Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Protesting Walker at the Ritz

Working families in South West Florida are standing in solidarity with Wisconsin workers today and protesting Gov. Walker’s visit to Naples. 

Gov. Walker is speaking at the Ritz Carlton resort in Naples, Florida as part of the James Madison Institute think-tank luncheon. 

Protesters in the Sunshine State are shining a light on Gov. Walker’s attacks on middle class families. 

WZVN, a local news station, is reporting that:
 

Protestors are lined up to express their disapproval of the embattled governor… at Vanderbilt Beach and Airport Pulling. They say Walker is in town trying to raise money to defeat the recall election he faces in Wisconsin.

The timing, Wally Ilczyszyn, president of Florida’s Painters & Allied Trades, is perfect.

“Walker’s at the Ritz-Carlton for a $500-a-plate luncheon because he can’t find enough money in his home state to fight against his recall. So he has to come here."

Brendan Fonock, a Cape Coral Fire Fighter, Local 2424 explained: 

“We’re here standing with our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin.  Their fight there has recharged unions across the country and we’re letting those (in power) know that we’re looking out for the middle class and that we will not be silent to take away our rights to collectively bargain.”

With six straight months of job loss and an unfulfilled promise to create 250,000 new jobs for the state, Gov. Walker has plenty of work to do right here in Wisconsin. 

 

This week alone the Governor will be in Florida and in Washington D.C.  These trips provide Gov. Walker an opportunity to fundraise with deep-pocketed, out-of-state individuals in an attempt to drown out the voices of the people of Wisconsin in the upcoming recall election.  

 

Local News Coverage

• News-Press, 200 protest Naples fundraiser visit by embattled Wisconsin governor

 

• Video from WZVN, ABC

 

• More photos from Continuing Change Blog

One Million Strong to Recall Scott Walker

The signature gathering period of Wisconsin’s unprecedented recall campaign ends with strong finish as over one million citizens sign petition to recall Scott Walker. 

Thousands of grassroots volunteers and union members from across the state have put in countless hours in order to restore democracy, save Wisconsin’s middle class and put Wisconsin back on the right path. Together, recall activists have collected over one million signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker.  One million signatures is just shy of the 1.12 million votes Scott Walker received in 2010 and represents nearly half of the Wisconsin electorate.   
 
Recall activists have surpassed all signature gathering goals and will turn in enough signatures to trigger special recall elections for Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Sen. Pam Galloway, Sen. Terry Moulton, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Sen. Van Wanggaard.

“There is no question about it.  Wisconsinites want to recall Gov. Walker in order to put an end to his disastrous agenda and stop his attacks on working families” explained Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Putting corporate allies above the people of Wisconsin has led to months of job loss and a compromised economy.  Destroying collective bargaining rights for public employees has hurt thousands of families and small businesses across the state.  The ripple affects of Gov. Walker’s union-busting bill are estimated to cost Wisconsin 18,000 private-sector jobs a year.” 
 
“For sixty days union and community members have organized at union halls, grocery stores and bowling allies around the state to recall Scott Walker and those who walk in lock-step with his extreme and dangerous agenda,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Last February, when Gov. Walker announced his plan to bust public sector unions and the middle class, a spark was lit and the people of Wisconsin began to take notice of Gov. Walker’s real agenda.  This is a governor who crippled the rights of workers, raised taxes on the poor, compromised our children’s education and made it harder for Wisconsinites to vote.  The signs are clear, his agenda is not working and the people of Wisconsin won’t stand for two more years of Gov. Walker.” 

Celebrate the Recall Tuesday

Since November, thousands of volunteers have braved the cold by going door to door or by standing at busy intersections throughout Wisconsin to collect enough signatures to recall Gov. Walker, Lt. Gov. Kleefisch and four Republican Senators.

On Tuesday, January 17, recall partners will turn in all completed recall forms to the Government Accountability Board. 

Join us, this Tuesday, as we celebrate the hours of hard work and dedication it took to begin to reclaim our democracy. 

 

In Madison, there will be a 5:00 p.m. celebration at the Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive. 

In Milwaukee, there will be a celebration rally at 4:30 p.m. at the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), 700 W. State Street, by the mall in front of the student services building.

When Gov. Walker attempted to divide workers by going after the rights of public sector unions he never expected that his attack would bring the community together.  By destroying the collective bargaining rights of working people, Gov. Walker is destroying a fundamental underpinning of the middle class. 

Thankfully, Wisconsinites are standing together to reclaim their government and recall Gov. Walker and those who rubber-stamp his agenda.  Months of job loss and deep cuts to education and health care have led to a compromised economy.  Luckily, the people of Wisconsin are ready to bring Gov. Walker’s reign to early end in order to get our state back on track.

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Friday, January 13, is the last day to turn-in recall petitions to recall offices and union halls around the state as many buildings will be closed over the weekend.  Find a list of United Wisconsin recall offices by clicking here.  Most recall offices will be open until 9:00 p.m.

