Laborfest You’ve earned it! he huge Marquette Interchange is the lakefront. Dance to not one but two done. The mammoth mining equip- bands. Win at Bingo or in raffles. Make the Tment made here is dominating for- kids laugh at magic shows. eign markets. Your wages may be flat, your And it's free. boss may be Scrooge, but that hasn't The many highlights start early the stopped you. Your productivity is the best morning of Labor Day, Monday, September in the world. 1. Participants in more than 130 parade Now you have a real shot to "Turn units assemble and socialize at Zeidler America Around" (the national AFL-CIO Union Square Park for the 11 a.m. parade 1BSBEF 4IVUUMF #VT %SPQ0GG theme) by changing the nation's direction at to the Summerfest grounds. 3PVUF #VT3PVUF 1BSLJOH 1JDLVQ the polls this fall. Busses shuttle participants for free So what do you do now? back and forth from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., with MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, LABOR DAY -- Laborfest made free and easy: Three free Forgive the similarity to a Disney a final return bus at the tail-end of the parking lots - M. G and H -- and regular pickups there and at the main gate by equally World commercial, but: parade. free busses. The shuttles are operated -- from 8-11 a.m., with a final bus at parade’s "You're going to Laborfest!" Check for new signage and staging end -- by the friendliest and most professional chauffeurs in town, ATU Local 998. Show off your union colors in a areas around Zeidler Park, Michigan St. parade. Kick back with a beer and a brat at Laborfest continued Page 20
Vol. 68, No. 8 Thursday, August 28, 2008 Labor’s truth squads Special Labor Day Edition key to Obama victory By Dominique Paul Noth Editor, Labor Press COPE steps up action In battleground states including Wisconsin, the AFL- CIO's Labor 2008 has been dis- in Sept. 9 primary tributing hundreds of thousands of fliers at workplaces and in eighing the power the homes to newly introduce Sen. HONORING THE JOB -- A big Wisconsin legislature Barack Obama - and mainly to condo project gives its all-union holds over crew thanks and a plaque (Page W debunk with crisp facts the Milwaukee's future, and how largely coordinated lies that he 17). So did the Marquette often it has been wielded for is not Christian, not American, Interchange (Page 14). injury not aid, the Milwaukee not a veteran supporter of work- Area Labor Council stepped up ers and not a flag-pin wearer. Brought in by the Obama cam- its endorsement game. Frankly, in the weeks lead- paign, Illinois labor leader Its Committee on Political ing up to the Democratic con- Margaret Blackshere talked to Education (COPE) insisted on vention, I thought the AFL-CIO Wisconsin labor leaders about required sessions for candidates, was overreacting. the Obama she has worked with with experts (lawyers and union Aren't most union members all his public life. See Page 18. officials) detailing such key more knowledgeable about the issues as prevailing wage and candidates? Do they need this bankruptcy laws. Attending a COPE educational Comment education? To send a clear signal that event at Plumbers Hall, Sandra MISTRUSTING TMJ -- Then again, historically, sion pundits to provide free candidates must walk the walk Pasch has earned union backing Employees take cause to the many voters don't start paying exposure. So rumors can abound. before getting the backing, it in the hotly contested Assembly street. See Page 10. attention to presidential politics But is education about upgraded its process of question- District 22, being vacated by until after Labor Day. So they Obama necessary when so much naires and interviews, just in Sheldon Wasserman. may be newly curious or naive, financial, health and retirement time for a surprisingly busy Sept. he seriousness of the even after the most intensive pri- pain is creeping up the income 9 primary. effort was underlined mary season in American history. ladder? Milwaukee districts have Aug. 12 when MALC In addition, the Democrats ou would think the entire eight primary races in the T decided to publicize more rec- are seriously making this a citizenry would know Democratic column. Three are ommendations for the Sept. 9 national election, raising policy the deep trouble the war affected by - and three were Y primary and Nov. 4 elections debates in states unused to such and the economy have mired us actually caused by -- the mis- than its much larger COPE coun- tenacity. Obama has definitely in. And it should be self-evident chief-making of defeated right- terpart at the state AFL-CIO put 18 states in play, a third more that John McCain has been an wing Republican Tom Reynolds. (which has statewide jurisdiction than last time. integral part of such failures. PROTECTING THE VOTE -- Atty. A full explanation appeared but didn't accept every MALC While residents of solidly Despite his self-promotion Ann Jacobs had stories to share in July's newspaper and is recommendation). red states don't see the demean- as a maverick - mainly bucking at Times Theater. See Page 16. archived at www.milwaukeela- The intense Milwaukee pro- ing commercials against the Bush when his own stature as a bor.org cess may reflect a different phi- Illinois senator that we do, and senator was questioned - isn't he All this preparation took losophy about endorsements. even East Coast blue states aren't sure to continue the path to four separate sessions (two of Having added two counties to getting many of the ads, there are unjustified war, the tax cuts for them all-day affairs) devoted to MALC this year - Washington the Internet bloggers and televi- legislative candidates in the Labor 2008 continued Page 19 and Ozaukee - yet still in the Milwaukee area. Union members midst of forming legislative and have far more than a slap on the social ties with locals in those back to point to in supporting regions, the Milwaukee COPE these candidates. They now can thought it important to make a be pressed to work for the candi- statement about the issues in SPREADING UNION VALUES -- A dates knowing how deeply they play. Pragmatism is important, new office opens in Riverwest. have been probed and vetted by See Page 24. their unions. COPE continued Page 6 Page 2 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Where is our animal survival about US trade? By Sachin Chheda ple can help change the world by ward. We need to relentlessly Special to Labor Press acting like a good bird dog. Our bring up trade questions, with hen his bride's father canine friends watch intently for specificity, and demand an actual stood up to make a an opportunity, and when they answer every time. Wwedding toast, my see an opening, they jump into Whether it is at a press con- friend's stomach dropped when action. They encourage others to ference, parade, fundraiser, his new in-law proclaimed: join in the hunt, and they are church picnic or campaign "Having a daughter is a lot like relentless on the chase, not let- speech, we have to hound candi- having a dog: You never know ting up until their target is dates until we have them cor- what they'll drag home." exhausted. nered, and lock down meaningful Everyone loves a good dog, After working with -- or commitments to more progres- but nobody wants to be com- against -- elusive candidates on sive economic policies. pared to one. trade issues, these tactics are At the Wisconsin Fair Trade Still, putting unflattering often the only ones that will Coalition, we suggest the START comparisons aside, working peo- move the fair trade agenda for- method. The author is director of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition and tart by asking a simple and a frequent consultant to organized labor on trade issues, partici- specific question. Stay on S pating in the recent economic forum. Contact the Coalition at one subject, and send the mes- 414-344-1733 or [email protected], or check out sage you care about the response. www.wisconsinfairtrade.org. ask the target to respond. Give them time to tell you Agreement? What about T CAFTA? What about Permanent More tips: their take. Make it clear you • Grab the candidate's hand, Normalized Trading Relations want an answer. look her or him right in the eye, with China? sk again. If you don't get ask the question, and don't let go • 2. Do you support perma- anything, ask once more. If until you get an answer. A nently eliminating "Fast Track" they give an actual answer, ask • Listen for specific reason- trade promotion authority, and another, tougher follow-up ques- ing and logic, so you and other giving Congress a larger role in tion. activists can better lobby that deciding the contents of trade ecord the response. Make representative in the future. agreements? sure you write down date • Think "What would be a R • 3. Do you support enforc- and time, detail the nuances, and good follow-up question?" on the ing labor rights and environmen- document their rationale. same subject, whether they tal standards the same way we ell everybody. Email or call respond yes, no or don't give any enforce commercial provisions in the Wisconsin Fair Trade commitment. T trade agreements? Coalition, tell your Union leader, • Ask "What will the audi- • 4. Will you co-sponsor and let's work together to share ence get from this exchange?" the Brown-Michaud TRADE Act the response with the media and The listening public should learn that lays out a plan for smarter voters. from your question as they listen, globalization? Not sure what to ask? Here regardless of how it is answered. hen trade activists are are a few good questions for any • Call the candidate's cam- articulate, assertive candidate for Congress (and use- paign office to get a schedule. and aggressive, our ful with state legislators as well): W Your newspaper may also list bird-doggin' can persuade a good • 1. Do you support review- town hall meetings. candidate to tighten up a posi- ing and renegotiating NAFTA, • Have multiple questioners tion, get a middle-of-the road the North American Free Trade go to the event, entering and candidate to come over to our leaving separately, and sitting camp, or force a bad candidate to throughout the room. Discuss quit stumping on free trade alto- priority questions in advance. gether. There's nothing to it but to do it: Go out and bird dog on the trade issue!
Published Monthly by the Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO www.milwaukeelabor.org
secretary-Treasurer ...... Sheila D. Cochran President ...... Willie D. Ellis Vice-President ...... Annie Wacker Administrative Assistant...... Robin Lundgren editor, Communications Director.1 . . . . . Dominique Paul Noth editorial Assistant, Advertising & Circulation. . Lynnda Guyton EXECUTIVE BOARD - Mary Jo Avery, Communications Workers of America Local 4603; Lyle Balistreri, Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council; William F. Christianson, International Association of Machinists Lodge 1845; Lisa Conway, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2150 (APRI repre- sentative); Paula Dorsey, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 426; Nacarci Feaster, Laborers Local 113; James K. Fields, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 33; Sam Gallo, UNITE HERE, Local 122; Brandon W. Jensen, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998; Robert Klein, International Association of Machinists Lodge 1430 (Ozaukee County); Larry L. Nunley, IAMAW, Lodge 1916; Candice Owley, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals; Anthony Rainey, UAW Local 469 (CBTU representative); Scott J. Redman, Plumbers and Gas Fitters Local 75; Kenneth Roberts III, Graphics Communications Council/International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 577M; Andy Voelzke, United Steel Workers (USW) Local 2-209; Patrick R. Weyer, Brewery Workers 9, United Auto Workers; Ross M. Winklbauer Sr., Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers (USW, formerly PACE) Local 7-0232.
AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press Editorial and Business Office 633 S. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53214 Telephone (414) 771-7070 FAX (414) 771-0509 E-mail: [email protected] THE MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS (USPS 350-360) is published once a month by the Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO, 633 S. Hawley Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53214, and is also available by subscription for $12 a year. Periodical postage paid at Milwaukee, WI. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the AFL-CIO MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS, 633 S. Hawley Rd., Suite 110, Milwaukee, WI 53214. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement which is deemed objectionable. Publication of advertisements is not to be construed as a personal endorsement nor are all ads necessarily from unionized companies or services of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council or any of its affiliates. COPY DEADLINE: Usually by noon 3rd Monday of each month except December (2nd Monday). www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 3 Every state has been crunched by US trade policy he unbalanced trade poli- notes EPI analyst Robert Scott. on Chinese imports illustrates. cy with China since 2001 The total US trade deficit with The amazing growth in that Thas had a devastating China reached $235 billion in county has come with slow effect on US workers in every 2006. Between 2001 and 2006, improvements for the workers state. The Economic Policy this growing deficit alone elimi- there and massive pain for the Institute started out by investi- nated 1.8 million U.S. jobs. workers here. gating what was known about The world's biggest retailer, Many powerful economic the extent of the impact on the Wal-Mart, was responsible for actors in the United States bene- Midwest, but its focus led to a $27 billion in US imports from fit from China's policy of main- new map (See at right), a much China in 2006. taining an undervalued yuan, its broader analysis and then more In one period of time -- abuse of labor rights, and other devastating conclusions than 2001 to 2006 -- the EPI calcu- fair-trade norms. even an educated public realiz- lates that Wal-Mart's trade deficit Wal-Mart's benefit, however, es. with China alone eliminated is not the country's gain, as these The map shows how nearly 200,000 US jobs. policies have contributed directly between 2001 and 2007, 2.3 mil- Especially after the to the ever-growing trade deficit lion jobs were lost or displaced, Olympics, it is important to note that imperils future economic including 366,000 in 2007 alone, what Wal-Mart's huge reliance growth. but that was true for every state - jobs displaced by the growth of the US trade deficit with China, which increased from $84 billion in 2001 to $262 billion in 2007. Growing China trade deficits between 2001 and 2007 eliminat- ed jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Even counting jobs created after elimi- nation, jobs displacement exceeded 2% of total employ- ment in Idaho, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Oregon, California, Minnesota, Vermont, Texas, and Wisconsin. The effects of growing trade deficits with China have been felt so widely that no area has been exempt from their impact. While traditional manufac- turing states such as Wisconsin, Tennessee, and the Carolinas were certainly hard hit, EPI agreed, so too were states in the tech sector such as California, Texas, Oregon, and Minnesota. Rapidly growing imports of computers and electronic parts accounted for almost half of the $178 billion increase in 2007 and eliminated 561,000 US jobs. Idaho, which lost an estimated 9,000 jobs in computer and elec- tronic products alone, was the hardest-hit state in the country in terms of share of total state employment. Now free traders have argued that China's entry into the World Trade Organization would improve the US trade deficit with China and create good jobs in the United States. But those promises have gone unfulfilled,
