Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Wisconsin AFL-CIO Endorses Russ Feingold for U.S. Senate

Wisconsin workers have come together to proudly endorse Senator Russ Feingold for U.S. Senate.  Feingold will challenge Ron Johnson in the 2016 November elections.  Feingold and Johnson provide a sharp contrast and therefore a clear choice for working families.  Sen. Johnson has repeatedly opposed raising wages for workers, voted against protecting our environmental resources and is one of the most extreme Senators in Congress.  Senator Feingold is a proven champion for working families and has repeatedly stood up to special interests and fought for the people of Wisconsin. 

“Time and time again, Senator Feingold has been an independent fighter for Wisconsin’s middle-class,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “On issues that are important to working families such as protecting American jobs, raising wages, getting money out of politics, and protecting our environment – there’s no one better than Russ Feingold.  Senator Feingold opposed NAFTA which has since cost the U.S. economy some 700,000 jobs.  We know that at a time when the economy is bleeding jobs from trade, Senator Feingold will stand up and oppose bad trade deals that ship good jobs overseas.”

“The choice for workers next November could not be clearer,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to educate and mobilize workers for Senator Feingold in 2016.  Russ Feingold is ready to protect the founding pillars of our democracy and stand to big-money in politics and the special interests that control so much of politics today.  Russ Feingold is ready to go to bat for Wisconsin working families.  Russ Feingold is ready to work to strengthen our middle-class and rebuild an economy that works for workers.” 

Calling all job-seekers!

Jumpstart your career by attending an upcoming industrial recruitment event for represented employers. 

Join us for an open manufacturing recruitment event on Thursday, July 30, 2015 in Milwaukee.  Hosted by the International Association of Machinists, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Autoworkers, United Steelworkers, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council and the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership.

We are recruiting for a wide variety of direct hire positions with several companies for experienced workers.   You will also learn about pre-employment trainings that lead to permanent full-time positions for successful graduates.

Bring a friend!  If you know someone who might be interested please pass this information along.

 

WHAT:  Manufacturing Recruitment

WHEN:  July 30, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. and again at 4:00pm

WHERE:   633 South Hawley Road, Milwaukee

HOSTED BY:  Milwaukee Area Labor Council/AFL-CIO in partnership with USW, IBEW, UAW and IAM

 TO REGISTER CALL 414-342-9787

 

Requirements:

• High Diploma, HSED or GED
• Pass WRTP/BIG STEP assessments
• Current Resume
• Ability to pass a drug screen
• Past manufacturing experience is a plus

 

Qualified candidates will need to bring valid Wisconsin Driver’s License or Wisconsin Photo ID, Social Security card, updated resume, proof of High School graduation or equivalent, and a willingness to learn.

Steelworkers Donate Helmets, Organize Bike Safety Class for Kids

On July 10, USW District 2 and the Next Generation Committee from Local 2–20 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, sponsored a bike safety class for kids, along with the Kaukauna Police Department and the Recyclist Bicycle Co.

Before beginning their “class”, every child was fitted with a free bike helmet, which was donated by the Steelworkers.

The Kaukauna Police Department set up a course in the parking lot with obstacles consisting of railroad crossings, cars, yield signs, and stop signs. Some of the kids enjoyed themselves so much that they went through the course multiple times.

When the kids were finished with the obstacle course, Local 2-20 had a station set up where they could get some free stickers and bottles of water and Gatorade. The kids also were able to enter a raffle for a chance to win gift certificates good at the Recyclist Bicycle Co.

This type of event shows that Steelworkers are not only committed to safety in their facilities, but to the people and families in the community as well.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED for the great TEAMWORK on making this a successful event: Recyclist Bicycle Co., Kaukauna P.D., Local 2-20, Tyler & Curt Rutten, Jason Wilcox and District 2.

Buy Union Summer Round-Up!

This is a guest column from Mark Horn, member of AFSCME Local 1, which originally appeared in the Union Labor News, SCFL.

Summer is my favorite season and it probably yours too. Enjoy the summer with these quality union made products.

First things first, let’s get the yard work out of the way and there is no better way to get the lawn in shape than with John Deere zero turn mowers, made right here in Wisconsin.

Enough work, time to play. The world’s best outboard motors are made right here in Fond du Lac by Mercury Marine. Your motor is definitely the place to invest in value because nobody wants to be stuck out in the middle of the lake.

