Saturday, April 14, 2012

Scott Walker Tells NRA Members He's 'A Target' In Recall Election

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker told National Rifle Association members Friday he's "a target" and asked for their help in his upcoming recall election. "I have become a target," Walker told the crowd at the NRA convention in downtown St. Louis.


Scott Walker Tells NRA Members He's 'A Target' In Recall Election

McKenna: The Tea Party is back - JSOnline

Who is truly waging war on the people? We know it is the Tea Party and the GOP. The workers are the people and they are waging war on the workers. McKenna is just unbelievable...

McKenna: The Tea Party is back - JSOnline

WisPolitics.com: Risser Campaign: Risser announces candidacy for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate

Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison) announced today his candidacy for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate.


WisPolitics.com: Risser Campaign: Risser announces candidacy for re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Wisconsin Public-Sector Labor Dispute of 2011 by Paul Secunda :: SSRN

The enactment in June 2011 of Wisconsin Act 10, legislation that eliminated most collective bargaining rights for most public employees in Wisconsin, did not necessarily follow from the economic conditions surrounding the global recession. The argument here is that it was a blatant power grab with political, social, and economic implications. …. Unless Act 10 is repealed, it indeed may be a long time before any real public sector collective bargaining will be permitted in Wisconsin. The subsequent loss of workplace rights not only adversely impacts public sector workers, but also the citizens of Wisconsin who will be that much poorer for having to live in a society where internationally-recognized rights of association and collective bargaining are not taken seriously.


The Wisconsin Public-Sector Labor Dispute of 2011 by Paul Secunda :: SSRN

Are Your Tax Dollars Paying Your Boss?

A new study finds that nearly $700 million a year in state income taxes withheld from workers’ paychecks in 16 states is being used to provide lavish subsidies to corporations, rather than paying for vital public services. Workers likely believe their state taxes are going to fund schools, repair roads or pay for police and fire protection. But not so, says “Paying Taxes to the Boss: How a Growing Number of States Subsidize Companies with the Withholding Taxes of Workers,” a study released today by Good Jobs First.


Are Your Tax Dollars Paying Your Boss?

AFSCME | U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards Talks With AFSCME About Activism

U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, D-MD, speaking at a luncheon this week sponsored by AFSCME’s Women’s History Month Committee, said activism on behalf of women can make “the difference between life and death.”


AFSCME | U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards Talks With AFSCME About Activism

AFL-CIO Super PAC to focus on voter turnout - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (AP) — The AFL-CIO's new "super" political action committee won't spend much on television ads, but will focus instead on mobilizing thousands of union and nonunion voters, officials at the labor federation said Thursday.


AFL-CIO Super PAC to focus on voter turnout - Yahoo! News

AFSCME | Saunders Calls on Labor and Civil Rights Groups to ‘Join Together Like Never Before’

Recalling the struggle for workers’ rights in Wisconsin in the 1930s and the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike in 1968, AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders says “we’re still fighting that battle” for justice today. That’s the reason, he adds, why “we must build a Main Street movement” that brings together labor and civil rights groups joining “together like never before.”


AFSCME | Saunders Calls on Labor and Civil Rights Groups to ‘Join Together Like Never Before’

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Candidates differ on collective bargaining (AUDIO)

While they admit overturning a controversial bill that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public employees will be difficult, the four Democratic candidates hoping to challenge Governor Scott Walker in a recall election believe it can be done. However, each offered a different approach to accomplishing that goal during a forum in Madison Wednesday night hosted by the Dane County Democratic Party.


Candidates differ on collective bargaining (AUDIO)

Wisconsin recall is high-stakes bet for unions

Unions are facing a make-or-break moment in their campaign to drive Wisconsin's Republican governor from office. …. Rich Abelson, executive director of Wisconsin's AFSCME District Council 48, suggested unions wanted to avoid negative attacks on Barrett. "Labor and AFSCME's main priority is to defeat Scott Walker," Abelson said.


Associated Press News - ReviewJournal.com

Barrett, Falk spar on how to restore collective bargaining - JSOnline

… Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made his sharpest criticism yet of a pledge by his opponent, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, to veto any state budget that doesn't restore the union bargaining that was largely repealed for public workers by the Republican governor. Barrett pointed out that under Wisconsin's system vetoing a new budget bill would leave the budget signed by Walker and its cuts to education and local governments in place indefinitely. … Falk has won endorsements from major public-sector unions, including the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. Falk has also been endorsed by several lawmakers and by environmental and women's groups.


Barrett, Falk spar on how to restore collective bargaining - JSOnline

AFSCME | Postal Service Under Attack

The U.S. Senate is set to vote as early as this week on legislation that would do more harm than good under the guise of returning the United States Postal Service to fiscal solvency. Rather than provide a business plan to help the Postal Service deliver needed services to an evolving society, the legislation – S. 1789 – would force a radical downsizing of the USPS that would cost thousands of postal workers their jobs. On Thursday, the National Association of Letter Carriers is holding “Save America’s Postal Service” demonstrations outside of Senate offices across the country to urge senators to vote NO on this bill.


