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Wisconsin: From Outrage to Action
Brothers and sisters, Last night in Madison, Wis., in the dead of night, Senate Republicans rammed through a bill that strips Wisconsinites of the collective bargaining rights their parents and grandparents bargained for, marched for, went on strike for and sometimes even died for. This assault on workers’ freedom will not stand. As the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO said last night: Scott Walker and the Republicans’ ideological war on the middle class and working families is now indisputable, and their willingness to shred 50 years of labor peace, bipartisanship and Wisconsin’s democratic process to pass a bill that 74 percent of Wisconsinites oppose is beyond reprehensible. What we saw in the dead of night in Wisconsin wasn’t democracy. It was back-door deal-making, partisan politics taken to the limit. That isn’t worthy of America. And working Americans simply won’t stand for it. Not in Wisconsin, and not anywhere. Brothers and sisters, it’s time to turn outrage into action. Take action now: Tell your state or local lawmakers that what happened in Wisconsin last night is unacceptable anywhere. Last night, Gov. Walker and his rubber-stamp Republican senators showed us they will do just about anything to pay back corporate donors by stripping workers of their right to bargain for good, middle-class jobs. First, they claimed Walker’s bill was aimed at balancing Wisconsin’s budget. But that was exposed as an outright lie last night. Their true motives were exposed when they robbed hundreds of thousands of nurses, teachers, snowplow drivers and EMTs of their collective bargaining rights—without even a dime of savings to Wisconsin taxpayers. And they thumbed their noses at their state’s open meeting laws to do it. This was the second time in a week that Republican state legislators showed they are willing to sacrifice democracy for their partisan political agenda. First it happened in Ohio, where the Senate Republican leader threw a senator off a committee to ensure the body would vote to end bargaining rights. Now it’s Wisconsin. Act now: Tell your state or local lawmakers: Not in my backyard! We won’t allow attacks on collective bargaining to spread here. This morning, tens of thousands of workers are gathering at the Statehouse in Madison. Their fight is only beginning. They’re already getting organized, working tirelessly to recall the politicians who did this and win back the collective bargaining rights that were taken away in the dead of night. It’s time for us all to follow their example in our own states. We need to give it our all and show that like the Wisconsonites who have inspired us all, we don’t give up. Start today: Stand with those at the Wisconsin state capitol by e-mailing your state or local legislators now. We’ve never seen the incredible solidarity that we’re seeing right now, and I have never been more proud of this movement than I am today. Last night’s travesty in Wisconsin will not stand. Today’s a new day—and we’re even stronger and more committed. It’s time for action and we are ready. In Solidarity, Richard L. Trumka President, AFL-CIO P.S. It’s time for politicians to pay attention to the people they represent. Workers in Wisconsin and in Ohio and across America have had enough. If these attacks continue in statehouses across America, we will be even stronger and bigger, with more of the public—ordinary Americans who are being attacked—joining us to balance out-of-control corporate greed. |
STAND WITH THE WISCONSIN WORKERS NOW!
Kill the Bill, or Shut it Down! Dear Sisters & Brothers, There is an emergency in Madison. Senate Republicans in Wisconsin attempted the nuclear option! In a final show of disregard for the sentiments of the majority of the people they severed the union-busting provisions from the budgetary bill. This move allowed them to vote without a quorum on the union busting part alone. Last night they rammed this through the Senate. Thursday it will come before the Assembly. But not without resistance, thousands of people have already refilled the Capitol bringing with them sleeping bags, drums and making plans to stay. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO and many others have put out an emergency call to come to Madison this morning. Protests are schedule this whole week and weekend. On Saturday, farmers are planning to drive their tractors to Madison to join union members. Milwaukee high school students are marching 80 miles to the Capitol. Members of the Bail Out the People Movement from around the country, who slept on the floor of the Capitol with our sisters and brothers, are saying NOW! is the time to do everything possible to stop Governor Walker, his right wing buddies and his billion dollar banker backers! If you are unemployed this is your fight! If you are a student this is your fight! No matter what union you are in or what you do — this is your fight! This is not just a battle against one bad governor — it is ultimately a fight against the entire tea party gang, who want to whip up racism and anti-immigrant bigotry and violence — who want to turn back the time to when there were no rights of any kind, no