Okay, you are not so much for the water; fair enough. Bell Helmets will keep you safe when biking this summer. Now for your ride; there is only one name Harley-Davidson made in Milwaukee, Harley is to ultimate summer road experience. Are you more for human power? Bell makes the best bicycle helmets, as well.

Do you prefer the links to the highway? We have you covered there too. MacGregor golf clubs and Top Flite golf balls are both . I hit Top Flite because I can depend on them to perform consistently even when I do not.

Kicking it back a little more, let’s head for the beach. We all want to protect ourselves and our family from the harmful effects of too much sun. There is no better way than with Bain de Soleil and Coppertone tanning lotion and sun screen. Get the tan without the burn by applying these union made products every time you head outside.

As long as you are relaxing, do it right with a hammock from the Algoma Net Company. These quality hammocks will make any summer day feel like a vacation. Algoma Net also makes outdoor leisure furniture and cushions. Relax and enjoy your summer in style.

All this activity and relaxing is giving me an appetite. Summer picnics start at the grill and  Weber grills are the choice of great backyard chefs everywhere. So, what’s going on the grill? How about some brats; Klements, Usingers or Johnsonville? They are all made right here in Wisconsin. For the kids, load the other side of the grill with Ball Park, Butterball, National Hebrew, Hormel or of course Oscar Meyer hot dogs. Don’t forget the condiments including: Heinz Ketchup, Claussen and Vlasic pickles, as well as French’s and Gulden’s Mustard.

Finish loading your plate with Bugles, Doritos, Fritos, Old El Paso chips, dips and salsa,Ritz Crackers, Rold Gold Pretzels, Ruffles, Sun Chips, Tostitos chips, dips and salsa, Triscuit and Wheat Thins. Remember to save room for Babcock Hall and Breyers ice cream. We love the natural vanilla but whatever flavor you choose, union made means quality and great taste in every bite.

Wash your summer picnic food down with refreshing Pepsi and Coke products. Here in Wisconsin adult beverages usually mean beer. Fortunately, there are plenty of great choices. Leinenkugel, Miller Genuine Draft , Miller Lite , Miller High Life , Milwaukee’s Best. Though no longer made in Wisconsin, Pabst Blue Ribbon is still union made and popularly priced. O’Doul’s is an excellent choice if you want a non-alcoholic alternative. Keep those beverages cool in your Rubbermaid Cooler.

When you buy union you get great quality and the peace of mind knowing that the folks who made them have decent working conditions, wages and benefits.

TAKE THE PLEDGE: Don’t let Scott Walker do to America what he’s done to Wisconsin.

Gov. Walker has failed the people of Wisconsin. From not creating jobs to attacking union rights and dismantling public education, Gov. Walker’s policies have hollowed-out Wisconsin’s middle class and trampled on democracy. Gov. Walker’s actions make it clear that he doesn’t care about working people like us. Scott Walker is a slick politician who will do or say anything to get elected. He only cares about advancing the special interests of his deep-pocketed campaign donors.

TAKE THE PLEDGE: Don’t let Scott Walker do to America what he’s done to Wisconsin. Gov. Walker’s “divide and conquer” tactics are a recipe for disaster. We need to raise our voices as working people and sound the alarm. Take the pledge to educate all our fellow Americans on Gov. Walker’s extremist anti-worker agenda.

In his self-serving bid for the White House, Scott Walker has broken basic democratic principles time and time again. As working families, we need to sound the alarm about Scott Walker.

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has reviewed Gov. Walker’s record on issues important to working families:

Attacks on Union Rights: Gov. Walker’s Act 10 stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees. Despite professing that anti-worker Right to Work legislation was not on his agenda while campaigning in 2014, just months into 2015 Gov. Walker signed controversial Right to Work legislation into law. Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 Budget rolls back prevailing wage standards for hardworking construction workers and removes the 24-hour rest period required in a 7-day work week, essentially killing the weekend for Wisconsin workers. In 2012, Gov. Walker even repealed a statewide law that helps women receive equal pay.

Where Are the Jobs? In Scott Walker’s 2010 campaign for Governor, Scott Walker promised repeatedly to create 250,000 jobs in his first term. He failed to deliver on that promise. Wisconsin consistently lags behind the rest of the nation in job-growth and has been dead-last in the Midwest for job creation. Currently, Wisconsin ranks 40th in the nation in job-growth.

