Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

This Thanksgiving, Help Strikers at Kohler

As you know, the workers of UAW Local 833 at Kohler have been on strike for over a week. On Sunday, November 15, workers took a strike vote with 94% voting to strike.

We, as labor brothers and sisters, must do our part to help them in their fight. We must stand strong in solidarity.

At issue, is a two-tier wage system.

At the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, we will keep you updated as things develop.

Thanksgiving is just two days away. Workers will be walking the picket line on Thanksgiving Day. It would be a great show of support to join them Thursday in solidarity.

These are things that we all can do to help our brothers and sisters at UAW Local 833.

• Join the picket line anytime including Thanksgiving Day at the Clock Tower, 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, and stand in solidarity with the families of UAW Local 833.

• Donate to the Kohler UAW 833 Workers Relief Fund, Emil Mazey Hall
  5425 Superior Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53083.

• Sign the petition calling on Herbert and David Kohler to return to the negotiating table, give fair and equal treatment to their employees, and move away from the two-tier wage structure.

• Donate to the food bank.

• Donate wood and fire wood for burn barrels to help keep strikers warm in the Wisconsin winter.

Food and wood donations can be dropped off at:

Emil Mazey Hall
5425 Superior Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53083

The entire labor movement proudly stands with Kohler workers as they fight for fair wages for all workers and a strong middle class for America.

Support Kohler Workers

 

The members of United Auto Workers Local 833 voted yesterday, November 15, to go on strike at Kohler Company.

Almost 2,000 members came together to say ‘enough is enough’ and voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest Kohler proposal.

Why is this happening?

Five years ago, during threats of company cutbacks during the recession, the members of UAW 833 made concessions. A two-tier wage system was implemented, where newer employees are paid less than long-term workers. Workers faced wage freezes and increased health insurance costs.

Kohler’s workers have done their part.

Now, the economy is in a different place than it was five years ago. The company is strong. Times have changed. Kohler employees deserve and demand better.

We know that Kohler can afford to do better for the workers that have made the company strong and profitable. More than ninety-three percent of workers voted to go on strike, and we need to stand with our brothers and sisters who are now on the picket line.

How can you help?

We urge all union members to take action in support of the workers of UAW 833:

1. Sign the petition calling on Kohler to return to the negotiating table, give fair and equal treatment to their employees, and move away from the two-tier wage structure.
2. Join the picket line anytime at the Clock Tower, 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, and stand in solidarity with UAW Local 833.
3. Donate by mailing a check to: UAW 833 Kohler Strike Fund, Emil Mazey Hall, 5425 Superior Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53083.

It’s time to end the practice of cutting wages and benefits for the middle class.

UAW workers are on the front line of negotiating for fair wages and benefits for middle-class families and we stand strongly with them in the struggle.

Feingold Opposes TPP

Russ Feingold, who is running for U.S. Senate, met with members of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO Executive Board to talk about trade, raising wages, and other issues important to helping working people in today’s economy. 

Feingold is challenging Senator Ron Johnson, one of the most extreme Senators in Congress.  The match-up will be on the ballot in November 2016.

Labor leaders expressed concern over the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  The TPP has been negotiated in secret for years.  The full text of the deal was recently released and is even worse than previously anticipated.  Environmentalist, labor and human rights activists are deeply concerned that the deal will harm jobs, our planet and people.  By creating a global race to the bottom, companies have not only the incentive but the power to pollute and pay people poverty wages. 

Russ Feingold has continuously fought against unfair trade deals that ship our jobs overseas and would have voted against the TPP.  Feingold expressed his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, explaining the deal would ship good jobs overseas at a time when we should be protecting American jobs.

Russ Feingold gave his support for raising wages and supporting paid family leave, explaining that these policies are “great for mom and dad and employers alike.  It’s time for America to catch up with the rest of the industrialized world in supporting working families.”  Feingold has a plan to help student loan borrowers, backing Senator Elizabeth Warren’s bill to refinance student loans like a mortgage. 

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has endorsed Feingold for U.S. Senate. 

Women of Steel Lobby in Madison!

Women Steelworkers gathered in Madison today for a United Steelworkers Women of Steel Lobby Day!

Steelworkers came from all across Wisconsin, from big shop floors and small companies, big cities and rural towns from across the state to talk about workplace issues and the legislative process. While at the conference, attendees learned tips on talking with elected officials about the issues that are important to working women.  

 

Cindy Odden, Women of Steel Coordinator for Southern Wisconsin, organized the event.  Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO gave a legislative update and Teresa Mambu-Rasch, Legislative and Research Director of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO provided a legislative briefing.

