Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog: June 2019

Pass Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform Now

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the issue of gerrymandering is beyond the scope of the federal courts. While we are disappointed with the 5-4 ruling, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO takes Chief Justice Roberts’ decision as a call to action.

It is an outrage the U.S. Supreme Court did not call for an end to the extreme partisan gerrymandering currently suffocating the rights and freedom of voters to fairly choose our own representation. Partisan gerrymandering is unjust, undemocratic, and un-American.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan writes in her dissent, “partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people.”

Our American values of democracy tell us voters deserve an electoral process where voters pick their representatives rather than politicians picking their voters.

Join us in calling on the Wisconsin Legislature to pass non-partisan redistricting reform before the 2021 map drawing process begins.

Wisconsin voters deserve the freedom of fair representation. The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has long-supported every effort to address partisan gerrymandering. We thank Gov. Evers for putting forth a budget that outlined a thorough action plan to implement non-partisan redistricting in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee and the Legislature stripped Gov. Evers’ non-partisan redistricting proposal from the budget.

Take action and join the wave of citizens demanding fair and equal representation with non-partisan redistricting.

County Boards in 47 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, representing three quarters of the state’s population, have passed resolutions to ban partisan gerrymandering. A Marquette University Law School poll earlier this year found 72 percent of all respondents, including 62 percent of Republicans, support non-partisan redistricting reform.

Assembly Bill 303, an outline to fair maps in Wisconsin, currently sits in the legislature waiting debate. Wisconsin’s hardworking families deserve fair maps.

Justice Kagan continues in her dissent, “of all times to abandon the Court’s duty to declare the law, this was not the one. The practices challenged in these cases imperil our system of government. Part of the Court’s role in that system is to defend its foundations. None is more important than free and fair elections. With respect but deep sadness, I dissent.”

Posted at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wisconsin Labor Movement Calls on Legislature to Pass Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform Before 2021 Redistricting Process

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, released the following statement on today’s United States Supreme Court Decision on Partisan Gerrymandering:

It is an outrage the U.S. Supreme Court did not call for an end to the extreme partisan gerrymandering currently suffocating the rights and freedom of voters to fairly choose our own representation. Partisan gerrymandering is unjust, undemocratic, and un-American. While we are disappointed with the 5-4 ruling, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO takes Chief Justice Roberts’ decision as a call to action. Our American values of democracy tell us voters deserve an electoral process where voters pick their representatives rather than politicians picking their voters.

Wisconsin voters deserve the freedom of fair representation. The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has long-supported every effort to address partisan gerrymandering. We thank Gov. Evers for putting forth a budget that outlined a thorough action plan to implement non-partisan redistricting in Wisconsin.

It is shameful Wisconsin Republicans rejected non-partisan redistricting in Gov. Evers’ budget in a desperate attempt to cling to power and pull every dirty trick in the book to rig the rules of our democracy against the will of the voters.

The working men and women of the labor movement, on behalf of our state’s hard working families, strongly call on legislators from all sides of the aisle to come together to build a healthier democracy in Wisconsin by taking up and passing a bill to implement non-partisan redistricting reform at the state level before the 2021 redistricting process begins. Assembly Bill 303, an outline to fair maps in Wisconsin, currently sits in the legislature waiting for debate.

Posted at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Budget Heads to Evers' Desk

Yesterday, during the Assembly budget debate, Republicans played politics to secure last-minute votes on the state Biennial Budget Bill. Special interest givebacks like a proposal to make it easier to sell Tesla car parts because Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) owns a business that sells Tesla car parts, was inserted at the eleventh hour to shore up his vote.

This isn’t what the people voted for when we voted in November for Gov. Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

On Tuesday, the Assembly passed the GOP version of the budget on a 60-39 vote.

Today, Wednesday, after just 6 hours of debate, the Senate passed the budget 17-16.

Democrats fought for working families, putting forth amendments to restore parts of the People's Budget to give Wisconsinites the budget they deserve.

The budget will now be presented to Gov. Evers who will have 6 days from when he receives the budget to veto the budget in parts or in its entirety.

When Gov. Evers introduced the People’s Budget in February, he did so after months of traveling the state and listening to what Wisconsinites wanted to see in our budget. He put forth a budget that moved Wisconsin forward to create better jobs and a stronger middle class. The Joint Finance Committee then changed the budget, stripping many key provisions that support working families from the budget.

Posted at 04:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

President Bloomingdale Joins Gov. Evers for AB 10 Bill Signing

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale joined longtime Assembly Bill 10 co-sponsors Senator Janet Bewley (D-Mason) and Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison) along with representatives from both sides of the aisle as Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 10 into law today in Madison. This is a great win for workers and Wisconsin jobs as Assembly Bill 10 eliminates a tax loophole that allowed companies to deduct moving expenses from their taxes when moving jobs out of state.

“We commend Gov. Evers and politicians from both sides of the aisle for coming together to update our tax code to better protect Wisconsin jobs and Wisconsin workers,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale. “For too long, Wisconsin taxpayers picked up the tab when companies shipped Wisconsin jobs out of state. This commonsense tax code update is one step in ensuring our laws better support Wisconsin job growth and our local economy. We hope legislators continue to work together to create good Wisconsin jobs, raise wages, and restore worker rights in Wisconsin.”