Weakening of Wisconsin’s Middle Class: Gov. Walker’s bad policies and egregious attacks on union rights have led to a hollowing-out of Wisconsin’s middle class. In fact, according to a 2015 Pew Charitable Trust report Wisconsin ranks worst among the 50 states in terms of a shrinking middle class.

Gutting Public Education: Gov. Walker has enacted the largest cuts to education in Wisconsin history. During his tenure, Walker cut school funding more per student than any other governor in America. With cuts to public K-12 schools, technical colleges and higher education, Gov. Walker has dismantled public education, gutting neighborhood schools in favor of funding unaccountable voucher schools.

Attacks on Democracy: Gov. Walker has created roadblocks to democracy. In 2011, the Republican-controlled branches of government enacted hyper-partisan election districts in a shady power grab. The redistricting is so extreme a current lawsuit charges that the districts are unconstitutional. Gov. Walker signed Voter ID legislation, a known voter suppression tactic, into law. It is estimated that Walker’s voter suppression bill will disenfranchise 300,000 Latinos and African Americans in Wisconsin. In 2011, Gov. Walker even attempted to close DMVs, where citizens obtain an ID to vote. Despite claiming that he had no knowledge of a 2015 budget provision to gut Wisconsin’s Open Records Law, which helps citizens monitor their government, Walker’s office was later found to have been directly involved in creating the provision.

TAKE THE PLEDGE: Don’t let Scott Walker do to America what he’s done to Wisconsin. Stand strong to stop Scott Walker’s anti-worker bid for the White House. Together we can educate voters on Walker’s failed economic record. The last thing America needs is a Scott Walker Presidency.

America needs a leader who will bring people together to fix our economy by investing in the middle class by expanding workers’ rights, raising wages and creating jobs. Scott Walker has enacted policy after policy to weaken workers’ rights and cripple our middle class.

Walker’s Abysmal Record of Failed Jobs, Dismantling Citizens’ Rights and Weakening Wisconsin’s Middle Class is No Good for America

As Scott Walker announces his Presidential run, it is important to look to Wisconsin to get a sense of how Gov. Walker’s failed leadership and poor policy making has taken the state backwards.  From failing to create jobs, gutting public education, attacking collective bargaining rights for workers, demolishing prevailing wage standards, and completely blundering a taxpayer-funded jobs agency, Gov. Walker’s failed record has hollowed-out Wisconsin’s middle class and left the people of Wisconsin behind.  

 

“In Wisconsin, Gov. Walker has enacted policy after policy to weaken workers’ rights and cripple our middle class,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “At a time when Scott Walker should have been focusing on creating jobs, lowering income inequality and raising wages for workers, he has focused on extreme partisan politics and lining up campaign donors.  Scott Walker has governed with little regard for the people of Wisconsin and total affection for pleasing those who write his campaign checks.  When you look to Wisconsin’s economy under Gov. Walker, you realize that a Scott Walker presidency is a scary, scary thing for America.” 

 

“Scott Walker’s leadership has failed the people of Wisconsin,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.  “Now is the time for workers to come together to put a stop to Scott Walker’s divide and conquer tactics that dismantle our middle class and crush economic opportunity.  Scott Walker has made it is mission to crush the ability of workers to come together, stick together, have each other’s backs and have a meaningful voice at work through their union.  America needs a sharply differently approach than what Scott Walker has brought to Wisconsin. At a time when workers are already working longer hours for less pay and struggling to make ends meet, Gov. Walker’s blatant disregard for working people is a recipe for disaster on the national stage.” 

 

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO reviewed the governor’s record on issues important to working families:

 

Attacks on Workers’ Rights and Wages: Gov. Walker’s Act 10 stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees.  Despite massive citizen protest from hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites, Scott Walker pushed forward a union-busting policy that his own party called “the nuclear option” and “dropping the bomb.” A 2011 report by the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future found that Act 10, combined with Gov. Walker’s first year policies, cost Wisconsin 18,000 full-time, private-sector jobs.  Despite professing that anti-worker Right to Work legislation was not on his agenda while campaigning in 2014, just months into 2015, Gov. Walker signed controversial Right to Work legislation into law.  Right to Work laws are linked to lower wages and lower standards of living.  Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 Budget rolls back prevailing wage standards for hardworking construction workers and removes the 24-hour rest period required in a 7-day work week, essentially killing the weekend for Wisconsin workers.  In 2012, Gov. Walker even repealed a statewide law that helps women receive equal pay.  Gov. Walker has repeatedly refused to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage and even removed a state statue stating that Wisconsin’s minimum wage must be a living wage. 

