Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

20 Day Count Down!

There is no time to waste!  In just 20 days Wisconsinites will head to the polls on June 5 and make history.  We will stand up to reclaim Wisconsin.  We will vote to put an end to Scott Walker’s worst-in-the-nation jobs record.  We will join together to preserve a Wisconsin that honors and respects its working people. 

We are fighting for a Wisconsin where the right to vote is encouraged, not taken away.   A Wisconsin where our Governor does not have a criminal defense fund.  A Wisconsin where our schools and communities are given the proper support to thrive. 

Vote Tom Barrett and Mahlon Mitchell on June 5.  They will fight for working families and a strong middle class.

Together, united, we will defeat Scott Walker on June 5.  With less than three weeks to go until recall election day, there is no time to lose.  Here are simple ways that you can help:

1.    Volunteer - Click here for statewide locations where you can volunteer. 

2.    Donate – Click here to the Wisconsin Worker Defense Fund.  Checks can be sent to:

6333 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee WI, 53213

 

In the next 20 days, we must make sure that every person in Wisconsin understands that recalling Scott Walker is about preserving a strong middle class and stopping his job-killing policies which reward out-of-state corporate millionaires at the expense of Wisconsin families.

We have the opportunity to show the world that a people-powered movement can overcome corporate money, but we need each and every one of you to get involved and to vote on June 5. 

Wisconsin Union Members: Working to Recall

Wisconsin union and community members took to the streets last weekend going door-to-door to talk with fellow Wisconsinites about the importance of the June 5 recall elections. 

In Duluth, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Menasha, Milwaukee, Racine and Wausau phone banks and canvass staging locations were buzzing with talk about reclaiming Wisconsin and recalling Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Sen. Moulton, Sen. Fitzgerald, Sen. Van Wanggaard and Sen. Petrowski. 

The St. Louis Sisters from Milwaukee and Racine were at the Milwaukee Area Labor Council to make phone calls.  The sisters collected thousands of signatures to recall Scott Walker and his fellow cronies last winter.  Doris, Jean, Mary and Doloris stood on street corners ranging from the corner of Hope and Capitol, 13th and Oklahoma, Brady St. and Wisconsin Ave.   One sister is a retired member of Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (W.F.N.H.P.). 

“We are working to recall because Gov. Walker is trying to destroy the middle class,” said Doris St. Louis.  “He is trying to divide us as working people and as middle class Wisconsinites.  Trying to bust unions is no way to move forward.” 

Michael Hauser, an 8th grade teacher at MPS and member of Milwaukee Teachers Education Association grabbed a walk packet from the Milwaukee Area Labor Council before knocking on doors in the Milwaukee area. 

“I like to keep it simple,” said Hauser.  “Scott Walker is for the rich and I am for everyone else.” 

Candice Owley, President of the W.F.N.H.P., and Michael Rosen, President of A.F.T Local 212 pumped up their members before hitting the streets.

Mahlon Mitchell, a Wisconsin Fire Fighter, who is running against Rebecca Kleefisch on June 5 for Lieutenant Governor also addressed the crowd in Milwaukee. 

“Our Governor is talking to a billionaire about how he wants to divide and conquer middle class citizens of our state,” said Mitchell.  “They have the money but we have the people and we are ready to do the hard-work of knocking on doors and talking with our friends and neighbors about the June 5 election.” 

Unity Runs Strong in Wisconsin Recall Race

Chants of “Recall Walker” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Scott Walker has got to go” rang out loud and clear through the streets of downtown Madison yesterday as hundreds marched up State Street in support of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Wisconsin Fire Fighter Mahlon Mitchell. 

Barrett and Mitchell won statewide primaries on Tuesday.  Barrett will take on Scott Walker in the gubernatorial election and Mitchell will challenge Rebecca Kleefisch for Lieutenant Governor.  Both recall elections, along with four State Senate recall elections, will take place on Tuesday, June 5. 

Solidarity was the theme of yesterday’s rally and it was clear that removing Gov. Scott Walker from office is a unifying goal.

“We have to recall Scott Walker now,” said M.L.H., an administrative support worker at UW-Madison who gathered signatures to recall Walker and Kleefisch last winter and was in attendance Wednesday’s rally.  “Everyone has to get involved, no one can sit this one out -- this election is too important.  Scott Walker is diabolical.  Why is he making it harder for people to vote and taking away worker's rights?  The thing I am most disgusted with is what he has done to destroy collective bargaining rights.” 