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Landlord seeking Not-For-Profit Tenants, Labor/Education Related Tenants For details call: Mike Sippy (414) 476-1577 Page 4 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Labor Press wins top award By Lynnda Guyton, Editorial Assistant was the February 2007 issue. Labor Press also he 2008 Midwest Labor Press Association's received certificates for 2nd place Best Front page, annual conference was held in Waterloo, 2nd place Best Photo Collage, 3rd place Best Iowa, in June and awarded five honors, Individual Photo and 3rd place Best News Article. T Some of the classes taught at this year's confer- including the association's highest, to the AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press. ence were Labor History, Using Google for Attending for the newspaper was Lynnda Searches, Microsoft Publisher, Tools for Improving Guyton, editorial assistant and also an officer in the Your Writing, and Setting up a Website. Each year MLPA. Members of the MLPA are labor communi- there are new classes added. cators from various organizations throughout the There is no better way to get our message out Midwest. than through the media. With the presidential elec- The objectives of the MLPA are to increase the tion coming up in November, it's important that effectiveness of the labor press -- print, radio, TV members know the differences between the candi- and web in the Midwest Region, Canada as well as date positions, noted Guyton in accepting the the United States. It provides education, promotion awards. The Milwaukee Labor Press is dedicated to and interchange, supporting the goals of the labor keeping unions informed. Thomas Vilsack, former Iowa governor and also once a Democratic movement. In addition to the Milwaukee Labor Press there presidential candidate, with Lynnda Guyton as she was presented As part of the activities each year, the Eugene were several other news outlets represented from the Labor Press award by MLPA President Paul Beimborn (right). V. Debs Banquet is held to present the Debs award Wisconsin: MLPA President Paul Beimborn of to someone associated with the hosting city who has Operating Engineers 310; Debra Kosloske, WFNHP; demonstrated excellence and dedication to the ideals Rich Hinderholtz CWA 4603, and new member Official Notice of the labor movement, and also to honor members Linda Greene of AFSCME Local 33. ew officers were elected August 13 at the Port of Milwaukee in a variety of contest categories. Guyton, who is Wisconsin's MLPA state vice Noffices of the International Longshoremen Association Local 815 This year the Debs award was presented to president, invites and encourages new members to ACD, GLDC, AFL-CIO. The officers will be installed Sept. 10. Thomas J. Vilsack, the former Iowa governor and join. Next year's conference will be held in St. Paul, The new Business Agent and Financial Secretary-Treasurer is briefly Democratic presidential candidate. Minnesota. Membership is open not only to labor Thomas Reitzner, succeeding a retiring labor officer familiar to the The Milwaukee Labor Press was the recipient of newspapers but also to those who provide communi- Milwaukee community, Doug Kubic. Other officers elected to two- five awards including the first place Don Dalena cations via the website, TV or radio. year terms are President: Philip Smith, Vice President: Frank Perea, Award for General Excellence which is a wooden Contact her at the Milwaukee Labor Press, 633 Recording Secretary: Lee Schlund, and trustees Joe Smith and Tom plague that will join the others that were won in S. Hawley Road, #110 Milwaukee, WI 53214, 414- Schwark. 2004 and 2005. The winning entry for this category 771-7070 or email [email protected]
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We Salute the Men and Women of Organized Labor on Labor Day www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 5 Making worst of times the best of times By David Newby our progressive majority in the Special to Labor Press Comment Senate - then we can make big changes here, too. We could be harles Dickens' classic A special Labor Day message the first to guarantee that every- novel "A Tale of Two from the president of the one in our state has affordable, Cities" was written near- Wisconsin AFL-CIO C comprehensive, quality health ly 150 years ago. It's about a time of great turmoil and • The number of Americans care, just like we were the first to immense change in Europe. Its without health insurance was 38 adopt a Workers Compensation opening lines are: million when George Bush took system about 100 years ago. office; today 47 million e can make our tax It was the best of times, Americans have no health insur- system fair so that it was the worst of times, ance-and the cost of health insur- Wevery person (and it was the age of wisdom, ance for those of us who have it every corporation) pays their fair it was the age of foolishness… has doubled. share and the burden on the mid- it was the spring of hope, he list of statistics that dle class is therefore reduced. it was the winter of despair, illustrates the decline in We can invest in the education of we had everything before us, living standards for 90% our children and make sure we T have the best-trained, most we had nothing before us…. of the American people goes on and on. Newby was one of the speakers invited by the Association of skilled workforce in the world. Flight Attendants this summer to its board of directors meeting What could better describe So how could these also be We can make so many the best of times? -- and then to address the large vigil crowd protesting changes that would improve our our situation on Labor Day Midwest Airlines’ cutting union jobs almost in half. 2008? Because more of us under- standard of living and our quality stand what is happening to our of life - for us, but also for our The worst of times? makes it impossible to deal with al corporations that divide work- country. Because gradually more children and grandchildren. Certainly since the Depression of the serious social and economic ers against each other and drive are realizing that it doesn't have But change does not happen the 1930s. Consider the follow- problems we have here at home; us into a race to see just how far to be this way. Because union by accident. If WE don't make ing: • Move quickly to change wages in all countries can be members all over America are positive changes for working • We are losing half a mil- our health care system so that no reduced; getting better organized than people, the rich and powerful lion family-supporting manufac- one goes without the care they • Restore fairness to our we've ever been to make sure will keep on making changes turing jobs every year, over 3 need; labor laws so that if a majority of that "business as usual" comes to that benefit only THEM. million since George Bush • Change the economic and workers at a workplace want a a sudden halt. Which way change goes became president! tax priorities of our country so union (and more than half say And because in the elections depends on US. • Wisconsin has lost over that we who work for a living they do), they'll get it - without this November we have the best We can continue to have the 100,000 manufacturing jobs see our standard of living rise the employer interference and opportunity to make major worst of times. since 2000, over 40,000 of them and once again have a realistic intimidation they face today. changes in our state and national Or we can rise up and expe- to China. hope that our children will be The possibilities for change policies and priorities than we've rience the best of times. • Wisconsin has lost over even better off than we are; in Wisconsin are equally excit- had in many decades. 