Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

The People's Book Review

Gov. Walker is crisscrossing the nation in a full-court media tour to panhandle his book and distort the history of his administration. 

Fortunately, Wisconsin workers are speaking out at home.   

We want to hear from you!  Join the People’s Book Review.  Click here to share your reaction to Gov. Walker’s book or tell us how your life has changed for the worse in Walker’s Wisconsin. 

The truth is that Gov. Walker’s policies have hurt our schools, our communities and our local economies. 

Here’s what real Wisconsinites have to say about life in Walker’s Wisconsin. 

Amy, from Elva, is a special education teacher and a mother of four.  Her husband, also a public employee, works for the Eau Claire Police Department.  She states how Act 10 has made a lasting impact on their family and community.

Walker is talented in twisting the truth, dividing our state and turning people against one another for his own political gain.  Our lives were turned upside down in February of 2011.  As if the reduction in pay, rights and our voice wasn’t enough -- the hardest thing for me has been the loss of respect for teachers and public employees since Walker came into office.  I put my heart into helping special needs students and have been called greedy and profane names since Walker took office.

Mike, a firefighter from Union Grove, explains how Walker’s priority of giving tax breaks to the rich and corporate special interests while at the same time cutting resources for local governments has impacted public safety for the worse.  

Gov. Walker’s Act 32 freezes local government spending through levy caps and stagnant or reduced state shared revenue; these funding restrictions will ultimately lead to further service reductions to the citizen/taxpayer-- putting public safety and all Wisconsinites at risk.

Rebecca from Eau Claire calls out Gov. Walker for abandoning his campaign promise to create 250,000 jobs for Wisconsin.

“Life under Gov. Walker has deteriorated in quality for countless Wisconsinites.  Where are the jobs? I’ve struggled to find a job that is NOT temporary, low-paying or part-time, with no benefits.”  

Speak out!  Click here to share your story or to write an entry for the People’s Book Review. 

Walker Rewrites History

If you’re looking for spin, lies, half-truths and myths then Gov. Walker’s new book is for you.  If you’re looking for facts on Walker’s policies and how they have impacted working people in Wisconsin – read on.  

Busy positioning himself on the national stage and pedaling to big-time, out-of-state campaign donors for a Presidential run, Walker faces a lot of problems at home.  

•    Dismal job numbers -- Wisconsin has fallen to 45th in the nation in job growth
•    Stripping public employees of collective bargaining rights and a voice on the job even after they agreed to financial concessions
•    Kicking 90,000 low-income Wisconsinites off BadgerCare
•    Slashing $1.6 billion from public education
•    Abolishing a woman’s legal right to equal pay
•    A failed jobs agency in WEDC
•    An unconstitutional voter ID bill
•    Extreme redistricting
•    A second criminal investigation into his campaign activity  

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Gov. Walker’s campaign, as well as a host of shady, conservative money-funneling groups, is under federal criminal investigation in a second John Doe inquiry.  While on his book tour Gov. Walker declared that it is too early to say if he will re-open his legal defense fund and will not commit to serving a full-term if re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.

The people of Wisconsin deserve better than a power-hungry politician who has turned his back on the people.  Scott Walker is clearly intimidated by the truth.  Absent from the book is any mention of the criminal corruption probe that sent three top Scott Walker aides to jail.  Gov. Walker also completely leaves out his central campaign promise to create 250,000 jobs for Wisconsin.  Wages have stagnated and job growth is invisible in Walker’s Wisconsin.  

It is important that we continue to educate our friends on the harmful consequences of Gov. Walker’s selfish and disastrous policies.  Don’t let the spin sink in.  We know the real story, it is up to us to educate and activate working people around the state to stand up for a Wisconsin that works for working people.  

Support Walmart Workers in Wisconsin

Wages are so low at Walmart that management in Ohio placed food donation bins in the workroom to help workers buy food for Thanksgiving Dinner.  The large corporation made $17 billion in profits this year, but pays its employees poverty wages: 825,000 of their employees make less than $25,000 a year, trapping them and their families in a state of economic insecurity.

Thousands of Walmart workers across the country are organizing, fighting back, coming together and taking action to demand living wages, the right to unionize and a shot at the American Dream.

Stand with striking Walmart workers in Wisconsin taking action on Black Friday, November 29.  

•    9:00 AM, Walmart at 4140 W. Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215
•    9:00 AM, Walmart at W190N9855 Appleton Ave, Germantown, WI 53022
•    10:00 AM, Walmart at 3355 S. 27th St, Milwaukee, WI 53215

 

Visit blackfridayprotests.org for more information as well as a list of nationwide actions.

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Stands in Solidarity with Striking Walmart Workers

For a list of Walmart Black Friday protests visit: http://blackfridayprotests.org/

As thousands of Walmart workers prepare for a busy Black Friday shopping season, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO applauds their courage and stands in solidarity with these brave workers and their families who have been demonstrating for a fair wage and better working conditions.

“Walmart is the symbol of rising economic inequality in America,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “The large corporation made $17 billion in profits this year, but pays its employees poverty wages: 825,000 of their employees make less than $25,000 a year, trapping them and their families in a state of economic insecurity. A job shouldn’t trap workers in poverty. It should lift them out of it.”  

