Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Poverty Level Up, Median Income Down

This week, the Census Bureau released bleak numbers showing that the American Dream is further away from more and more Americans.  Despite the fact that many U.S. companies are reporting profits and CEO pay is sky high, the U.S. poverty rate continues to rise. 

The report, which can be read here, reveals sobering figures:

• The poverty level in the United States is 15.1%, a 20 year high 

• Over 46 million, or 1 in 6 Americans is currently living in poverty

• Incomes continue to drop, with the median household American income plunging 2.3% from 2009 to $49,445

• A middle income family earns only 11 percent more then they did in 1980, while consumer prices have grown by about 155 percent.

• Americans without health coverage rose from 16.1 percent to 16.3 percent — or 49.9 million people

For last year, the official poverty level was an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four.

This report highlights the fact that millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed and income inequality is on the rise.  As our economy struggles and more and more of us can’t find work, our elected officials need to put politics aside and focus on creating family-supporting jobs with good benefits. 

 

Check out the AFL-CIO's Six Point Plan to get our country working again and be sure to follow the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO on Face Book and Twitter for updates on how you can get involved in the fight for good jobs in Wisconsin. 

The Workers

From the New York Times, interactive testimony from the 3,200 workers rebuilding the World Trade Center site in New York City. 

The World Trade Center site employs more than 3,200 workers. At present, it is the largest construction project in the United States.  These portraits and audio narratives are a testament to the myriad skills and talents of the workers. From the ironworker who provides for her family to the contractor who lost his brother on Sept. 11, each of these workers has a unique story to tell, but they all share a common goal: rebuilding a piece of New York that was once lost.  View their testimony here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/wtc-workers.html

 
Nearly all of the construction workers at the World Trade Center site are union members.  Often showing their union pride on their hardhats, these members of the building trades understand that their work is extremely meaningful.

 

Stop the Redistricting Power Grab

With last night's victory for the people of Wisconsin under way, GOP Legislators are getting nervous.  They are so scared, that they are proposing changes to legislative maps which heavily favor Republicans over the people of Wisconsin. 

Working families’ voices will be silenced under the proposed maps.  They are rigged so that when the people of Wisconsin reclaim their democracy in the August recall elections– Republicans will be able to sneak back into office in 2012 via GOP favored districts. 

Just take a look. These maps are so ludicrous that Nancy Nusbaum (D) and Fred Clark (D) won’t even be in their districts anymore if the changes go through.  They cut off Nancy’s house from her district by half a block! 

They are so scared of Sandy Pasch (D) that they went out of their way to add more Republican voters to her seat.  They know they can't beat Bob Wirch (D) so they removed him entirely from his district.

Stop the power grab.  Raise your voice.  Sign the petition for fair and balanced redistricting map that gives a voice to all Wisconsinites.  Tell Legislators they need to get back to the real issues – creating good jobs and a fair economy for Wisconsin.

Union-busting Legislators are proving they will stop at nothing to consolidate their power and silence the voice of the taxpaying middle class.  Instead of doing their job and listening to their constituents, Scott Walker’s GOP lemmings are changing the game and rigging the rules so they can’t be held accountable for their own actions. 

Despicably, this major policy change is being rushed through in an extraordinary session before recalls can take place.  Extraordinary sessions are rarely used, until now.  The rules are different.  Debate is limited and democracy is circumvented.
 

This is an unprecedented power grab and the time to speak out is now.  Redistricting happens once every ten years.  The next time the lines are redrawn will be after the 2020 Census.    This issue is the heart of who represents you in Madison and in Washington for a decade to come.

Stand up and be heard.  Sign the petition for a non-partisan district map.  Wisconsin needs to focus on good jobs and a better economy,not partisan redistricting. 

A Clean Sweep for Working Families

Endorsed candidates sweep the primaries as the people of Wisconsin stand together to restore democracy to our state!

Wisconsin voters were not fooled today as they voted to support candidates who are ready to stand up for middle class Wisconsinites and put the brakes on Scott Walker’s extreme agenda. 

Since February, we have seen a pure partisan attack on our Wisconsin way of life.  We have witnessed attacks on workers, the poor, the elderly, and on our local communities.  From Rhinelander to Kenosha to Hudson, Wisconsinites are standing up and reclaiming their state. 

Today was step one.  Now, we move forward to protect Wisconsin’s way of life by ensuring government works for the people, not corporations.  We will do this by voting anti-worker GOP Senators out of office on August 9 and standing up to protect those who stood with us on August 16.

“The shameful and despicable GOP tactic to delay judgment day for ‘The Walker 6’ by running fake democrats needlessly cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “This GOP trickery fell flat. Today's result proves the people of Wisconsin are serious. On August 9, we will recall the Senators who chose to stand with Scott Walker's corporate backers at the expense of working families.”