 

Weakening of Wisconsin’s Middle Class:  Gov. Walker’s bad policies and egregious attacks on union rights have led to a hollowing-out of Wisconsin’s middle class.  In fact, according to a 2015 Pew Charitable Trust report Wisconsin ranks worst among the 50 states in terms of a shrinking middle class, with real median household incomes falling 14.7 percent in Wisconsin since 2000.

 

Failed Job Promise: In Scott Walker’s 2010 campaign for Governor, Scott Walker promised repeatedly to create 250,000 jobs in his first term. Scott Walker failed to deliver on that promise.  Five years later, Gov. Walker is just over halfway to his first term goal.  Under Gov. Walker, Wisconsin has consistently lagged the rest of the nation in job-growth and has been dead-last in the Midwest for jobs.  Currently, Wisconsin ranks 40^th in the nation in job-growth.

 

Unaccountable Jobs Agency:  Gov. Walker created the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2011, privatizing Wisconsin’s former jobs agency.  Since, its creation the WEDC has been shrouded in scandal and mismanagement. In 2012, the agency was found to have lost track of $12 million in taxpayer-funded loans.  A scathing 2013 audit by Wisconsin’s nonpartisan audit bureau revealed dozens of ways in which WEDC was breaking the law, including giving awards to ineligible recipients, for ineligible projects, and for amounts that exceeded specified limits. In 2014, WEDC was even found to have been helping Wisconsin companies ship jobs overseas. A WKOW News investigation found that at least two multi-national companies who received millions of dollars in WEDC taxpayer-funded loans later laid off Wisconsin workers and moved their jobs overseas.  One company even received a second WEDC loan after outsourcing.  In June 2015, WEDC again made headlines when it was found that Gov. Scott Walker’s flagship job-creation agency had made at least 27 awards totaling a whopping $124.4 million to companies without even conducting a formal staff review.

 

Gutting Education:  Gov. Walker has enacted the largest cuts to education in Wisconsin history.  During his tenure in Wisconsin, Walker even cut school funding more per student than any other governor in America. From cuts to local school districts, technical colleges and higher education, Gov. Walker has dismantled public education by gutting neighborhood schools in favor of funding unaccountable voucher schools.  It is estimated that 55% of Wisconsin school districts will see a reduction in aid in the coming years. Walker has even attacked the University of Wisconsin System – a world renowned higher education system that lets students from all economic backgrounds obtain a college degree without going into massive debt.  Along with cutting $250 million from the University System’s operating budget, Gov. Walker removed tenure for professors and shared governance – a way for students, staff and administers to jointly make decisions -- from the institution. 

 

Attacks on Democracy:  Gov. Walker’s tenure has brought roadblocks to democracy.  In 2011, the Republican-controlled branches of government enacted hyper-partisan election districts in a shady power grab.  The redistricting is so extreme a current lawsuit charges that the districts are unconstitutional.  Gov. Walker signed Voter ID legislation, a known voter suppression tactic, into law.  It is estimated that Walker’s voter suppression bill will disenfranchise 300,000 Latinos and African American in Wisconsin.  In 2011, Gov. Walker even attempted to close DMVs, where citizens obtain an ID to vote, but later reversed his decision.  Despite claiming that he had no acknowledge of a 2015 budget provision to gut Wisconsin’s Open Records Law which helps citizens monitor their government, Walker’s office was later found to have been directly involved in creating the provision. 

 

Budget Heads to Walker's Desk

Late last night, the Assembly voted to adopt Wisconsin’s 2015-2017 budget, rubber-stamping drastic cuts to education and public services as well as bad policy items that have no place in a budget. The State Senate and Assembly have signed off on the 2015-2017 Wisconsin State Budget and the final budget bill now goes to Governor Walker’s desk for his vetoes and eventual signature.

Let’s be clear, there is very little in this budget worth saving. The list of items that hurt working families includes the destruction of good, family-supporting jobs, the erosion of public education, threats to our natural resources, the dismantling of prevailing wage standards, harmful changes to FamilyCare and givebacks to corporate special interests – the list goes on and on.