Unity March, Madison, May 9, 2012

Speakers at the rally included Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt, We are Wisconsin’s Kristen Crowell, John Nichols of The Nation, Kevin Gundlach of the South Central Federation of Labor, State Representative Chris Taylor, Mary Bell of the Wisconsin Education Association Council and Jim Garity of AFSCME Council 40. 

 

Get involved in reclaiming Wisconsin today!  Click here for a statewide list of locations where you can volunteer. 

Primary GOTV Schedule & Locations

Help us get out the vote for working family candidates for Tuesday’s primary!  Can you volunteer to do a 3-hour shift before Tuesday?  You can bring a friend or come solo.  All locations will be running the following shifts during primary GOTV, but feel free to stop by anytime as shifts are flexible. 

•    Saturday, May 5:  9am-Noon; Noon-3pm; 3pm-6pm; 5pm-8pm
•    Sunday, May 6:  Noon-3pm; 3pm-6pm; 5pm-8pm
•    Monday, May 7:  9am-Noon; Noon-3pm; 3pm-6pm; 5pm-8pm
•    Tuesday, May 8:  9am-Noon; Noon-3pm; 3pm-6pm; 5pm-8pm

Locations

Milwaukee-area
•    Milwaukee Area Labor Council - 633 S. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53214
•    WI for Falk Office - 8431 W. Cleveland Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227
•    WI for Falk Office - 701 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204
•    WI for Falk Office - 6918 W. Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, WI 53223
•    WI for Falk Office - 2510 East Capitol Drive, Shorewood, WI 53211

Madison-area
•    Madison Labor Temple - 1602 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715
•    WI for Falk Staging Area - Liberty Park Pavilion - Mount Horeb, WI
•    WI for Falk Office - 1571 Ivory Drive, Sun Prairie, W 53590
•    WI for Falk Office - 412 S. Baldwin Street, Madison, WI 53703
•    WI for Falk Office - 122 State Street, 5th Floor, Madison, WI 53703
•    WI for Falk Office/AFT-WI - 6602 Normandy Lane, Madison, WI 53719

Northeast WI/Fox Valley
•    WI for Falk Office - 325 Towbridge Drive, Fond du Lac, WI 54937
•    WI for Falk Office - 1104 Wisconsin Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 54081
•    WI for Falk Staging Area - 1124 Washington Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
•    Winnebago Labor Hall - 2211 Oregon Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902
•    WI for Falk Office - 2256 Main Street, Green Bay, WI 54302
•    WI for Falk Office - 614 W. College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911

SD 13 & Waukesha
•    WI for Falk & We Are WI Office - 916 Clinton Street, Waukesha, WI 53186
•    WI for Falk & We Are WI Staging Area - 1015 Labaree Street, Watertown, WI 53098

SD 21/Racine
•    Racine Labor Temple - 1840 Sycamore Avenue, Racine, WI 53406

SD 23/Eau Claire & Chippewa Falls
•    Eau Claire WEAC Office - 2004 Highland Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701
•    Eau Claire Labor Temple (member-to-member phones only, 3-8pm Sunday, noon-8pm Monday) - 2233 Birch Street, Eau Claire
•    WI for Falk Office - 1219 Menomonie Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703
•    We are WI Office - 1 North Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Menomonie
•    WI for Falk Office - 105 21st Street. N., Menomonie, WI 54751

La Crosse
•    IAMAW District 66 - 1307 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601

SD 29/Wausau
•    WI for Falk & We Are WI Office - 120 Clark Street, Wausau, WI 54401

North-Central WI
•    WI for Falk Staging Area - 1901 W. River Street, Rhinelander, WI 54501
•    WI for Falk Office - 1205 2nd Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481

Superior
•    WI for Falk Staging Area - 916 Hammond Avenue, Superior, WI 54880

May 8 Primary Voter Guide

With the May 8 recall primary elections less than two weeks away, we wanted to be sure that you had the necessary information to cast an informed ballot at your local polling location. 

You can look up your polling place and check to see if you are a registered voter by visiting https://vpa.wi.gov/.  Early voting is now underway in all six recall primary races.  You can cast an in-person absentee ballot until the close of business on May 4 at your local municipal clerks’ offices. 