“There is a clear energy to restore democracy to Wisconsin,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “In today’s economy, Wisconsin voters want a fair and balanced approach to government.”

Today’s vote shows that the people of Wisconsin are on course to hold their elected officials accountable. 

Here is a list of tonight’s winning candidates.  It is also the list of endorsed candidates for the August 9 General Election:

District 2: Nancy Nusbaum
District 8: Sandy Pasch
District 10: Shelly Moore
District 14: Fred Clark
District 18: Jessica King
District 32: Jennifer Shilling

Recall 101

This summer Wisconsinites have the chance to reclaim their state and restore democracy to Wisconsin.  Six GOP Senators blindly followed an unpopular agenda set by Scott Walker and the Koch Brothers to strip Wisconsin workers of their unions and of their workplace rights. 

"The Walker 6" ignored their constituents.  They pushed through a corporate backed agenda to hurt the middle class.  Now, due to historic grassroots activism, "The Walker 6" face recall elections.  It is up to us, the people of Wisconsin, to vote "The Walker 6" out of office and protect the members of the Fabulous 14 who stood up for everyday Wisconsinites when the line was drawn in the sand.

Key Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, July 12:  Election Day for Democratic primaries in six Republican-held Senate districts.  “Real” Democrat vs. a fake, spoiler candidate. 

 

Tuesday, July 19:  The general election in the district of Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), and Republican primary day in two other Democrat-held districts. 

 

Tuesday, August 9:  The general election in the Republican districts.  The day to take back Wisconsin.  Vote GOP Senators who stood with Scott Walker to attack Wisconsin workers and communities out of office. 

 

Tuesday, August 16:  The general election in the two Democratic districts.  Vote to protect those who stood up for working families. 

 

 

To look up polling locations and other important Election information visit,  https://vpa.wi.gov/

 

Note:  You do not need a state issued ID to vote in summer recall elections.  You may be asked for an ID but it is not needed to cast a vote.  

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed the following candidates:

•    Fred Clark (Senate District 14)
•    Dave Hansen (Senate District 30)
•    Jim Holperin (Senate District 12)
•    Jessica King (Senate District 18)
•    Shelly Moore (Senate District 10)
•    Nancy Nusbaum (Senate District 2)
•    Sandy Pasch (Senate District 8)
•    Jennifer Shilling (Senate District 32)
•    Bob Wirch (Senate District 22)

Below is a useful chart which outlines the Senate District area, candidates and Election Dates.

District	Location	Endorsed Candidates	Primary Election Date	General Election Date
2	Green Bay Area	Nancy Nusbaum	July 12	August 9
8	Milwaukee Area	Sandra Pasch	July 12	August 9
10	Hudson/River Falls/Menomonie Area	Shelly Moore	July 12	August 9
12	Rhinelander Area	Jim Holperin	July 19	August 16
14	Ripon/Baraboo Area	Fred Clark	July 12	August 9
18	Fond du Lac/ Oshkosh area	Jessica King	July 12	August 9
22	Kenosha Area	Bob Wirch	July 19	August 16
30	Green Bay Area	Dave Hansen	None	July 19
32	La Crosse Area	Jennifer Shilling	July 12	August 9

 

Click here for a map of the Wisconsin Senate Districts.  Can you find your town in a district?  If so, be sure to get to the polls on the key dates listed above.  Together we can save Wisconsin. 

 

Total Recall Live

On Sunday July 10 at 9:00 pm our brothers and sisters in Seattle Washington will hold a concert in support of Wisconsin workers and the effort to restore democracy to the state.  In a Get out the Vote concert just two days before the “Senseless Six” Republicans who ignored the people of Wisconsin and followed Scott Walker's dictated corporate agenda face a primary election– Washington will rock for Wisconsin.

 

 

If you can’t make it to Egan's Ballard Jam House in Seattle, you can check out the show via a live streaming URL at  www.ustream.tv/channel/recall-now

Invite your friends and neighbors over and rock out for worker rights while discussing the upcoming elections.   Performances by Steve Beck, Karin Blaine, Kat Eggleston, Gary Kanter, Tom Rawson and Ted Stickney.  Special Appearance by Legendary Seattle Trio, Uncle Bonsai


Visit the Face Book page by clicking here. 

 
Donations accepted at the door or you can donate early online and bring your confirmation data with you. 
 
All proceeds go to the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Defense Fund and We Are Wisconsin (PAC). 

For more information click here.

This July 4 - Fight for Union Rights

As we celebrate the founding of our nation, it is disheartening to see the core values of our American democracy put at risk in order to advance a corporate agenda. A healthy democracy requires a society made up educated and informed citizens taking part in their government. Yet Scott Walker is doing everything in his power to limit debate, halt citizen participation and ignore the people of Wisconsin.