Contact Gov. Walker and tell him this budget is the worst budget in Wisconsin’s history. The Governor can be reached by calling (608) 266-1212 or emailing govgeneral@wisconsin.gov.

Call Gov. Walker and tell him what you think about this budget. Take your pick. The harm that is being inflicted on Wisconsin’s working families through this budget is unbelievable and will prove to be disastrous for Wisconsin.

Here are some suggestions of what you might ask him to veto, but the list goes on and on.

Remove Changes to Prevailing Wage: Gov. Walker should strike any changes to our state’s long-standing prevailing wage laws. No quantitative study can show that weakening prevailing wage protections will achieve cost savings for the state. Construction workers are hardworking citizens who deserve a fair wage for a fair day’s work. Prevailing wage strengthens the middle class and lifts up all workers.  All prevailing wage changes should be taken out of the budget.

Save the Weekend: Human beings are not machines and require proper rest for safety and emotional well-being. Removing the required 24-hour rest period in a 7-day workweek will harm Wisconsin workers, families and communities. Gov. Walker should save the weekend and veto this proposal.

Say No to Payday Lenders: Payday lending is a big business, with skilled, highly-paid lobbyists, that preys upon low-wage workers and the economically vulnerable. Republicans have expanded the power of payday lenders in the budget bill. Now payday lenders will be able to sell insurance products, give financial advice and open up new ways to scam people who are struggling to pay their bills. Gov. Walker should send back the campaign contributions from payday lenders and veto this blatant pay-to-play giveback.

Support Living Wages: Gov. Walker should show support for raising wages for workers by keeping the living wage standard and local living wage ordinance ability in state statute. Currently, the budget strikes living wage language from our state statute. Gov. Walker should veto these changes.

Restore Tenure and Shared Governance to UW: Shared governance gives faculty, staff and students a voice in decision-making on UW campuses. Tenure is one of the fundamental principles of academic freedom that protects learning and research from political interference. Gov. Walker should restore tenure so that our UW-campuses can retain and attract top-quality professors and save shared governance so the people who work and learn have a meaningful voice in decision making.

Restore Funding to K-12 Schools and Remove Voucher Expansion: Gov. Walker should use his veto pen to remove the expansion of unaccountable voucher schools in the state of Wisconsin. He should restore funding levels for K-12 schools so that our neighborhood, public schools have the necessary resources to educate the next generation of Wisconsinites.

IRIS/FamilyCare: Gov. Walker should remove the givebacks to special interests that weaken programs that care for elderly and disabled Wisconsinites.

Keep Electricians Licensed: The final budget removes the requirement that only licensed electricians conduct work on the installation, repair, and maintenance of private on-site wastewater treatment systems and well pumps. To ensure quality and safe work this requirement should be reinstated.

Save the Night Watchmen and Women: The budget eliminates 60 Correctional Officer positions at our prisons, leaving night towers vacant at a time when prisoners are most likely to escape. Governor Walker should restore these positions and keep our communities safe.

Save Department of Natural Resource Positions: Walker’s budget cuts 66 positions, including scientists and researchers, from the DNR that protects our natural resources. We should save these jobs.

Gov. Walker has one of the most powerful veto pens in the country. Call Gov. Walker at( 608) 266-1212 and tell him what you think of this budget. The time is now to call on him to use this pen to strike all language that hurts working people in the state of Wisconsin. Use this pen. Use it liberally. Use it to strike all language that hurts working families in Wisconsin. 

Budget SOS -- Take Action!

Just when you thought Scott Walker’s horrible budget couldn’t get any worse for Wisconsin, Republicans, in tandem with Scott Walker’s office, unleashed a slew of bad budget items and snuck them into the budget at the last minute. The omnibus package of budget provisions called “Motion 999” is a list of (mostly) non-fiscal items that are controversial and unpopular with the public. Republicans also in a last-minute maneuver introduced and passed massive changes to prevailing wage laws.

The 999 Motion is a shady and despicable way for Republicans to sneak into the budget what they want to without having to adhere to the standards of the normal democratic process. This grab bag of bad budget items is the end-all motion for special interests and full of givebacks to campaign donors. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this package at the last minute, before the 4^th of July holiday weekend, in a clear attempt to avoid public debate and scrutiny.