union rights, no civil rights, no peoples rights. The people of Wisconsin cannot stand alone against such a giant enemy. The bankers who have stolen trillions and who have foreclosed on our homes and jobs — are the same bankers and billionaires behind this attempt to smash unions. What can you do? There is plenty. If your community or student group or even your union has not verbalized its solidarity than make sure they do it now. And make them do more! Get them to act! Send a delegation to Madison. You know we can all get sick — a lot of us are already sick and tired. Why not get sick for a day or two — and band together with other sick folks to form a caravan to Madison. Stay as long as you can; the people of Wisconsin have open arms and hearts. The bosses hate to hear us to talk about "the general strike." So let's start talking about it and even planning it. And if you are too far away — hold a picket line or protest in your town or city square — take it to your favorite bank or billionaire. If the Koch brothers have an office, hold a protest there. Go inside if your feeling cold. If you're feeling tired, sit down! After all we built the buildings — why should we always have to hang outside. Go to the AFL-CIO.org web site for listings of their actions. The first and last verses of the old union song “Solidarity Forever” say it best: When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run, There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun; Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one, But the union makes us strong. In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand-fold. We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old For the union makes us strong. Solidarity Forever! Cheryl, Bryan, Sal, Ana Marie, Ben, Sharon, Kris, Dave, Jill, Martha You can also help BOPM organize support. Already many of our BOPM team members are headed back to Wisconsin. We continue to need your donations to make our work possible! Please CLICK HERE or go to http://www.bailoutpeople.org/donatewi.shtml to donate. In solidarity, Bail Out the People Movement www.bailoutpeople.org Please donate! Go to http://www.bailoutpeople.org/donatewi.shtml Sign-up for updates at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/bopmupdates.shtml Bail Out the People Movement Solidarity Center 55 W. 17th St. #5C New York, NY 10011 212.633.6646 www.BailOutPeople.org Email: bailoutpeople.org/cmnt.shtml march4jobs@gmail.com donate sign petition STOP ATTACKS ON WORKERS!!! Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he wanted to balance the budget. But last night, Wisconsin Senate Republicans used a cheap political trick to rubber stamp the governor's attack on collective bargaining—and it won’t save Wisconsin taxpayers one dime. Now their true motive—paying back CEO campaign donors by stealing workers’ rights to bargain for a middle-class life—is exposed for all to see. |
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March 10, 2011
Author Stephen King told a rally in Sarasota, Fla., that rich people like him should pay more taxes. Thousands of Wisconsin working people will gather at the state Capitol at 5 p.m. today to protest the state Senate’s rigged vote last night to eliminate public employees’ bargaining rights. That same determination is evident in Indiana where, on the eve of a mass march, the state’s House Democrats say they won’t give up the fight against Hoosier Republicans’ anti-worker agenda. In Michigan, the state legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder use a budget crisis to launch an outrageous assault on democracy. Got comments? Post them at blog.aflcio.org. Author Stephen King: Why Aren’t the Rich Like Me Paying More Taxes? Breaking: Madison Rally Moved to 5 P.M. TSOs Begin Voting on Union Poll: Americans Support Public Employees Poll: Public Wants Jobs First, No Social Security Cuts NFL Players Back Indiana Workers Europe Passes Tax on Speculators, U.S. Should Do the Same Ohio Workers Determined to Stop Anti-Worker Bill Read more important news of the day on the issues working families care about. |
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March 9, 2011
Public employees rallied outside the Ohio state Capitol during Gov. John Kasich’s State of the State address yesterday. With his disapproval number at nearly 60 percent, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is facing possible mass defections by Republicans from his anti-worker agenda. In Ohio, thousands of working people protest at Gov. John Kasich’s State of the State address. Workers tell a congressional panel that governors like Walker and Kasich are a threat to democratic values. Got comments? Post them at blog.aflcio.org. Ohioans Protest Kasich’s State of State Address Buy a Book, Help a Laid-Off Union Member LGBT Organizations Back Public Employees Asian Pacific American Groups Announce Support for Public Employees 20,000 Expected for ‘We Are Indiana’ Rally Register Now for the Summit on Jobs and America’s Future Wis. Republicans Flee Public Meeting Filled with Supporters of Public Employees Read more important news of the day on the issues working families care about. Follow the AFL-CIO: |
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