Assembly Bill 10 will end the ability of companies to deduct the cost of moving expenses from their taxes when they move operations outside of Wisconsin or to another country. Formerly, Wisconsin law allowed for companies to deduct from their taxes the cost of moving expenses when they moved operations anywhere – be it within Wisconsin, outside of Wisconsin, or to another country.

“We shouldn't be giving companies a pat on the back for putting hardworking Wisconsinites out of work and for taking economic activity out of the state,” said Assembly Bill 10 co-sponsor Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison).

Thanks to our Governor Tony Evers for making this bill law and to longtime authors Senator Janet Bewley and Representative Chris Taylor joined by Rep. Neylon and Sen. Feyen and the many working people who took action and called out this unjust practice of rewarding companies for moving jobs to low paying other states or countries and getting a tax break for those moving expenses.

Posted at 01:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations to IATSE Local 18 and Milwaukee Bucks on Contract Agreement at Fiserv Forum

Members of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 18 have reached and ratified a collective bargaining agreement with Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Congratulations to the hardworking men and women of IATSE Local 18 and to the Milwaukee Bucks for signing a strong contract agreement at the Fiserv Forum,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Thanks to this win-win agreement, concert goers, sports fans, and entertainment lovers of all ages will enjoy top notch entertainment made possible by the behind the scenes work by trained and dedicated professionals of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.”

IATSE Local 18 Business Manager Thomas Gergerich stated, “We’re happy to join Fiserv Forum’s winning team in facilitating the needs of a world-class arena and we’re excited to play a “behind the scenes” role in Milwaukee’s new era of arena entertainment.”

IATSE Vice President Craig Carlson said, “This agreement illustrates that both parties believe in the dignity of hard work, the honor it instills and the respect it commands. Our agreement rewards all workers with safe working conditions, fair wages and meaningful benefits. I commend Fiserv Forum’s management and Local 18 for putting together an agreement which will lead to the future success of both workers and management. We look forward to a wonderful relationship.”

“We are proud to team with IATSE and Local 18 in bringing skilled union stagehands and riggers to Fiserv Forum, as we continue our mission to provide family-supporting jobs,” Bucks Senior Vice President Alex Lasry said. “We are looking forward to this positive workplace development partnership.”

Posted at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Union Members Teach the Joys of Fishing to Next Generation

Family Fun on the Water with the Union Sportsmen Alliance annual 'Take Kids Fishing Day'

It was a great day on the water for first timers and seasoned fishers alike as the annual Union Sportsmen Alliance 'Take Kids Fishing Day' events were held in Wisconsin.

Fishing events were held at Chad Erickson Memorial Park in La Crosse, Vilas Park in Madison, Braun’s Bay in Eau Claire, and Traxler Park in Janesville.

With help from local Wisconsin labor councils and building trades councils, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Work Boots on the Ground ‘Take Kids Fishing Day’ events gave hundreds of Wisconsin children the chance to enjoy the thrill of baiting hooks, eating a picnic lunch, taking home prize giveaways – and reeling in some nice fish!

The Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the Greater West Central Area Labor Council, the South Central Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, the Western Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Southern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council donated poles, bait, and a light lunch for kids as well as volunteered their time and angling expertise to teach the next generation how to fish and responsibly enjoy the outdoors.

Tyler Tubbs, president of Western Wisconsin ALF-CIO and an event organizer in La Crosse, said even the smallest catch can get a big reaction.

"I love seeing how the kids take to fishing. They catch even the smallest fish and they think it’s the biggest thing in the world,” said Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Tyler Tubbs. “Something so small can create so much joy. It makes putting the time in worth it 100%."

Over 50 kids signed up in La Crosse and hundreds more in Janesville, Madison, and Eau Claire were able to participant thanks to the generous sponsorship and volunteer efforts of local union members.

Dave Branson, Executive Director of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, organized the event at Vilas Park and agreed that kid reactions make the event fun for the whole family.

“When kids pull up their first fish, they’re all very happy to do it and they get very excited with it,” said Branson. “Our union volunteers are experienced fishers and they are out here to help kids learn how to put bait safely and correctly on the hook and help cast out so hopefully kids can have the best chances to catch a lot of fish.”

Greg Erickson, of the Western Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council, helped organize the Braun Bay’s event. “It’s a great community event and a great way for union members to give back. Union volunteers pass on proper fishing techniques so the next generation can enjoy the outdoors safely. Everyone, young and old, had a fun time and that was our goal.”

These free events are staffed entirely by volunteers from the labor community and are a prime example of the value of introducing youth and their families to a healthy, outdoor pastime and the value of union members in our communities. A union-made picnic lunch was provided.

Rob Potter, Southern Wisconsin Building & Construction Trades Council President, provided some behind the scene details on how union members prepare for this union-made community event. In Janesville over 88 kids and 22 union volunteers participated.

“A lot of time and effort goes into pulling it off,” explained Potter. “From separating worms so each kid has their own individual pack, to assembly fishing poles and organizing food and beverage for everyone – it is dedicated union men and women volunteers who believe in the conservation of outdoors and want to get the next generation involved that make this great event possible.”

Local News Cameras Caught Some of the Fun