25,000 manufacturing jobs since • Change our trade policies ing. If we do our job and elect a If we take these elections 1993 due to NAFTA alone (the so that they benefit workers here strong progressive majority in seriously and work like we've US has lost over a million). and abroad, not the multi-nation- our State Assembly - and keep • Our trade deficit is now never worked before, we can $711 billion a year; $256 billion turn America around. of that trade deficit is with f we elect Barack Obama as China. president and increase the • Median household income, Ipro-working family majority adjusted for inflation, is not in the US Senate, we can: increasing. It's falling! In fact it • Rapidly end the disastrous fell about 2%, or $1,000, war in Iraq, which is driving us between 2000 and 2006. ever further in debt and which Advantage builds a leader en Kraemer has been hired by the Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin (CLMC), Kknown for its Building Advantage “union marketing cam- paign,” as the new exec- utive director. He has a quarter century experi- ence in the construction industry as a journey- man, union organizer, lobbyist and contractor. "Ken is a solid businessman who has a sound understanding of the benefits labor and management collabora- tion brings to the union construction industry," said John Topp, the for- mer Building Advantage executive director. "I am confident the transition will be smooth New exec director Ken Kraemer and efficient, and am looking forward to serv- ing as an advisor to the CLMC board." When Topp took over as chief executive officer at the Allied Construction Employers Association (which helps negotiates contracts for many unions in construction), the CLMC was already searching for someone like Kraemer with experience in all facets of the work- site. The CLMC is made up of over 20 trade unions, six management organizations and hundreds of signatory contractors that all contribute to the Building Advantage marketing effort. Page 6 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Scott Redman, a member of both the MALC executive council and COPE its COPE committee, took the podium (left) at his own Plumbers From Page 1 Hall to introduce the lawyers and other specialists offering nuts and bolts of labor issues to legislative incumbents and candi- said one member of COPE, but dates. Among the dozens of candidates listening attentively were so is "speaking up even when (below from left) veterans Leon Young, Spencer Coggs and Jon chances are slim." Richards. Only Young faces opposition in the September 9 primary. There are also examples where union members collective- ly intend to work for a candidate whether the state AFL-CIO agreed or stood aside. That resulted in four recom- mendations beyond what the state endorsed. he biggest for Sept. 9 was Sandra Pasch in Assembly TDistrict 22 to replace Sheldon Wasserman. The in for the seat. See story Page 9. is the backing of Torrey Lauer in Democrat who takes the most But there were district num- the Germantown-Menomonee votes among four contestants in bers new to MALC as well. One Falls region of Assembly District the assembly primary is a shoo- 24, traditionally Republican but vacant this year while attracting four candidates on the Calendar Republican side and two on the Democratic side for September For updated master list of events, 9. visit www.milwaukeelabor.org The other additions don't Monday, September 1 show up until the November 4 Labor Day! Laborfest! ballot: Independent Clyde Downtown Parade, 11 a.m. Winter, an extreme underdog Summerfest grounds, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. against extreme rightwing Glen Grothman in Ozaukee- Wednesday, September 3 Washington counties' Senate ments about Darling's health (he In Senate District 8, Sheldon MALC Delegate Meeting District 20 , and David Hucke, did not; but he sure found much Wasserman is the challenger 6:30 p.m., Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. also in a steep uphill battle of her platform sickly). But as against Republican incumbent against incumbent Leah Vukmir the election gets closer, this one Alberta Darling. in Assembly District 12. That will get testy and may be the Milwaukee labor is support- Thursday, September 4 district seesaws Butler, most competitive race for the ing David Hucke over Leah Labor 2008 Walk and Chili Cook-Off Brookfield, Wauwatosa, Elm state senate. Vukmir in Assembly District 14. 4-8 p.m., Yatchak Hall, 633 S. Hawley Rd. Grove and a sliver of West Allis. A number of unopposed Glen Brower received an For Nov. 4, the biggest leg- incumbents were also endorsed enthusiastic nod from both islative race is shaping up as a for Nov. 4 and the Milwaukee COPE groups over Republican Thursday, September 18 battle of money, issues and and state AFL-CIO may add oth- Mark Honadel in District 21 Labor Kick-Off Rally for United Way experience between labor ers closer to that election. (which includes Oak Creek, Includes Schaefer Community Service Award endorsed Sheldon Wasserman Backed so far: South Milwaukee and two 6 p.m., Center of Excellence, (seeking to move up from the The Senate: Lena Taylor in wards of the city of Milwaukee). 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave. Assembly) and sitting District 8 District 4, Spencer Coggs in -- Dominique Paul Noth State Sen. Alberta Darling, who District 6. Wednesday, September 24 has been steering much further to The Assembly: Peggy MALC Executive Council the right than when she was first Krusick in District 7, Josh Zepnick in District 9, Fred 2 p.m. 633 S. Hawley Rd. elected in the North Shore area. Up till now, much of this Kessler in District 12, Jon contest has been radio talk non- Richards in District 19. Wednesday, October 1 sense about who's doing the most However, Milwaukee labor MALC Delegate Meeting doors and whether Wasserman, a is going against the incumbents 6:30 p.m., Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. physician, made negative com- in three races. Kicking in for United Way abor annually makes a big Nominations for the push to support the agen- Schaefer honor can be submitted Lcies of United Way until September 14. A written through workplace campaign, explanation, nomination form Several candidates who attend- special events, other generosities and when possible a photo ed the education session didn’t and treasury gifts from area should accompany nominations, win backing from Milwaukee’s unions and locals. which are voted on by a special COPE, but here are two long- The launch is the official labor committee. shots who did: Clyde Winter Labor Kickoff Rally. It will be Send nominations to AFL- (background) and David Hucke. held starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, CIO Community Services, Sept. 18, at the Center of MCLC, 633 S. Hawley Rd., Excellence, 3841 W. Wisconsin Suite 106, Milwaukee, WI Ave. 53214. The kickoff includes food, To help union efforts for speeches, dignitaries, gifts from United Way or offer nominations unions -- and announcement of for the award - or to find out the most prestigious community what field mobilizers can do for award offered union members, workers in trouble - contact named in honor of a legendary Annie Wacker - MALC Vice-President Annie Wacker (right) and other labor leaders labor and United Way leader. 