A healthy democracy has always supported the pursuit of happiness for working families, yet Scott Walker is denying workers a voice at the table, preferring to dictate instead of negotiate. With the support, encouragement and cheers of his corporate allies, he is attempting to transform our cherished democracy into a government of the wealthy, by the wealthy and for the wealthy.

The Walker agenda is a billionaire's bill of rights; it is a declaration of independence for corporate Wall Street.  It is a declaration of war on Wisconsin’s middle class.

Like the patriots of that July 4th so many years ago, we must be prepared to defend the American values we've inherited. Our struggle is not just a battle for workers' rights in Wisconsin, but a battle for the values that underpin our democratic society.  We must take back our democracy this summer by recalling the Republican State Senators who stood with Scott Walker to attack our rights. 

On this July 4th, pledge to recall, pledge to restore democracy, and pledge to save Wisconsin. 

"Send 'Em Packing Rally" -- June 16 at 5:30 pm

Today , June 16 at 5:30 PM in Madison, thousands of Wisconsinites are expected to rally outside of the Wisconsin Statehouse in protest of the Republicans’ extreme budget and attacks on worker rights and to tell GOP representatives that the people will "send 'em packing."   

The rally comes in the wake of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to strip workers of collective bargaining rights and a lawsuit filed in federal court by a coalition of labor and community groups to enjoin portions of the court’s decision and effective halt implementation. At current the bill is expected to go into effect June 29.
 
Joining the protestors will be Wisconsinites from recall districts across the state. In their attempt to steamroll education, healthcare, and funding for seniors programs, Republicans have alienated countless Wisconsin families. Now, more than ever, Wisconsinites are determined to win back the Senate this summer, roll back Walker’s extreme legislation and take back the statehouse in 2012.
 

WHAT: ‘Send Them Packing’ Rally

WHEN: Thursday, June 16 at 5:30 PM

WHERE: State Street entrance to the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin

WHO: Teachers, nurses, truck drivers, students and community members

Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling Affront to Democracy, Sets Dangerous Precedent

Earlier today the Wisconsin State Supreme Court overturned a permanent injunction issued by Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi earlier this month, effectively stripping workers of their collective bargaining rights. In the wake of the ruling, Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO issued the following statement:

The inability of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to separate partisan politics from the well-being of Wisconsinites is the latest indication that citizens do not have a voice in this state. And the only way for Wisconsinites to repair that voice is to take back the Senate this summer, stop Walker’s unbridled assault on working people and take back the statehouse in 2012.

Let’s be clear: This ruling will not silence the voices of millions of Wisconsinites who are appalled by Walker’s extreme choices, his addiction to corporate interests and his insistence on putting the wealthy ahead of the working. In their attempt to steamroll education, healthcare, and funding for seniors programs, Republicans have alienated countless Wisconsin families. Now, more than ever, Wisconsinites across the state are committed to holding Republicans accountable for their bad choices.

This ruling is an affront to our democracy. Green-lighting the sort of shady, backroom tactics that Governor Walker used to ram his extreme budget through the legislature sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our state. Democracy is the system by which all people, not just corporation and the wealthy, have a seat at the table – but this ruling is just one more indication that Wisconsin Republicans do not believe in a functioning, sound democracy inclusive of checks and balances.

 

June 14 Rally at the Capitol

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14 there will be a 5:30 pm rally at the Capitol to protest Gov. Walker's extreme budget proposals. 

Proposals which gut our schools, attack our health care system, and cripple our communities. It is also expected that the collective bargaining measures - which strip union rights from public employees - will be jammed into the state budget in an attempt to circumvent democracy.

 

Rally at the Capitol: The People vs. Scott Walker, Tuesday, June 14

11:00 a.m. – Assembly begins debate

5:30 p.m. – Peoples Rally Against Walker at the Square and State St

Click here to print a rally flyer.

 

Republicans have called an “extraordinary session” to begin tomorrow, Tuesday June 14.  The rules are different in this session.  Debate will be limited, democracy will be circumvented and the balance will greatly tip in favor of ramming through an anti-worker, anti-family, anti-community agenda.

Come bear witness to this denial of democracy.  The Assembly will open at 11:00 am, tomorrow, June 14.  Please take part in democracy and bear witness to the extreme attack on the people of Wisconsin.

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14, as we continue to stand strong against a budget that guts public schools, attacks health care, raises taxes on workers and seniors, and jeopardizes public services like police and fire.  All while handing over $300 million a year in tax breaks to the rich.

Click here to sign the petition to stop the attacks on Wisconsin workers.  Tell Scott Walker to take his union-busting agenda out of the state budget.

For live updates of the rally be sure to visit the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Face Book and Twitter pages.

 

Please share this post and the rally flyer with your friends, family, and neighbors!  Together, through collective action, we can continue to put pressure on our elected officials and restore fairness to Wisconsin.