Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Help Save the Duluth Mail Sorting Facility

Residents of the Superior area and Douglas County know how important the Duluth mail sorting facility is to the region.  The mail sorting center provides residents of Northwest Wisconsin with safe, efficient mail delivery and provides the region with dozens of good-paying jobs.

Unfortunately, The U.S. Postal Service continues to threaten to close the Duluth mail sorting facility and relocate its operations to the Twin Cities. This decision would be devastating to the citizens of Northwest Wisconsin and Northeast Minnesota. The closure would hurt an important region of our state, delay the delivery of our mail, and put dozens of Letter Carriers and American Postal Workers out of work.

Thankfully, there's still time for the Post Office to change course, but that will only happen if there is an outpouring of community support and if our elected officials intervene to stop it.

Call or write your elected representatives today. Ask them to save the Duluth processing facility to preserve quality mail service and good-paying jobs for Superior and the Douglas County community.

These cuts won’t just hurt Postal Workers – they will hurt every American, every community and every business.

The facts are clear:  the Postal Service isn’t broke. Instead, it is facing a manufactured shortfall due to an unfair congressional mandate to pre-pay for costs that won’t be due for decades.  No other institution or business in this country is held to such an unrealistic standard, and the plan to dismantle the postal service by ending Saturday delivery will cost all of us. The steep reductions proposed would be devastating to Wisconsin, and would hit senior citizens, small businesses and rural areas the hardest.

Click here to email your elected representatives in support of the Duluth Sorting Center today!

Get Active to Give Scott Walker the Boot!

People volunteered in droves across Wisconsin this weekend to give Scott Walker a pink slip and elect Mary Burke our next Governor. Union members and non-union members worked together to knock on doors and make phone calls to talk with their neighbors about why it’s so important to elect new leadership in Madison.

 

Jane Miller was canvassing in Milwaukee because “I think it’s important to get active and get involved to elect a different governor.  Mary Burke holds promise for our state and our citizens. It’s important for everybody to do their part to help Mary Burke and canvassing is one way I can help.”

 

Joel Sills, a former logistics associate and former member of UE Local 1172, agreed. He went out canvassing “because I care about workers’ rights, I care about equal pay for women, I care about fair wages and about affordable health care and Scott Walker’s been terrible on all those issues. It’s so hard to raise your family in Wisconsin right now and if things are gonna get better, we need change.”

That resonated with Javier Dimas of UAW 578 who was canvassing in Oshkosh. Javier said, “I’ve been volunteering every weekend because I’m tired of complaining about the direction of our state and want to get out there and actually change things. Time is more valuable than money so that’s what I give. I believe in Mary Burke and I think she deserves a chance to govern.”  Javier continued, “Scott Walker is anti-worker. He really has beat up the middle class. What he did to teachers and state employees, it’s horrible, and his record on jobs is terrible.”

 

Javier was referring to Scott Walker’s union-busting Act 10, to Wisconsin’s position as dead last in the Midwest in job growth, and to Scott Walker’s broken promise to create 250,000 jobs. Instead, our state has lagged behind the national recovery and families are struggling.

But can things change? Yes, says Javier, but only if we elect a proven leader who knows how to create jobs like Mary Burke. After all, a strong middle class depends on strong unions and good jobs for working people. And, as Javier noted, “Scott Walker has really beat up on workers and the middle class. We need Mary Burke. We need leadership that’s not incompetent.”

Brats and Politics on the Mississippi River!

Delegates and guests gathered on the banks of the Mississippi River in Copeland Park for an outdoor fundraiser for the Committee on Political Education (COPE). 

The United Food and Commercial Workers provided union-made brats that were grilled by the Western Wisconsin Building Trades Council.  United Auto Workers Brewery Workers Local 9 donated union-made Miller beer.  Union members talked politics and enjoyed union-made in Wisconsin products at this year’s successful COPE reception.