Working Families to Protest Gov. Walker in Texas

The Texas AFL-CIO and the Austin labor movement are encouraging union and community members to stand up for worker rights and come together to support the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall effort when Governor Scott Walker visits Austin, Texas on Thursday.  There will be a Texas-style protest, at noon on Thursday, January 12 at the Hilton Austin downtown at 500 E. 4th Street. 

“When Gov. Walker promoted legislation to decimate the workplace rights of Wisconsin public employees, the Texas labor movement took part in a national effort to support Wisconsin working families,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller. “People need to see the pattern. The assault on working families is a coordinated right-wing attack that requires a coordinated defense at every point where the issue of dignity in the workplace is engaged.”

Gov. Walker will be speaking at the right-wing Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual policy orientation for Texas legislators.

“Wherever Scott Walker goes, working people will stand together to hold him accountable for his union-busting, middle-class destroying agenda which not only hurts people in Wisconsin but hurts working people throughout the country,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “We stand together as one movement to fight for economic equality and social justice in the global economy.” 

“We applaud the Texas AFL-CIO for their efforts to expose Scott Walker and his extreme agenda,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Gov. Walker’s attacks on public employees, education, health care, child labor laws, and voting rights threaten the very fabric of our nation.  Fortunately, hard-working men and women are standing up in Texas and in every corner of the United States to say enough is enough.”

Important Recall Dates and Deadlines

Petitions to recall Scott Walker, Rebecca Kleefisch and state Senators will be submitted to the Government Accountability Board on Tuesday, January 17.

 

Please take note of the important dates below in order to be sure that your petition is in on time.

 

 

Important Dates

• Tuesday, January 10: The last day to submit recall petitions via mail so they are received on time and able to be processed. Petitions should be mailed to: P.O. Box 2569, Madison, WI, 53701.
  

• Friday, January 13: The final day to sign and deliver recall petitions to most recall offices and union halls as they will close on that day. Friday, January 13 will also be final day to download recall petitions from www.UnitedWisconsin.com.

• Tuesday, January 17: Recall petitions will be submitted to the Government Accountability Board.
  

 

If you, or someone you know has not had a chance to sign the petition, now is the time to do it! Download petitions here.

Half a Million Wisconsinites Sign to Recall Gov. Walker

WOW!  Union members and recall activists have gathered over 507,533 signatures to reclaim Wisconsin and recall Gov. Walker in just 30 days! 

This is a huge accomplishment, but we aren’t stopping now!  Our new goal is to collect 720,277 signatures before the January deadline. 

With your help we can surpass our goal and ensure that Gov. Walker’s on attacks Wisconsin workers and families are stopped. 

• Click here to download a petition to circulate in your neighborhood.  There are still 30 days left to collect signatures.

• Click here to donate to the recall effort before the end of the year deadline. 

 

If everyone pitches in we will have the grassroots, people power to combat Gov. Walker’s big moneyed, corporate backers like the Koch Brothers.  Volunteer your time, download a petition or donate today. 

A new report released by the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future shows that the ripple affects of Gov. Walker’s policies will cost Wisconsin over 18,000 full-time, private sector jobs a year.  This report is a stark reminder of why we must recall Gov. Walker.

Over half a million people have signed to recall Gov. Walker.  Half a million people is the equivalent of filling Lambeau Field 7 times, Miller Park 11 times and is 10,000 more people than the average  gate attendance at Noah’s Ark in the Wisconsin Dells!  

Together, we will recall Gov. Walker.  In Wisconsin, we need jobs, not a Governor who puts corporate special interests above the 99%. 

Report: Walker Costing Wisconsin Over 18,000 Jobs A Year

  A report released by the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future entitled “The Price of Extremism” clearly and systematically outlines that Gov. Walker’s policies are not working.  In fact, the indirect, ripple affects of Gov. Walker’s actions are costing Wisconsin over 18,000 full-time, private-sector jobs during the first year of Gov. Walker’s budget. 

 

The report focuses on four ways that Walker’s policies are hurting Wisconsin and attaches private-sector job loss estimates to each of the policies.  The four areas and estimated job loss include: 

 

1.         Cuts to education and healthcare which will cost Wisconsin 5,400 jobs

2.         Cuts in aid to low-income families which will cost Wisconsin 1,200 jobs

3.         The economic impact of Act 10 which will cost Wisconsin 6,900 jobs

4.         The rejection of federal aid funds which has cost 4,700 jobs

 

The report, which can viewed here, also provides county-by-county estimates of the impact of Act 10 and the impact of education cuts on local economies. 

 

“In tough times, the worst thing a Governor can do is further shrink the economy by stifling spending,” explained Jack Norman, Research Director for the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future. “Gov. Walker has taken huge amounts of money out of the economy through budget cuts, attacks on workers and increased taxes on low-income families. This leads businesses to have fewer customers, workers to have fewer jobs and local governments to have less revenue.”

