Labor & Employment Law

Wisconsin Workers Don?t Take the Weekend Off in Fight for Rights

By Mike Hall

The fight for workers? rights and middle class jobs continues this weekend in Madison with demonstrations against Gov. Scott Walker?s (R) plan to take away collective bargaining rights for some 200,000 public workers.

For the fifth day in row, thousands of Wisconsin workers and their supporters are at the Capitol plaza and inside the rotunda. A morning rally is underway and a second afternoon demonstration is planned.

But today, tea party activists plan a counter demonstration and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that security around the Capitol is tighter than it has been all week. Union activists are spreading the word through the crowd to stay cool and don’t be provoked, no matter how outrageous the counter demonstrations may be.   

While Walker claims his plan is strictly about closing a budget gap, Wisconsin public workers such as teachers, EMT?s and others have already taken pay cuts and furloughs and have said they are willing to negotiate other sacrifices. But they key word is negotiate.   

Last night in a statement Marty Beil, executive director of the  Wisconsin State Employees/AFSCME Council 24, said workers were prepared to make additional concessions but

  we?.?.?.?but we will not be denied our God-given right to join a real union we will not – I repeat we will not – be denied our rights to collectively bargain.

Here?s sample some of the messages of support for the Wisconsin workers

daninespencer  keep fighting – your friends in Rhinelander support you! @wisaflcio @ACLUofWisconsin @WEAC @DefendWisconsin #wiunion

OTOOLEFAN RT @liberalchik: when teachers, nurses and fire fighters are publicly vilified, idiocracy has truly arrived in america.

1whoknu So proud of my teenager-walked in when I was watching ed show, pointed & said “That is messed up” he stands w/ #wiunion #solidarityunion

TheDemocratCafe  RT @valuemom: so it’s ok 2 take extra $5000 from a #WiUnionteacher making $50,000 but not ok 2 tax person making $250,000 3% more #GOPmath #p2

Catballou N. NEVADAANS: Monday, Noon. Front Steps of Nevada Legislature 401 S. Carson St, Carson City. Show your support for #WIunion. #p2

IBEW233 True grit = Wisconsin workers! Stand tall Sisters & Brothers, we’re all Wisconsinites now! #1u #fb

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 19, 2011 (boomark / email).