414.771.9830 / annieaflcio@sbc- hosted a luncheon with United Way executives at Saz's on State The annual Werner J. global.net Street to plan unions' key role in the community campaign. Schaefer Labor/United Way OR Mike Balistriere - Community Service Award is 414.771.9829 / mikeaflcio@sbc- given each year to a union mem- global.net ber in the four-county region OR Jay Reinke - who reflects outstanding commu- 414.771.9828 / jayaflcio@sbc- HAVE A SAFE LABOR DAY! nity service as a volunteer, global.net resource or trainer. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 7 Related story Page 9 Defending labor’s choices Among the experienced and union-supported legislators keeps districts busy Sept. 9 being challenged Sept. 9 by ostensible Democrats are (top here were 14 endorse- District 15 (including both stuff) that sweeps down from right) Barbara Toles, (middle) ments in all by both the West Allis and West Milwaukee Locust Ave. to Tory Hill and east Tony Staskunas and (bottom) Milwaukee and state areas) -- Tony Staskunas. from 27th St. to the Milwaukee T Christine Sinicki. Only Pedro COPEs looking at the metropo- District 17 (central North River. Colon (not pictured), Leon lis, but it's the September 9 pri- Side from 92nd St. east to 44th District 20 -- Christine Young and Sinicki face more mary that gets emphasis here St.) -- Barbara Toles Sinicki, a veteran champion of than one primary opponent. because it's fast upon us. Then there are three races union issues and a frequent pres- Three of the eight Assembly where Reynolds' efforts were a ence at labor rallies, challenged BELOW: Polly Williams may primary races probably wouldn't factor but there would have been by multiple candidates (one have been quizzical about fac- exist were it not for the cam- a Democratic primary anyway. Reynolds-like) in a district that ing a Tom Reynolds supported paign literature cloned and print- Labor has endorsed the incum- includes the Bay View area of challenger Sept. 9, but, as she ed by Republican Reynolds. bents in all three: Milwaukee, plus Cudahy and St. assured COPE interviewers Here are the respected labor-en- District 8 - veteran Pedro Francis. below, she is hardly unpre- dorsed incumbents who need Colon, whose serious opposition, pared. supporters at the polls Sept 9: Laura Manriquez, stems from a District 10 - Annette (Polly) dispute with Esperanza Unida. Williams. Her region extends Another opponent used north into Glendale and south Reynolds’ program. past Burleigh St, and then goes District 16 -- Leon Young, from 18th St. east to the facing several opponents in a Milwaukee River. district (one using Reynolds'
CUT OUT, SAVE AND USE! ENDORSED CANDIDATES SEPTEMBER 9 PRIMARY All Wisconsin Assembly Races on the Democratic Side
District 8 -- Pedro Colon (incumbent) District 10 -- Annette (Polly) Williams (incumbent) District 15 -- Tony Staskunas (incumbent) District 16 -- Leon Young (incumbent) District 17 -- Barbara Toles (incumbent) District 20 -- Christine Sinicki (incumbent) District 22 -- Sandra Pasch, open seat District 24 -- Torrey Lauer, open seat
NOVEMBER 4 ELECTION US PRESIDENT Barack Obama, Democrat US HOUSE DISTRICT 4 Gwen Moore, Democrat
Wisconsin Senate District 4: Lena Taylor, incumbent unopposed District 6: Spencer Coggs, incumbent unopposed District 8: Sheldon Wasserman, Democrat, challenger. District 20: Clyde Winter, Independent, challenger.
Wisconsin Assembly District 7: Peggy Krusick, incumbent District 9: Josh Zepnick. incumbent unopposed District 12: Fred Kessler, incumbent unopposed District 14: David Hucke, Democrat, challenger District 19: Jon Richards, incumbent unopposed. District 21: Glen Brower, Democrat, challenger
Milwaukee area candidates must complete a process of questionnaires and interviews even to be considered, and recommendations require a two-thirds agreement on the Committee on Political Education (COPE) of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, representing all member unions, locals and constituency groups.
The choices are certainly not binding, but they represent considerable scrutiny on working family issues, campaign commitment and support of key labor goals. Union house- holds are one of the most committed voting segments in the nation to turn up at the polls -- in this case from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 9. This is followed by a gen- eral election Tuesday, November 4. Page 8 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org What every woman wants seems to be a raise raise is the most desired ing women had more available little time for themselves. and everyday items. Six in 10 It turns out the exodus has change in women's work time, they are most likely to say Thirty-seven percent say respondents have at least some more to do with lousy jobs than Alives, overtaking health they would work another job, they work during their breaks or credit card debt, and many won't a desire to stay home with the care, which was the top issue in ahead of spending more time have no breaks. be able to pay off their credit kids. the previous survey. That's with friends and family, or doing In spite of their lack of per- cards in the near future. A quar- As reporter and author Louis according to Working America's exercise, or even getting more sonal time, they are most likely ter say they will be able to pay Uchitelle wrote in the piece: Ask a Working Woman survey. sleep. to say they would work another off their balance within the next "After moving into virtually Compiled and released June 25, Working women also des- job if they had free time. year and 12% say within the next every occupation, women are the survey report digested data perately need a break, according Saddled with debt and fac- two years, 18% say in more than being afflicted on a large scale from an online survey of 12,000 to the survey. They are talking to ing rising prices, working two years. And 6% say they will by the same troubles as men: respondents out of 20,000 their co-workers more than their women are using their credit never be able to pay off credit downturns, layoffs, outsourcing, women who participated. children or friends. They have cards to pay for durable goods card debt. stagnant wages or the discourag- Half of respondents chose a This survey has been con- ing prospect of an outright pay 10% raise over affordable, high- ducted in various forms since cut.... quality health care (a close sec- 1997. For full survey results, "Pay is no longer rising ond) as making working wom- visit www.workingamerica.org/ smartly for women in the key en's lives easier. Child care was long similar lines, much 25-to-54 age group. Just the also a popular need, but neither it publicity has been given opposite, the median pay -- the nor health care topped a basic Ato statistical evidence point where half make more and raise, particularly since many from the Economic Policy half less -- has fallen in recent women also cited pay inequity Institute of how women are leav- years, to $14.84 an hour in 2007 by gender. ing the workforce because the from $15.04 in 2004, adjusted Their viewpoint is backed jobs stink, which is actually a for inflation. (The similar wage up by government surveys that reversal of trends in the 1990s. for men today is two dollars put women 30-40% behind the The downward trend, the more.)" pay of men in similar occupa- EPI evidence and the significant While hardly good news, the tions. Those reports made head- concerns of women leaving the information could help force a lines nationwide about why the US workforce were actually recognition of fundamental eco- workforce is losing its women. highlighted on the front page of nomic problems facing both gen- Given the economy, if work- the New York Times. ders. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 9 AFT, AFSCME lead East Side push for Pasch By Dominique Paul Noth ing, which is unusual in an Editor, Labor Press assembly race. Many candidates ith the best credentials are lucky to strap together and the proven com- enough cash for one earnest set munity leadership of legislative plans, not these W series of big headlines, childhood abilities, Sandra Pasch wasn't a tough choice for Milwaukee photos and computer icons. The labor. The quality of her opposi- rich might not notice how unusu- tion and the size of their bank- ally heavy this mailing blitz is, rolls make things more difficult and those struggling with the in Assembly District 22, an open economy might be offended. seat because of Sheldon Kohl has also financed sev- Wasserman's move toward the eral phone "surveys" in the dis- State Senate. trict, which some recipients felt Pasch, for 15 years an assis- were push-pull polling, steering tant professor at Columbia residents to answer in his favor. College of Nursing, has the side from an inordinate backing of DA John Chisholm amount of money repre- and other law enforcement Asented in this assembly experts because she founded and race, all three busiest candidates then coordinated the crisis inter- are sincere in person, have some vention projects that teach offi- similar general positions and are cers how to handle mental health emphasizing the thousands of and other situations. doors they have knocked on in Long known as a health pol- person. icy expert and a legislative plan- Each can claim some brag- ner on several fronts, she is the ging rights in these neighbor- most open advocate among the Sandra Pasch works through labor issues sharing a table with veteran members of the Assembly hood patrols (though it's hard to candidates of the effort by nurses she hopes to join: Fred Kessler and (right) Christine Sinicki. Having survived broken bones, Pasch do doors in River Hills -- no at Columbia-St. Mary's to orga- now has to carry through against some money-wielding opposition. sidewalks). But the hands-down nize a union. winner of any perseverance con- degree, whom friends say Yet her desire to mix it up free-form forums in this district, resources for mailings closer to test would be Pasch. She suf- returned to his hometown largely on the political differences and and there has been a flood of the election. But Kohl and fered a pelvis fracture on slip- to run for office) and particularly capabilities among the candi- four-color four-page mailings Feldman had the funding to start pery steps early in the campaign. from Dan Kohl (long a dates has struggled for attention. from Andy Feldman (a New their mailings in July and they For months she was pushed to Milwaukee Bucks executive who There have not been enough Hope anti-poverty consultant have been popping in lit drop doors in her wheelchair by fami- with a Harvard public policy prefers to remind voters of his after lit drop (four from Kohl in ly and youthful campaigners, support of SEED, the boarding one week). These are then graduated to crutches and school concept for low-income Photoshopped images, full of now she is back on her feet - students). happy children and earnest probably knocking at your door There's actually a fourth seniors and, frankly, generic this minute. Democrat in the contest -- Guy quotes about the need for health There might be some poetic Johnson (the Shorewood village care and education reform. justice is she wins, given the president connected to UWM) There is a danger in assum- importance of health care as an but he hasn't been doing much ing that the bulk of voters in this issue. Wasserman, whom she's campaigning district -- River Hills, Fox Point, seeking to succeed, is a physi- his is described as a win- Glendale, Whitefish Bay, cian - and she would be the third ner-take-all contest among Shorewood, and four city wards nurse in the Legislature. TFeldman, Kohl and Pasch, - are impressed by such spend- with Kohl given the edge in deep pockets and name recognition (he is the nephew and maybe would-be heir to you-know-who in the US Senate). Pasch is husbanding her Page 10 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Broadcasting a dismay at TMJ n the eighth day of the on any level, a "spit in the face" employing currently hundreds to eighth month in the to dedicated workers. put up the Harley events. Oeighth year of the new The charges go beyond the But Local 18 had a signed century (8.08.08), WTMJ wasn't unfair practices often filed with contract with WTMJ - and that just broadcasting the opening of the National Labor Relations along with other aspects of the Olympics -- it was vaulting Board. Immediate injunctive WTMJ's demands were against its own management into compe- relief is being sought by the law- the law, Sweet argues in his tition for the Bad Boss gold yer for both unions involved, complaint to the NLRB. medal. Mark Sweet. The dispute reflects to the That day, broadcast engi- Without commercial inter- workers the sort of arrogance of neers, stagehands and other ruption, here is the unfolding management that really is Journal Communications work- story. designed to break down mutual ers and sympathizers lined The Wisconsin Broadcast bargaining even as Congress is Capitol Drive in front of the Engineers, IBEW Local 715, are anxious for a changing of guard WTMJ studios with banners ask- a pioneer local that has served at the White House that would ing "Trust TMJ4? If we can't allow new laws to make the from the earliest days of radio- Sympathetic unions joined the broadcast engineers and the why should you?" playing field more equal between TV expansion as the technical stagehands in a day of informational picketing on Capitol Drive During the lunch hour of the labor and management. backbone of media here. The outside the Journal Communications studios. all-day informational picketing Journal company had been A lot of such preemptive and sympathetic solidarity, fully employing 44 of them at WTMJ- efforts to beat the voters to the ally implementing a merger of Journal management, including 7 out of 10 cars and trucks pass- TV, WTMJ-DT, WTMJ-AM and punch is going around, noted two distinct bargaining units, Vice President of News Bill ing on the busy thoroughfare WKTI-FM. Christopher Albrecht, president noted Albrecht. "Its goals of Berra and Tony Lucas, manager honked in support of the unions. The local began negotia- and business manager of Local driving down wages in the face of news production. While the NBC affiliate was tions with the Journal last 715. If the company wanted to of the solidarity of its employees The unions are also telling telling the story of the Beijing December on a new contract but explore cross-training and can are very transparent -- tactics their story and updating their ini- Olympics on the air, the suddenly faced sweeping present evidence of financial that can only be described as tiatives at their own website: Milwaukee workers were at least demands that would