 

“Along with stripping public employees of their basic collective bargaining rights, Act 10  decreased the spending power of public employees by an average of $3,668 a year for the typical public employee making $40,000 a year,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “This has a huge affect on local economies that will result in $700 million leaving Wisconsin’s economy.  This is money that was spent at the local corner store and small businesses in communities across the state.  The end economic result for Wisconsin is the loss of 6,900 full-time private sector jobs.” 

 

“Under Walker, Wisconsin is 33,800 jobs short of matching the national pace of job creation,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Walker’s policies are not working.  Our state needs jobs.  It is crystal clear that we need to change direction so that Wisconsinites who work hard and play by the rules can have access to family-supporting jobs.  This report is another reminder that Gov. Walker must be recalled for the sake of Wisconsin.” 

 

The Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF) is a non-profit, non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to tax policy research, community organizing and education policy.  For more details, including copies of the various documents referred to in this press release, see the IWF web site at: www.wisconsinsfuture.org

300,000 signatures in 12 days!

In the first 12 days alone recall activists and volunteers have collected over 300,000 signatures of Wisconsin voters who want to recall Gov. Walker.  The momentum is spreading and we are on track to recall Gov. Walker in order put an end to his attacks on working families. 

We aren’t resting now!  It is important to remember that we need to surpass the number of required signatures.  Each and every signature will face multiple legal challenges from Gov. Walker’s lawyers.  It is important to build up a strong cushion and collect as many signatures as possible.  The 60-day window to gather 540,000 signatures to qualify for an election ends Jan. 17.

Not sure where to sign, pick up or drop off a recall petition? 

•    Stop by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, 6333 W. Bluemound Road in Milwaukee to sign or pick up petitions.

•    Click here to download petitions to print, complete and return by mail or in person. 

•    Many local union halls, offices and labor councils have petitions available and will collect completed petitions.  Give your local labor hall a call today!

 

 

Check out new recall Walker buttons and posters at http://www.standwisconsin.org/. 

30,000 Rally in Madison; 105,000 Signatures Collected Statewide

The streets surrounding the Capitol were filled Saturday with Wisconsinites old and young as an estimated crowd of 30,000+ took to the streets to stand up for our Wisconsin.

The rally marked the beginning of the recall effort of Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four other Republican State Senators.

Recall petitions circulated the crowd as working families continue to reclaim their state from a Governor who relentlessly puts corporate special interests above the people.  Recall organizers announced that in the first four days of signature collection they have collected 105,000 signatures.  This number does not include any signatures gathered at the weekend rally.

Barb Weisenberger, an Eau Claire resident and mother of two, explained why she signed a recall petition.

At 51 I proudly put myself through college and graduated magna cum laude from UW-Eau Claire.  I  quickly found a job at Community Health Partnership, an organization which empowers people with long-term care needs to stay out of nursing homes, live independently and maintain their quality of life.  I was never going to get rich but I could support my family doing a job I found fulfilling.  Then along came Walker.  Gov. Walker capped Managed Care Organizations, like Community Health Partnership and cost me my livelihood.  The man who campaigned on jobs, jobs, jobs is responsible for me losing mine.  My family is not alone; nearly 50 of my former co-workers lost their jobs as well along with our contractors and suppliers.  And many of our members – the elderly and disabled – are left to their own devices.” 

One reason for signing recall petitions was clear:  Wisconsin cannot wait.  We cannot take three more years of Gov. Walker’s reckless policies.   

Jennifer Jagloswki, has worked in the same factory for 25 years making aluminum cans.  Now, thanks to Gov. Walker’s cuts to Badgercare, her children may lose their health care.

“Despite the fact that both my husband and I work, we don’t make a lot of money.  Because adding my children and I to my husband’s insurance plan would cost us over half of our income, we are currently on Badgercare.  Scott Walker is significantly lowering the threshold for eligibility for Badgercare, and we would just miss the new cutoff.  Like so many other low-income working families, Badgercare has truly been a lifeline for us.  It has meant my kids have had access to health care when they’ve needed it.  Health and well-being should not be luxuries for the rich.”

Petitions were not just signed in Madison on Saturday but in all seventy-two counties of the state.

To download a recall petition which you can print out and have your friends and family sign, click here. 

Mail in the completed petition to the address listed or drop by at a trusted recall office ASAP. 

You're Invited: Stand Up for Our Wisconsin Rally

Building on enthusiasm from last Tuesday’s events, thousands of Wisconsinites will gather at the Capitol on Saturday, November 19, to sign recall petitions and rally for a better Wisconsin. 

Workers and community members will address the crowd and detail how they have been negatively impacted by Gov. Walker’s agenda.  Pre-rally activities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the rally program will begin at 1:00 p.m. 

Teamsters Joint Council 39 will sponsor a “Can Walker Food Drive” at the rally.  Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to help feed Wisconsin families in need this holiday season. 

 

What:         Stand Up for Our Wisconsin Rally

Where:      Wisconsin Capitol, State St. Side

When:        Saturday, November 19
                   Pre-rally activities begin at 11:00 a.m. Rally program begins at 1:00 p.m.