As part of the Lobby Day, attendees brushed up on current legislation, analyzed voting records of elected officials and headed to the Capitol to meet with elected officials and lobby them on the issues important to women workers. 

 

Women of Steel encouraged politicians to support goods and services made in Wisconsin, strengthen paid family leave programs in the state, support strong union rights and help injured workers by supporting the Wisconsin Workers Comp Advisory Council and its agreed-upon bill.

 

Attendees even got to meet Russ Feingold, who is currently challenging Sen. Ron Johnson for U.S. Senate.

 

Women of Steel is an activist-arm of the USW that evolved from the early women’s caucuses that demanded that women have their rightful place in our union.  Women of Steel has grown into a powerful force, bringing women USW members together to learn, advocate, organize and grow. 

 

Union strong. One day longer, one day stronger!

Protect Injured Workers, Reject AB501

Our Workers Compensation system is under attack. On Tuesday, November 10, a destructive and dangerous bill was introduced by Rep. Spiros (R-Marshfield) – AB501 the “Spiros Workers Compensation Destruction Bill” – which would collapse our Workers Compensation system.

The Spiros Workers Compensation Destruction Bill would destroy Wisconsin’s great Workers Compensation system for injured workers and undermine the collaborative Workers Compensation Advisory Council process. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Insurance.

Click here to stand with injured workers. Send a letter to your legislators today to reject the Sprios Workers Compensation Destruction Bill.

Wisconsin is the birthplace of the Workers Compensation system. We have a model system which ensures that workers injured on the job are treated fairly and consistently, creating stability for employers and employees. Our nationally respected system is guided by the Wisconsin Workers Compensation Advisory Council.

The Workers Compensation Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from labor and management who are experts in our Workers Compensation system. Council members meet regularly to study, vet, and ultimately ensure that recommended changes are good for the entire system: workers, employers, insurers and medical care providers. The Council’s recommended changes are brought to the Legislature as an agreed-upon bill. The Legislature introduces, reviews, and passes the agreed-upon bill because legislators trust that the Council’s members have an excellent understanding of the system and have trust in the Council’s process.

An agreed-upon bill has been reached and should be advanced by the Legislature.

The Council insolates and protects our system and injured workers from partisan politics. Without the Council, our Workers Compensation system would “yo-yo” with each election, bringing instability to the system and harm to workers and employers alike.

The Spiros Workers Compensation Destruction Bill ignores the guidance, input and extensive research done by the Council and stacks the deck against injured workers. If the Spiros Workers Compensation Destruction Bill proceeds through the Legislature, it would set a dangerous precedent and wreak havoc on our Workers Compensation system.

Contact your legislator today. Tell them to respect the Advisory Council process and protect Wisconsin’s injured workers. It’s time to fully reject the Spiros Workers Compensation Destruction Bill.

Fight for $15 Strikes in 300 Cities Across Country, Marches on GOP Debate in Milwaukee

A coalition of union and community members joined fast-food and retail workers fighting for $15 and a union in a nationwide day of action to call for livable wages and union rights. 

Fast-food workers walked off the job in Madison and Milwaukee, as well as over 300 cities across the country, to call for higher wages and the right to form a union free of intimidation and retaliation.  Today’s action was the industry's largest-ever strike, joined by tens of thousands of Americans demanding higher wages, worker dignity, and an economy that works for all of us.  

The nationwide day of action culminated in downtown Milwaukee, where union organizer and civil and immigrant rights activist, Dolores Huerta, lead a march of immigrant, faith and labor community members from Milwaukee’s Southside to link up with the Fight for $15 and Black Lives Matter activists to march together and protest the Republican presidential debate.

Huerta, legendary leader of the United Farm Workers, fired up the crowd, reminding the demonstration that all work has dignity.

"Donald Trump is not out in the fields picking fruit and vegetables for dinner tables all across this country.  Are those the Latinos he is talking about? He doesn't know what he is talking about.  Respect work.  Respect hard work.  The candidates here tonight are against immigrants, they are against the minimum wage, they are for cutting Medicare. People have the voting power and must use it. Voting power makes sure the haters don't win." 

The Republican 2016 debate has been filled with hateful and racist rhetoric as well as bad policy ideas that would harm the middle-class, jobseekers and low-income working families.    

Since winning wage increases from Los Angeles to New York, the campaign for $15 and a union has only grown stronger.  Our movement is growing – health care providers, adjunct professors, and retail workers are all joining fast food workers on the picket lines because they know a fight for a raise in the minimum wage means a better quality of life for all. 

Thousands of people were on the streets of downtown Milwaukee this evening to take a bold stand against corporations that pay poverty wages and the politicians they control.  Working people came together to say that all work demands dignity and a livable wage.  No one who works full-time should live in poverty.  Our economy’s troubles did not just happen, but are a direct result of poor public policy and growing corporate control of politics and our economy.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, working people are coming together to call for raising wages, immigration reform and social and economic justice to all people. 