AFSCME | Postal Service Under Attack

Civil Rights Celebration at King Memorial | The Afro-American Newspapers | Your Community. Your History. Your News.

… Dr. King was assassinated at 6:01p.m., April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of 39. King went to Memphis to support 1,300 African- American sanitation workers who were members of the American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union protesting against unequal wages and better working conditions. “Now more than ever we should ban together to keep Dr. King’s legacy alive. There are many elected and appointed leaders who are trying to destroy everything that Dr. King stood for. We must never give up,” said Lee Saunders, secretary-treasurer, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.


Civil Rights Celebration at King Memorial | The Afro-American Newspapers | Your Community. Your History. Your News.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

WisPolitics.com: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Endorses Kathleen Falk in gubernatorial primary

(MILWAUKEE, WI) – The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed Kathleen Falk for Wisconsin Governor in the upcoming recall election.


WisPolitics.com: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Endorses Kathleen Falk in gubernatorial primary

Walker opens campaign barnstorming across state - JSOnline

From a farm in Dane County to a foundry in Milwaukee, Gov. Scott Walker barnstormed across Wisconsin on Tuesday, defending his record and opening an unprecedented battle to keep his job.


Walker, the first Wisconsin governor to face a recall election, rallied supporters on what he called his "Moving Wisconsin Forward Tour."

"Last year, we didn't wait because Wisconsin couldn't wait," Walker said during a 12-minute speech at Maynard Steel Casting, a nonunion foundry on Milwaukee's south side.

Walker opens campaign barnstorming across state - JSOnline

Reclaim Wisconsin Video

Below video produced by Public Service International.



-------------------------

From: Karen Hickey
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 12:33 PM
To: Stephanie Bloomingdale
Subject: Reclaim WI video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EED_BL9calg&list=UUUVhl_G7lrjCczJd1ggjMSQ&index=2&feature=plcp

Karen Hickey
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Communications Director
khickey@wisaflcio.org
c: 414-573-7579
o: 414-771-0700 x27

Musician John Mellencamp not happy with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, supports union powers | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

MADISON — Musician John Mellencamp wants Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to know that he supports collective bargaining and union powers and Walker should know that before using his song “Small Town” on the campaign trail.


Musician John Mellencamp not happy with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, supports union powers | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Unions Have A Lot Riding On Walker Recall - Politics News Story - WISN Milwaukee

MADISON, Wis. -- Unions are facing a make-or-break moment in their campaign to drive Wisconsin's Republican governor from office.

Unions Have A Lot Riding On Walker Recall - Politics News Story - WISN Milwaukee

On Politics: Four candidates fail to submit signatures needed for recall elections

Four candidates failed to submit enough valid signatures to get on the ballot for the upcoming wave of recall elections, state elections officials said Wednesday.

On Politics: Four candidates fail to submit signatures needed for recall elections

GAB to consider challenges to 'fake' Democratic recall candidates

The state Government Accountability Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday to consider challenges to candidates in the May 8 recall primary.
GAB spokesman Reid Magney said the meeting was scheduled in anticipation of challenges Milwaukee attorney Jeremy Levinson said he plans to file against fake Democratic candidates.

GAB to consider challenges to 'fake' Democratic recall candidates

WisPolitics.com: Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm’s response to request of attorney Paul Bucher

Milwaukee County DA John Chisholm today said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen declined to continue helping with a John Doe probe after its focus turned to former aides to Gov. Scott Walker.

WisPolitics.com: Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm’s response to request of attorney Paul Bucher

Judge asked to hold off on enforcement of collective bargaining ruling

Lawyers for the state and Gov. Scott Walker are asking a federal judge to hold enforcement of his order last month that overturned some portions of the state law that banned most collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

Judge asked to hold off on enforcement of collective bargaining ruling

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan says he’ll help Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in recall election | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Paul Ryan says Wisconsin's recall election against Republican Gov. Scott Walker is the second most important election in the nation this year. The rising GOP star from Wisconsin said Monday the June election is a national trendsetting election that's ...



U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan says he’ll help Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in recall election | Appleton Post Crescent | postcrescent.com

Wisconsin governor kicks off campaigning for recall election - chicagotribune.com

Wisconsin's divisive governor officially hit the campaign trail for the first time Tuesday, kicking off a statewide tour by speaking at a farm in front of a tractor, as Democrats filed signatures needed to take him on in a recall election.


Wisconsin governor kicks off campaigning for recall election - chicagotribune.com

Jackson County Corrections workers rally - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

Black River Falls, WI (WXOW)-- Corrections workers rallied outside the Jackson County Institution to raise awareness about what they say are unfair sick leave policies. And safety concerns.


Jackson County Corrections workers rally - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

Prison workers rally against new work rules, staff shortage

Local union leaders said Governor Scott Walker’s changes to collective bargaining, among other work rules, are causing experienced officers to walk.


Prison workers rally against new work rules, staff shortage