Friday, October 29, 2010

We Need for You To Vote on November 2nd!

Tuesday, November 2nd will be a defining moment for you as a public employee. The results of this election will determine whether or not the integrity of the public services and workers who provide them will be preserved or destroyed.

There is NO CLEARER CHOICE when it comes to the value of public workers, and the understanding and support of the services they provide. Everyone needs to vote on Tuesday – you, your spouse, your significant other, your children, your grandchildren, your relatives, your neighbors, friends at church and in clubs – everyone in your close circle needs to get out there.

While it is important to vote, it is more important that you vote carefully and selectively for only those candidates who value who you are and what you do. Don’t be hypnotized by the hysteria or caught up in the propaganda of the right wing. This election is about supporting and rebuilding the middle class – not tax breaks for corporations and making the wealthy wealthier. It is about you and me – working men and women. It’s about our future and the public we serve and protect.

It is absolutely critical that all of us vote on Tuesday. Not voting means you don’t care and you’d prefer the candidates doing it to you – rather than controlling your own destiny.

As always, the SEPAC website (www.wseu-sepac.org) contains specific information about the candidates and their positions.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Barrett’s wife campaigns at AFSCME rally

PAUL SLOTH paul.sloth@journaltimes.com
JournalTimes.com Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 7:51 am

UNION GROVE - In between work and play practice for one of her children, Kris Barrett found time to drive down to Union Grove Monday afternoon to fire up union workers at a campaign rally at the American Legion Post 171.

With the election a week away and polls showing the governor's race within the margin of error, Barrett wants to do what she can to get her husband, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, elected.
Kris Barrett doesn't get to see her husband very much these days as the two of them crisscross the state in the waning days of the campaign.

"We're like two ships passing in the night. We're on a mission to get this thing done," Kris Barrett said. "It's not just about Tom Barrett. I'm doing this for me. I'm doing this for my kids. It's personal."

It's a job that comes easily to Kris Barrett. This is the first election in which she's been able to take a really active role. Now that their children are older, Kris Barrett is on the stump doing what she can to help her husband win the highest office in the state. Tom Barrett is running against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, the Republican candidate.

It's the final stretch and the candidates or their proxies are swinging through Racine County this week in an effort to persuade voters to go to the polls. On Wednesday, U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson will be in Racine.

On Monday, Kris Barrett spoke briefly about her husband's commitment to union workers and their jobs during a campaign rally for local Democratic candidates at the post, 1027 New St. The event was sponsored by the local chapter of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, which will spend the next week working the phones and pounding the pavement to try to get their candidates elected. About 50 people attended Monday's rally.

Union organizers believe members can do a better job of convincing their fellow members to vote, said Sara Rogers, political director for the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. Events like this one are happening around the state as local unions try to mobilize the more than 350,000 union members in the state to influence the election.

"Union members trust the information they get from their unions," Rogers said. "We believe the union vote can make a difference."

Source: The Journal Times Online

Tom Barrett at UW-Oshkosh

Saturday, 10/30 @ 4:00pm
Reeve Union, Room 202

The event is sponsored by the UW Oshkosh College Democrats and AFSCME Local 579

Also in attendance will be State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-54), SEPAC Endorsed

For more information please contact Paulette Feld at (920) 420-4665 or paulettefeld@aol.com

Monday, October 25, 2010

Conservative Leaning La Crosse Tribune Supports Feingold

Ron Johnson, challenger to U.S. Senator Feingold was recently caught lying during an editorial board before the Green Bay Gazette, a historically conservative leaning newspaper that has endorsed every republican challenger to U.S. Senator Feingold, until now.

Now you can add the La Crosse Tribune to the list of conservative leaning newspaper's who say something is wrong with Ron Johnson and that the people are best served by having U.S. Senator Russ Feingold remain in the U.S. Senate.

Because of copyright issue's we are not able to display the La Crosse Tribune endorsement opinion of Russ Feingold, but click on this link to go directly to the La Crosse Tribune's article.

Julie Lassa Debate Watch Party

Come support Julie before she heads to her next debate, then join fellow supporters for a special Debate Watch Party for Julie Lassa, Candidate for Congress Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, With Special Guest Congressman Dave Obey.

Tuesday, October 26th
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Wausau Labor Temple
318 South 3rd Avenue
Wausau, WI

To RSVP or for more information please contact Colleene at 715-344-8222 or colleene@julielassa.com

AFL-CIO rolls out massive mailing

For Immediate Release
Contact: Karen Hickey, 414-573-7579
October 25, 2010

10 million GOTV mailers across the country

This election is a defining moment for working people. We will either rebuild a fundamentally different economy that values hard work and a strong middle class or turn back toward one that puts corporate interests before people. We are turning working people’s anger into action and fighting for the economic champions who will stand with working people.

The Labor 2010 grassroots political program is in full swing and having a big impact. As of 10/18/10, the Labor 2010 program has:

1. Distributed 17.5 million flyers while talking to workers one-on-one at their worksites
2. Made 23.6 million phone calls
3. Knocked on 1.3 million doors
4. Sent 18.6 million pieces of direct mail

Here in Wisconsin, a massive GOTV effort is underway, with volunteers working around the clock to contact and inform their fellow union members. We have daily member to member phone banks, worksite leaflets, and walks. Volunteers are turning out in big numbers to move this country forward.

This week the AFL-CIO is sending GOTV mail pieces to thousands of households across the state to help motivate members to get to the polls.

Union households are receiving a letter from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, outlining the stakes we face in this election. Corporations know the stakes of the election as well as we do. That’s why they’re spending undisclosed and unprecedented amounts of money through the Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove’s front groups to sway the election towards big business candidates. We’re using our massive grassroots ground game to inform our members about how we can vote to move forward.