Last night, just before midnight, the state Senate signed off on Scott Walker’s budget. Today, the Assembly is debating the budget and is expected to take a vote before 11:00 p.m.

Call your Representative now and tell them to VOTE NO on the budget. We need to stand together to sound the alarm on provisions that will hurt working families for years to come. CALL 1-800-362-9472 to contact your Representative and urge them to OPPOSE Walker’s bad budget.

Here is a quick list of some of the most atrocious aspects slipped into the budget at the last minute:

Prevailing Wage Destruction: Republicans quickly adopted and passed a budget amendment to largely dismantle the state’s long-standing prevailing wage standards for hardworking construction workers. The amendment repeals prevailing wage for all local government projects and federalizes prevailing wage rates for all state projects. This will lower wages for all workers, union and non, and continue to chip away at our middle class.

No Weekend for Workers: This provision in the Motion 999 will remove the 24-hour required rest period in a 7-day work week. Workers across Wisconsin have earned the right to time off-the-clock to spend with family, friends and to take part in religious and community activities. Removing the required rest period leads to intimidation in the workplace and to an environment where bosses can pressure workers into working every single day of every single month without needed rest.

Elimination of Living Wages, Obstacles to Raising Wages: Currently, Wisconsin’s minimum wage statute says that the minimum wage must be a living wage and calls upon the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to set a living wage. Motion 999 strikes all references to a living wage from the statute and eliminates any process for filing, investigating, and finding a violation that a worker – while receiving the state’s minimum wage rate – is not receiving an actual living wage.

In addition, the Motion 999 incorporates all of the current minimum wage rates set by the DWD and codified in Wisconsin’s Administrative Code (e.g., basic minimum wage of $7.25, the tipped wage rate of $2.33, the opportunity wage rate of $5.90 per hour) into the statutes. Incorporation of the minimum wage rate into the statutes will make it more difficult for any new Governor to increase the minimum wage rates in the future.

The Motion 999 continues to codify the removal of the authority of local bodies of government to set a living wage standard in their communities.

Union Election Changes: It is unimaginable that the Republicans could take away more rights from public employees, but the budget does just that. Currently, under Act 10, if public employees have not yet joined together in a union and they wish to do so, they must simply meet the normal democratic standard of a majority of votes to unionize. The provision in Motion 999 will now require that public employees who want to organize a new union must meet the more burdensome Act 10 standard of 51% of all eligible employees in a bargaining unit. No politician would ever hold office if they had to use the same standard.

Taking Away a Requirement of Licensed Electricians: The Motion 999 removes the requirement that only Licensed Electricians conduct work on the installation, repair, and maintenance of private on-site wastewater treatment systems and well pumps.

IRIS/Family Care: The Motion 999 included further destruction of our Family Care program that cares for our elderly and disabled populations.

Payday Lender Expansion: The JFC bowed to the payday lender lobbyists by giving the malicious payday lender industry, which preys on low-wage workers and the vulnerable, the ability to sell even more financial products and services.

This is the most destructive budget we have ever seen and has been put together in shameful secrecy. From destroying prevailing wage standards for hardworking construction workers, to unbelievable cuts to our UW-System, to a shocking late night move to take away the weekend. The list goes on and on.

This is not the time to stay silent. We are the Wisconsin labor movement. Please pick up the phone and call the legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472 and tell your Representative to VOTE NO on the state budget.

No Weekends in Wisconsin? Workers and Families Deserve a Day of Rest

In a blatant and shocking blow to the democratic process, Republicans took away the weekend in a late-night budget maneuver released just before the July 4th weekend. All workers should have the right to a day of rest. It is a basic American ideal. It is an inherent facet of the fabric of our social contract that is essential in supporting strong families and strong communities. If we are working all the time, who is going to take care of our families and our communities? Studies show that without proper rest workplace accidents increase dramatically. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO calls for this budget item to be immediately removed. 

Now everyone knows what a 999 motion is. It is a shady and despicable way for Republicans to sneak into the budget what they want to, without having to cooperate and adhere to the standards of the normal democratic process. This grab bag of bad budget items is full of givebacks to campaign donors and provisions that will hurt working families for generations to come. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this at the last minute, before a holiday weekend, in a clear attempt to avoid public debate and scrutiny.