Committee Reports and Sector Reports!

John Schmitt, Laborers, read the Laws Committee Report.  Mark Maierle, Operating Engineers Local 420, spoke in favor of the Laws Committee Report.  Jim Koeberl, United Autoworkers Region 4, chaired the Legislative Committee and Scott Van Derven, Wisconsin Association of Letter Carriers, read resolutions from Legislative Committee meeting.

Sector Reports were done in a Solidarity Roundtable style to inform delegates of the issues various sectors are facing members and what other union members can do to best build solidarity and unity to move the movement forward. Kim Kohlhaas, AFT, presented the Education Report.  Mahlon Mitchell, PFFW, and Marty Beil, AFSCME DC 24, did the public sector report.  The Industrial Report was provided by Russ Krings, IAMAW, and Michael Bolton, USW. The Trades Sector overview was given by John Schmitt, Laborers, and Steve Breitlow, Plumbers Local 75.  

“Keep it Made in Wisconsin” says U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

“We have a proud tradition of making things in Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “Wisconsin is home to one of largest manufacturing sectors in the nation, supporting a large share of our workforce and Wisconsin families depend on manufacturing.”   

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin addressed delegates, emphasizing the need to prioritize federal legislation that supports Wisconsin workers and jobs.  Sen. Baldwin highlighted “Made in Wisconsin Monday” a special undertaken that shines a spotlight on Wisconsin-made products and Wisconsin manufacturing via Senator Baldwin’s communication to constituents.  

Candidates Address Delegates

Mary Burke Stands with Workers  

Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke gave a rousing speech to Convention delegates as she heads into the final weeks of her campaign to unseat union-busting Gov. Scott Walker.  The Convention floor was alive with energy and on its feet as Mary Burke took the stage to discuss her plan to create jobs and get Wisconsin’s economy back on track.  

Mary Burke is ready to restore collective bargaining rights to public workers, raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $10.10, invest in education and infrastructure to create jobs.  

Mary Burke exclaimed:  “I’m going to be a governor who puts the people of Wisconsin ahead of big money special interest. I’m going be a governor who puts common sense ahead of the politics. Every single day I’m going to be working for the people of Wisconsin and I can’t wait to get to work.”  

Wisconsin workers are ready to get to work, knock doors, make phone calls and leaflet worksites to have the vital one-on-one conversations about candidates that can put pro-worker candidates over the edge.  Wisconsin is ready for a new direction. Wisconsin is ready for Mary Burke.  

Happ for AG!

Susan Happ is running for Wisconsin Attorney General to protect and serve Wisconsin families across the state. As a prosecutor, small business owner, and mother who understands the issues facing both Wisconsin’s cities and rural areas, Susan Happ is ready to bring her unique set of experiences to work on day one as our next Attorney General.

Wisconsin deserves an Attorney General who will bring justice to victims of crime, protect consumers and working families.  Happ is ready to support voting rights, women’s rights and the rights of workers.  Workers are ready to make it “Happen” by educating fellow workers and turning voters out on November 4.  

 

Kicking Off Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2014

The second day of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Convention convened on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 with an Invocation from Rabbi Simcha Prombaum of the Congregation Sons of Abraham Synagogue. 

Wisconsin Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) addressed delegates outlining her priorities to raise wages for all workers, support collective bargaining rights, invest in public education and strengthen our communities by working to prioritize family-supporting jobs for the region.  Gubernatorial candidate

Mary Burke and Attorney General Susan Happ outlined their individual platforms for convention attendees.  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin spoke to delegates.  The AFL-CIO’s Luke Canfora gave a presentation on right to work laws and Beth Levie, AFL-CIO Organizing Department, gave a presentation on organizing new workers. Laura Dresser, Associate Director of COWs, outlined the shortfalls of Wisconsin’s economy under Gov. Scott Walker and the best ways to create high-road solutions to help both workers and business.  