“If Walmart raised wages, it would increase its employees’ purchasing power, create more jobs and improve the economy,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Instead, Walmart workers are forced to rely on billions in annual government assistance to survive while the wealth of the six Walmart heirs is greater than the combined wealth of 42% of American families. It’s not good for our community or our economy that the Walton family and Walmart’s well-paid corporate executives are padding their pockets while hundreds of thousands of Walmart workers are struggling to support their families.”   

Working families of Wisconsin recognize that low labor standards somewhere affect labor standards everywhere and strongly support the striking workers’ request to earn a living wage. The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is calling on the corporate giant to pay all its workers at least $25,000 annually to provide their families a chance to escape low wages and a life of poverty. The company can certainly afford it.

Special Interest Money Dominates 21st Assembly District Race

It is becoming more and more clear that corporations have a stranglehold on elections at all levels.  Republican Jessie Rodriguez is heading to the Wisconsin Assembly, giving the GOP a 59-39 majority in the house.  Three school voucher special interest groups spent $133,692.45 for Rodriguez leading up to November 19. 

The real winner of this election is not Jessie Rodriguez but the out-of-state school voucher lobby who used her as their local face.  The losers in this election are Wisconsin’s children who rely on high-quality public education.  Public schools have served as a ladder into the middle class for generations of Americans. Watch as Rodriquez assumes her role as spokesperson for the corporate driven dismantling of public education.  

Democracy should not be about who has the most money, it should be about ideas, principles and the needs of the people.   

Corporate power and money, whether in the workplace or at the ballot box, cannot go unchecked.  The truth needs to be told and we will continue to educate so that people understand that buying elections is not democracy. 

Democracy should not be about who has the most money, it should be about ideas, principles and the needs of the people.   We need unions now more than ever to continue to provide a vehicle for people to come together and put a needed check on millionaires and billionaires who are obsessed with hijacking democracy. 

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO, together with community partners, is going to continue the fight for good jobs, strong schools and a decent standard of living for all people in every district despite election results.  We won’t let corporate spending silence us or slow down our movement.

Vote Coppola TODAY (Nov.19)

Today is the special election in Wisconsin's 21st Assembly District which covers South Milwaukee, Oak Creek and parts of Franklin.  The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO urges you to cast your vote TODAY for Elizabeth Coppola if you live in the 21st Assembly District.

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 19.  Click here to look up your polling location and other information. Once you select what kind of voter you are and fill in your personal information you will be able to access a host of voter resources.  Be sure to check the left hand column of the site for a list of available information.  

Coppola is dedicated to protecting the middle-class and working poor, fighting for good jobs for the community, and investing in public schools for all children.  Her opponent wants to privatize education and do the bidding of out-of-state special interests that have spent tens of thousands on her campaign. 

VOTE COPPOLA!  

Working Families GOTV for Elizabeth Coppola

Despite rain and high winds, working families took to the streets over the weekend in Wisconsin’s 21st Assembly District (Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, and parts of Franklin) going door-to-door to talk with neighbors about the special election on Tuesday, November 19.  Volunteers encouraged voters to support of Elizabeth Coppola who will oppose voucher school expansion into the district and fight to bring family-supporting jobs to the district.

Teachers, auto workers, public employees, machinists, electricians, and a host of union and community members grabbed walk packets or call lists at the UAW hall in Oak Creek to increase voter participation and get out the vote for Elizabeth Coppola.

Rep. Gwen Moore kicked off Saturday’s canvass, giving a glowing endorsement of Coppola.

“Elizabeth’s young, smart, dedicated and her heart is in the right place,” stated Rep. Moore.  “She will be an independent voice, beholden to no special interests, once elected and will work to bring good jobs to this community.”  

Elizabeth Coppola thanked volunteers for taking time out of their weekend to get out the vote, explaining why she is the best candidate for AD21.

“I will represent the needs of the community.  I am not a special interest backed candidate who has to answer to out-of-state campaign donors.  I answer to the people of Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and Franklin.  This is a community that you cannot buy.  We have to let people know that their vote is powerful.  This is the first step to taking back the Legislature so we don't have to be a divided Wisconsin anymore.”   

Polls will be open on Tuesday, November 19, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Assembly District 21. 

Volunteers will be knocking doors and making phone calls right up until polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19.  Stop in to the UAW hall 7435 S Howell Ave, Oak Creek, WI to volunteer.

Unsure if you’re in the district?  Look up your district and legislators here.

Elizabeth Coppola for Working Families

 

Elizabeth Coppola will fight for middle class families.  She is committed to building strong public schools, supporting workers' rights to organize and being an independent, progressive voice for all Wisconsinites.  She is running for state representative in Wisconsin's 21st Assembly District (Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and parts of Franklin).

VOTE COPPOLA ON NOVEMBER 19!

Vote Elizabeth Coppola on Nov. 19

The Difference is Night & Day in AD 21

Get the facts, then volunteer to get out the vote for Elizabeth Coppola in Wisconsin's 21st Assembly District (Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, parts of Franklin) on Tuesday, November 19. 

Click here for volunteer times and locations.