Remember, you do NOT need a state issued ID to vote and can register to vote in-person on the day of the election.  For more informatio on how to register to vote visit http://www.wisconsinvote.org/.

There are two statewide primary elections being held on May 8.  One for the office of Governor and one for Lieutenant Governor.  There are also primaries in four Senate Districts.   Republicans are running fake Democrats in all six primary races so it is important to know the facts about the candidates before heading to the polls.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has made the following endorsements:

•    Lori Compas - Senate District 13
•    John Lehman - Senate District 21
•    Kristen Dexter - Senate District 23
•    Donna Seidel - Senate District 29
•    Mahlon Mitchell – Lieutenant Governor
•    Kathleen Falk – Governor

The above candidates are committed to fighting for worker rights, education, health care and a fair economy.  They will work to advance the needs of working class and middle class Wisconsinites – not out-of-state millionaires and billionaires. 

Cast your ballot on Tuesday, May 8 and mark your calendars for the general election which will be held on Tuesday, June 5. 

April 21 Member-to-Member Walk Schedule

In addition to this upcoming Saturday's canvasses, walk packets are available daily from Service Area Organizers. 

Milwaukee
April 21st: 10am-2pm
Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53214
Contact: Jenissee Volpintesta: (414) 771-7070 x12; jvolpintesta@wisaflcio.org

Racine
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Racine Labor Temple, 1840 Sycamore Avenue, Racine, WI 53406
Contact: Justin Geiger: 414-745-4177; jgeiger@wisaflcio.org

Madison
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715
Contact: Greg Neil: 608-556-9521; gneil@wisaflcio.org
Additionally, the Madison Labor Temple phone bank is running daily.

Eau Claire
April 21st: 10am-1pm
Eau Claire Labor Temple, 2233 Birch Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Contact: Andy Thompson: 715-831-3353; athompson@wisaflcio.org

Wausau
April 21st: 10am-2pm
Wausau Labor Temple, 318 S. 3rd Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401
Contact: Scott Wright: 920-450-2121; swright@wisaflcio.org

Fox Valley
April 21st: 9am-1pm
Fox Valley Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah, WI 54956
Contact: Greg Hinds: 920-540-2309; ghinds@wisaflcio.org

Support Fire Fighter Mahlon Mitchell for Lieutenant Governor

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President Mahlon Mitchell for Lieutenant Governor in the upcoming special election for his commitment to middle class families and economic justice.  

Mitchell, who is the first and youngest African American to serve as President of the P.F.F.W, is a Lieutenant in the Madison Fire Department and has been a Fire Fighter for 15 years. 

“Mahlon Mitchell has emerged as a true leader for Wisconsin’s middle and working class families,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State  AFL-CIO.  “With Mahlon you can be sure that the interests of the 99% are put before the interests of powerful insiders and corporate special interests.  Mitchell will put a check on corporate power by fighting for union and collective bargaining rights to ensure that we have a fair and balanced economy that works for all of Wisconsin.” 

 

“Mahlon Mitchell has dedicated his life to protecting and serving our communities.  He will fight to bring jobs and better economic opportunities for all citizens of Wisconsin,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “We can count on Mahlon to bring Wisconsin together, uphold democracy and fight for fairness and equality.”    

You can learn more about Mahlon Mitchell and his commitment to working families at mahlonmitchell.com

 

(Bottom left photo credit:  ra-hurd, Flickr.com)

Wisconsin Workers Endorse Senate Candidates in Summer Recalls

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed the following Senate candidates in the upcoming summer recall elections:

• Lori Compas - Senate District 13

• John Lehman - Senate District 21

• Kristen Dexter - Senate District 23

• Donna Seidel - Senate District 29

“The people of Wisconsin, through grassroots activism, are fighting to hold their legislators accountable for attacking middle class families, union rights, education and health care by recalling Republican Senators who ignored the voices of their constituents in order to rubber-stamped Gov. Walker’s agenda,” explained Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. 

As the statewide coordinating council for all AFL-CIO unions in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO represents and fights for labor and working people, provides core services to local unions and members, and pushes for policies that help and support working families across Wisconsin.  The State AFL-CIO coordinates advocacy with its 1000 affiliated unions which represent 250,000 members in the state.