either elimi- benefit, he noted, that is what underhanded and dishonest." www.whytrusttmj4.com. gaining street attention for a nate or drastically change collective bargaining is all about. The complaints to the NLRB But don't look for a link in story unlikely to get play in the employment - in effect demolish Instead Journal management on behalf of both the engineers the major newspaper. major print and media outlets the a famous and traditionally sup- is tampering with existing con- and stagehands also name -- Dominique Paul Noth company controls and indeed portive union. tracts and practices by unilater- dominates in Milwaukee Such a dispute was an It's hard to tell bad boss sto- unusual turnaround in 70 years ries when your own boss has the of successful successor bargain- Corporations may have costly mistake veto, even though the experi- ing agreements with Journal enced broadcast engineers put Communications, but this time, in pushing 401-style pension plans your own narrower preferences negotiators say, the company ompanies may have The full text is The study "is somewhat of a on the air. (Rival station Channel seemed determined to follow a goofed big-time by myth buster when it comes to available under the 12 did show up to continue its script outlined by its lawyers dumping the guaranteed conventional wisdom on the cost inroads in the TV market by C Take Action section of from the Michael Best firm. pension system. Many private of retirement plans," said NIRS doing local stories on workers.) That concern deepened in employers dismantled that union- milwaukeelabor.org. Executive Director Beth The tale the public wasn't the spring when the Journal supported concept, believing it Almeida. told involves imperial unilateral declared an impasse despite would save money to abandon tures that make them the most The analysis clearly indi- action not by the Chinese gov- IBEW's willingness and experi- defined-benefit pensions (DB) in fiscally efficient to provide cates that the qualities inherent ernment but by Journal ence in negotiating and then favor of riskier defined contribu- retirement income, including the in defined-benefit plans -- partic- Broadcast Group management. sought to merge the broadcast tion (DC) plans like 401(k)s that pooling of the risks to a large ularly the pooling of risks and It created what the workers engineers with another veteran put the responsibility for retire- numbers of individuals and a assets -- fuel their fiscal efficien- allege to federal authorities are union -- Stagehands Local 18, ment security on the workers. more diverse investment strategy. cy. Importantly, the report pro- clear violations of the law and, the same IUPTE division But a new independent study he study, "A Better Bang vides a new lens for policymak- shows that defined-benefit plans for the Buck: The ers, employers and employees, can provide the same level of TEconomic Efficiencies of who are all struggling to ensure retirement income at a 46% Defined-Benefit Pension Plans," adequate retirement income with lower cost. was released in mid-August by the fewest dollars possible. That's because defined-bene- the National Institute on ost union-negotiated fit plans have certain built-in fea- Retirement Security. pension plans are Mdefined-benefit pen- sion plans, which for decades have guaranteed retirees a fixed monthly income. These DBs are usually funded entirely by employers through tax-exempt contributions and automatically cover all qualified employees. In defined-contribution plans (DCs), the retirement benefits depend upon the amount contrib- uted to an individual worker's account and investment earnings on that account. Since 1978, the number of defined-benefit plans plummeted from 128,041 covering some 41% of private-sector workers to only 26,000 today, according to the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that now only 21%t of workers in the private sector have the DBs, defined- benefit pensions. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 11
“We are Setting New Standards for Funeral Services in our Community” Let us remember in our prayers the families of: Mr. Harvey Perkins, W.H. Brady Mrs. Jean Clark, Milwaukee County Mr. Willie McVicker, General Electric Mrs. Ophelia Horton, Milwaukee Public School Ms. Pamela Clark, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Mr. Habert Tate, Milwaukee Malleable & Grey Iron Works
The workers of Wheaton Franciscan Health Care—St. Francis urge you to come to our hospital-- the only unionized, private hospital in Milwaukee--for all your health care needs.
High Quality Care
with a Union Label!
For more information, contact WFNHP at 414-475-6065 or visit www.wfnhp.org Page 12 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org
STEAMFITTERS LOCAL 601 BUILDING SOUTHERN WISCONSIN FOR 135 YEARS
YOUR SINGLE SOURCE FOR SKILLED LABOR SPECIALIZING IN: t HVAC SERVICE t PROCESS PIPING t STEAMFITTING t SPECIALITY WELDING t GAS DISTRIBUTION
PHONE: 414-543-0601 FAX: 414-543-7721 www.steam601.org www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 13
President: Phil Smith Rec. Sec.: Lee Schlund Vice Pres.: Frank Perea Trustee: Joe Smith & Tom Schwark Business Agent, Financial Sec., Treas.: Tom Reitzner
USW Local 2-1114 Wishes for a Happy Labor Day From the Union Employees at: P & H MINING EQUIPMENT 4400 W. National Avenue Milwaukee, WI Page 14 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Applause caps unions’ Interchange ballet
Mi l l i o n s u n d e r b u d g e t and because the expert workers months under the predicted had the freedom to offer sug- date of completion, the gestions, stop in case of dan- BELOW: Unions proved the key, as several of the safety experts Marquette Interchange was for- ger and speed things along. and engineering gurus pointed out as they grabbed early morn- mally opened August 19 with a Gi v e n t h e i m p o r t a n c e of union ing coffee at the ceremony. Quality preparation meant there ribbon cutting by Gov. Doyle standards to the financial and were no debilitating injuries, noted one worker, a remarkable (top) and a few of the proud building success, it did strike safety record - - "and no civilian was injured either." 4,000 workers in attendance several union leaders in atten- (top left). dance that many media stories, Th e y w e r e j u s t s o m e of the 500 including Journal Sentinel, did construction trades specialists not say out loud the word maneuvering 45 cranes, tons “union.” of earth, bridge climbs and “We l l , y o u h a v e t o consider the underpass rappelling. It repre- source, but heck, it’s too great sented 2.3 million work hours, a day to quibble,” said Lyle TOP: Of the 250 participants at 21% done by minorities, 3% by Balistrieri, president of the the opening, one was a thank- women, all union or prevailing Milwaukee Building & ful bus driver, Jerry Papa, with wage. The four year marathon Construction Trades Council, a sign recalling how the wound up esthetically pleasing AFL-CIO. -- and a national standard of Amalgamated Transit Union what public works projects can drivers for the county, Local do. 998, had to maneuver the con- struction for four years, without Th i s w a s n o t a c a s e of Simon Legree whipping the slaves, mishap. noted one contractor. It was LEFT: Paid mainly with federal union apprentice programs that funds, the project was run by helped train new workers with Frank Busalacchi and the state the state Department of DOT. So many state legislators Transportation. It was union took a deserved bow, including training centers and attitudes Pedro Colon who has a Sept. 9 that were counted on. It worked primary contest looming. See Page 7.