GOP says Shh It's a Secret

Republicans have called an extraordinary session in the Senate for tomorrow, Friday, November 6, to take up bills that would virtually erase campaign finance regulations in Wisconsin and wipeout our nonpartisan elections agency the Government Accountability Board (GAB).

 

Contact your Senator today. Speak up ahead of the vote to let them know you strongly oppose these bills which would flood our elections with unaccountable money and destroy our independent election oversight board.

 

Gutting Transparency with Campaign Finance Secrecy Bill (Senate Bill 292)

 

Republicans don’t want you to know who funds their campaigns, so they’ve introduced and are working to pass a secrecy bill that would erode campaign finance regulations and allow politicians to grab even bigger piles of money without having to disclose their donors to the public. Republicans want to butter to their own bread, so they are changing the rules in a despicable attempt to gain power for themselves and their party.

 

They even want to make it legal for foreign corporations to donate to state political campaigns.

Shielding citizens from knowing who donates to what campaign is bad for democracy. Why are we making it harder for citizens to follow the money and connect the dots between campaign donors and legislative priorities? Citizens have the right to know who is influencing our government, which in turn influences the communities where we live and work.

 

Newspapers around the state have strongly condemned this secrecy bill with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorializing, “The purpose of this new secrecy measure is just as nefarious as the July attempt to gut the state’s open records law – and deserves that same outrage and condemnation from the public. … none of this is good for democracy or transparency.”

 

The Journal Sentinel even smacked down the GOP talking points, calling out Rep. Vos and Co. for their real motivation, explaining that, “Vos’ argument is, in fact, nothing more than a smoke screen to protect the political ruling class.”

 

We don’t need more secrecy and money in politics. Contact your legislator today and let them know you want open and honest government, not more secrecy.

 

Wiping Out Nonpartisan Elections Board (Senate Bill 294)

 

Instead of working to create jobs and raise wages for working people, Republicans are turning their attention to dismantling the state’s nonpartisan, watchdog ethics board – the Government Accountability Board (GAB). The GAB is charged with investigating campaign finance violations and overseeing state elections. Changes to the independent GAB are a clear partisan power grab and an attack on good government. 

 

There is no doubt that these bills are all a sharp turn away from Wisconsin’s proud good government tradition of openness, accountability and transparency. We need you to speak up now!

 

Keep the pressure on. Let your legislators know that Wisconsin citizens oppose this direction for our state. Your voice can make a difference! Call or email your  Senator today.

 

Politicians in Madison should be working hard to save good Wisconsin jobs and focus on creating economic opportunity for our future rather than changing the political rules so they can artificially stay in power.

TPP Text is Released

Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt made the following statement after the release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) text

 

For years, this trade deal has been negotiated in secret, finally today the public will have a chance to see the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Working people will be able to see for themselves if this deal benefits America’s working families over profit driven corporations. 

 

Despite suggestions from the faith community, environmentalists, labor and many others, to date, there’s no indication that improvements have been made to address labor standards, environmental protections or provisions that give corporations incentives to relocate American jobs to low-wage countries.

 

We will examine the text to see if enforceable currency rules exist, whether many Buy American & Buy Local policies are waived, and if the deal will raise the price of life-saving medicines. If these issues are not addressed, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO as the voice of working people in Wisconsin cannot support this agreement.​

Fight for $15 Rally November 10

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION:  People around the country are taking action on November 10 in the Fight for $15 and a union.  A coalition of union, faith and community groups are coming together to continue the push for better wages and working standards in Wisconsin and across the nation.

Together, we’re fighting for $15 and a union without retaliation for fast-food, retail and all low-wage workers so that everyone who works full-time can afford to feed their family and make ends meet.

Building on years of walkouts, rallies and workers speaking out about poverty wages, the Fight for $15 is launching a national day of action on  Nov. 10 to stand united for better rights for workers.  

Working people will be rallying in front of city halls all across the country to launch a new push to build a movement of better wages and union rights. Be a part of the movement!

MADISON ACTION DETAILS

When: Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m. 

Where: City-County Building 210 W. MLK Blvd, Madison, WI 

 

MILWAUKEE ACTION DETAILS

When: 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 10

Where:  Milwaukee City Hall, 200 E Wells St.

 

The GOP will be holding their presidential primary debate the same night in Milwaukee.  After a brief rally at city hall, workers, community members and faith leaders will march and rally outside the debate to call attention to the growing movement for $15 and a union and demand real public policy initiatives that support working families and economic growth.