Community Protests Possible Closure of Duluth Mail Sorting Facility

Residents of the Superior area and Douglas County know how important the Duluth mail sorting facility is. It provides residents of northwest Wisconsin with quality, efficient mail delivery and with dozens of good-paying jobs.  

Unfortunately, The U.S. Postal Service plans to close the Duluth mail sorting facility and relocate its operations to the Twin Cities. This decision would be devastating to the citizens of Northwest Wisconsin and Northeast Minnesota. The closure would hurt an important region of our state, delay the delivery of our mail, and put dozens of members of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the American Postal Workers Union out of work.

Thankfully, there's still time for the Post Office to change their minds but that will only happen if there is an outpouring of community protests and if our elected officials intervene to stop it.

Call or write your elected representatives today and ask them not to shut the Duluth processing facility and to preserve quality mail service and good-paying jobs for Superior and the Douglas County community.

President Neuenfeldt: “Wisconsin is Ready for a Better Day”

After accepting his nomination and being re-elected for a second four-year term as President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Phil Neuenfeldt brought the crowd to their feet on a motivating speech that recognized the achievements of Wisconsin workers, put forth the challenges facing the movement and laid out an agenda for moving forward.  

“Here we are together, brothers and sisters, we are here to together take on the challenges and forge ahead together as workers indivisible,” said President Neuenfeldt. “The work we do here this week is important.  Our labor moves the economy forward and our voices and union rights keep workers safe on the job.  Unions give people who work dignity and respect and the chance to make a decent life, to make a decent go at it, to make a go at the every evasive American Dream that seems to be harder to hang on to for so many people.”

“We’re ready for a better day,” said President Neuenfeldt.  “Wisconsin is ready to respect all those who labor a hard day’s work.  Wisconsin is ready for good jobs and to give workers a raise. Wisconsin is ready brothers and sisters to elect honest legislators, to remove corrupt politicians and to restore democracy to our great state.  Wisconsin is ready to bring back the middle class to make Wisconsin strong again.”  

Secretary-Treasurer Bloomingdale: Our Movement Breathes Life into the Soul of America

Re-elected for a second four year term as Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Stephanie Bloomingdale, outlined the great divide between the haves and the haves-not and called out politicians for pushing policies that help billionaires over the working class.  

Declaring Paul Ryan and Scott Walker “out of touch,” Bloomingdale called for delegates to lead and step up to the challenges ahead.  Explaining that the movement is “stronger than the sum of its parts” Bloomingdale called on each and every delegate to get active to protect America’s middle class.  “OurLabor movement helps improve the lives of individual workers, but in times like these, we bear a much greater burden.  We are the creators and guardians of the American Middle Class, the rock on which our nation rests.  This is the patriotic struggle of our generation.”  

Bloomingdale continued, “we are reminded once again that the very causes our union movement fights for, justice and dignity and equal opportunity for all, are what breathes life into the soul of America.”  

AFL-CIO President Trumka: “You’ve Awoken the Movement"

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka pumped up the crowd with a fiery speech about how workers need to mobilize and organize for a better future and to get out the vote for Mary Burke because we can't afford another 4 years of Scott Walker! Trumka explained, “Scott Walker is the symbol of the anti-worker. Gov. Walker stands for pushing every worker to the bottom.”  

Trumka praised the spirit and the unity of the Wisconsin labor movement, and credited the collective action of the Act 10 protests with awakening a movement by inspiring "our entire country to look again at this thing called 'collective bargaining.'” Since Act 10, working people have mobilized to support exciting campaigns like the fast-food strikes, the Walmart walk-outs, and have stood together to push for a higher minimum wage and paid sick days for all workers.

Trumka reminded the crowd that working people want populism and they want a progressive agenda that can provide them with assurances that better economic times are ahead. To realize this vision, union members will have to work hard, get involved, get motivated and get active to make sure Wisconsin elects the right candidates on Election Day.