5:00pm at Franksville Park, 9700 Northwestern Ave, corner of Highway K and H , Franksville WI. VOTER-JUDGED Car & Motorcycle Show, CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES, MEET LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, MR. and MRS. SOLIDARITY, RETIRED LABOR PERSON of the YEAR and LABOR PERSON of the YEAR.  Please bring a food donation for the Racine Food Bank

Wausau Labor Day Parade:  Lineup for parade at 3:00pm, parade starts at 4:00pm at corner of 3rd Ave and W. Wausau Ave ending at the Wausau Labor Temple, 318 S. 3rd Ave.

Wisconsin Rapids Labor Day Picnic: 11:00am-6:00pm, 1150 17th St. North, Wisconsin Rapids. Food, children's rides, and live music along with a cash raffle and bingo.

8 Ways ALEC hurts Working Families

On Thursday, Aug. 8, working families and other opponents of the ALEC agenda will be rallying at the conservative group's convention in Chicago. RSVP online.

Information about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) working in secret to push state-level policy to more extreme levels is coming to light more and more and America's working families are starting to stand up to the group's corporate-driven agenda. While ALEC's agenda is all over the policy map, the organization has a particular focus on pushing new laws that attack working families and undercut the rights of workers, both in the workplace and in retirement.  Here are eight of the most dangerous and most widespread ways that ALEC is targeting workers and their right to a voice on the job.

 

8. Voter ID Act: Laws directly based on or similar to ALEC's Voter ID Act have been introduced in recent years in nearly every state, with more than a dozen states passing or strengthening such laws in the past three years. These laws disproportionately affect working families, senior citizens, people of color and residents of rural areas and help elect legislators who vote against the rights and needs of workers.

 7. Paycheck Protection Bills: ALEC has at least four different versions of this legislation, each one more extreme than the last, that were introduced 20 times in various states in 2013. These bills range from requiring that each employee sign an annual form authorizing that their union dues be allowed to be used for political purposes to preventing payroll deductions from being used for union dues. These bills provide no additional rights to workers and do nothing more than weaken the ability of workers to collectively bargain by depriving unions of the funds they need to fight on behalf of their members.

6. Direct Union Assaults: Through model legislation such as the Election Accountability for Municipal Employee Union Representatives Act and the Decertification Elections Act, introduced in Idaho and Arizona, respectively, ALEC is seeking to make public employees vote over and over again to retain their union status, giving ALEC and other groups the opportunity to flood workers with anti-union propaganda.

 

 5. Public Employees' Portable Retirement Option Act: Through this and similar bills, 10 states have attempted to weaken or eliminate defined-benefit pension plans and replace them with defined-contribution plans, which make retirees depend on the market for how much money they have for retirement and health care.

 4. Council on Efficient Government Act: As Orwellian a name as any in the ALEC arsenal, this legislation does nothing but use government money to create a commission to figure out ways to privatize government services. In other words, yet another example of ALEC attempting to get taxpayer money into the hands of private corporations without any accountability or taxpayer recourse.

 3. "Right to Work" Act: This incredibly misleadingly titled legislation gives no one any new rights and does nothing but prevent employees from paying for the benefits that unions earn on their behalf. So-called "right to work" for less states end up paying their workers a lot less than states that don't have such laws. In 2013, 15 states introduced this legislation.

 2. Parent Trigger Act: These laws give parents the option, once a majority of parents sign a petition, to change a public school into a charter school, give students vouchers or close the school. Seven states have passed parent trigger laws similar to the ALEC bill. Parent Trigger laws force parents to make a bad choice—either stick with a poorly performing school, or take drastic actions that are likely to make things worse, do little to help students and are a boon for corporate groups that run private schools. Meanwhile one of the best tools for helping working families reach the middle class—public education—gets less and less funding.

 1. Wage Protections: In 14 states, ALEC model legislation attacking wage protections were introduced. The bills sought to weaken or eliminate laws that require prevailing wages, living wages or minimum wages. Big corporations heavily support these efforts, which would only serve to lower wages for workers.

 

For more information on ALEC visit http://www.alecexposed.org

Wisconsin Workers Call on NGA to Support Job Creation, Made in America Legislation

Wisconsin workers are reminding Governors to keep working people in mind as they discuss job legislation and policy initiatives at this weekends’ National Governors Association (NGA) meeting in Milwaukee.

Earlier today, Wisconsin workers gathered at Zeidler Union Square Park, just blocks from where the Governors are meeting, to call on elected leaders to support good jobs in all 50 states by supporting legislation that encourages states and local governments to purchase American made or state made products whenever possible. 

Heath Verbockel, a steel worker from Appleton Coated in Wisconsin’s Paper Valley and member of USW Local 144, called on Gov. Walker and the state of Wisconsin to pass ‘Buy Wisconsin, Buy American’ legislation.  Verbockel suggested that the state could both save and create Wisconsin jobs by purchasing Wisconsin made paper products whenever possible.  

“Every day Governors make decisions that impact workers,’ said Heath Verbockel, a paper worker from Appleton.  “We are hoping that Gov. Walker and all Governors will support American workers and American jobs by passing legislation that encourages states to buy American made or state made products whenever possible.  We can start right now in Wisconsin by buying Wisconsin made paper and paper products. ”  

“One of the best ways to boost our economy is to buy Wisconsin and buy American made products,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Another great way is to listen to the hard-working people who make great products right here in Wisconsin. We are hoping that Governors attending the NGA realize that communities across the country are in dire need of family-supporting jobs. We need politicians to stop the partisan games and work together to create jobs.”