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Your hard work has made this an exceptional year in union construction. On behalf of the board of directors for the Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin (CLMC) and Building Advantage, we thank you for this dedication. Because of you, we are able to promote a higher standard of excellence in our industry.
For more information about Building Advantage and how it benefits you, please visit www.buildingadvantage.org.
®
0/æ"OXæ æ"ROOKFIELD æ7)æ æ 0HONEææææ%MAILæKKRAEMER BUILDINGADVANTAGEORGæææWWWBUILDINGADVANTAGEORG www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 15 Page 16 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Protect the vote, with popcorn no less isconsin's election It was held at the Times sometime scary stories from the system is smartly han- Theater July 24 with free pop- panelists did reveal the impor- Wdled and claims of corn for a crowd that included a tance of always keeping a non- organized voter fraud only reveal major decision maker on elec- partisan watch on the goings on. that the system and voting drive tions, Kevin Kennedy, the expe- Among the panelists: Sheila organizers work quickly to rienced head of the state's new D. Cochran, chief operating offi- expose any misdoings. combined oversight board, the cer of the MALC; Renee Shavers So noted the experts gath- Government Accountability Crawford, associate director of ered July 24 for the Protect Office. the ACLU of Wisconsin; Alan Wisconsin's Voter Education The amusing videos and Freed, an attorney for Disability Summit organized by the Rights Wisconsin; Kit O'Meara Institute for One Wisconsin and of the League of Women Voters, emceed by its executive director, and Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Scot Ross (below left). Voces de La Frontera. Ann Jacobs, attorney of the Election Protection Legal Committee, offered some cau- tionary tales while Susan Edman (left), executive director of the Milwaukee Election Surrounded by food and craft booths, the Union Label Booth at Commission, discussed how the the State Fair Expo Center often drew a significant stay-awhile City Hall office actually func- crowds to buy Harley raffle tickets or pick up union-made free- tions but also relies on the com- bies. Booth organizer Willie D. Ellis, president of MALC and also munity's attentiveness. organizer for Operating Engineers Local 139, got to thank volun- teers from his own union for their shift: (from left) Russell R. Retzack, David Sohns and Donald Frederick.
Educate, Agitate, Organize!
Staff: Michael Bolton, Dennis Latus District Two Director Don Collins Bill Breihan Ross Winklbauer 414-475-4560 Tanita Mitchell Ernie Dex Southern WI Sub District Director 1126 S. 70th Street STE N509A Milwaukee, WI 53214 www.usw.org www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 17 For knowledgeable East Siders, the topping off ceremony for Park Lafayette July 25 (right) holds a special place in Milwaukee's blitz of condo building. Crowds of workers showed up to sign the commemorative plaque. For decades this was an ungainly hole in the ground at Prospect Ave. and Lafayette Place. What could fit in this strange one-acre space? It turns out that advanced archi- tecture (below) created a two tower condominium of 20 stories and 280 luxury units, with seven layers of underground parking -- all union built by Hunzinger contractors for Renaissant Development Group, and actually using union investment funds.
And here’s another big construction job done -- all union, all notable
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"Y SUPPORTING REFORM LEADING THE DIALOG GATHERING RESOURCES AND REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WE PROMOTE QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ENSURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE
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0UTTING #HILDREN AT THE #ENTER OF %DUCATION 7 6LIET 3TREET s -ILWAUKEE s s WWWMTEAORG Page 18 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Mayor Barrett and Obama campaign's Tim Mahon (right) talk with union members and publicized a new radio ad pointing out McCain’s disre- gard for American products such as Harleys. The site was the parking lot at the building & construction trades council.
RIGHT: Rep. Gwen Moore lays out her long-held belief in Obama for union leaders such as Lyle Balistrieri at Yatchak Hall. She and Barrett were early ardent sup- porters of the Illinois senator. Enjoying Obama hey're hardly novices in the trench wars of politics and legisla- tions. If anything they are hardened survivors. So it's unusual to Thear these experienced officials who have long supported him speak mainly of the joy and spirit that Obama has brought to their public service. One brought in by the Obama campaign to visit with Wisconsin union leaders was Margaret Blackshere, the former head of the Illinois AFL-CIO, a legendary master of legislation, a fighter for feminism who has been an Obama supporter from the get-go. Another, US Rep. Gwen Moore, rose to attention as Obama did from a reputation for accomplishment as a state legislator. Though she was updating union leaders on her efforts in D.C., she couldn't escape discussing her belief in Obama and certainly couldn't avoid talking about the increasingly silly campaign against him Blackshere saw Obama in action for workers from his early days as a community organizer in Chicago, helping families suffering through steel mill closures. Even then she noted his innovative response to problems and the fact that "he truly listens to union issues - this caring for workers is genuine." "I find it amazing, really, that his opponent tries to discount" his years in the Illinois legislature, she said. She saw him emerging there and actually credits him with coming up with helpful ideas as well as pushing labor causes. "Here (at the state level) you still have lobbyists, but not to the same degree. You have to think through legislation; you have to act on instinct and then legislate with care," she said. She can still rattle A day before its formal open- off the ideas he backed or innovated and how he worked across the ing as the downtown nerve aisle, especially helping low-income workers. center of three dozen cam- Moore detailed some beliefs in Congress she'll never stop fight- paign headquarters in ing for ("Universal health care, AND mental health parity . . . Foreign Wisconsin, workers went policy? Let's start exporting our values, not just democracy"). Andy Warhol-ish, spreading Turning to the election, Moore ducked a questioner's concerns Barack Obama’s face around about vestiges of racism emerging in the race. She focused on the floor. The cavernous "Americans being too smart." She dismissed McCain's efforts as sim- offices, which opened with ply trying "to fool us again - I think people are hurting too much now festivities Aug. 20 emceed by to fall for the old games," and she particularly noted the attempt in TV Sheila Cochran, looks out commercials to take the subtleties of Obama's nonpartisan approaches from 4th St. and Wells St. at and turn them into negative sound-bites. After eight years of Bush, the Midwest Airlines Center she said, "Don't mess with us again." -- D.N. (right). Speech here, D.C. there After visiting Milwaukee to give a breakfast talk (right), senior econ- omist Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute found him- self back in D.C. testifying before the joint economic com- mittee of Congress (both houses) on the array of eco- $! ")*& nomic forces that are squeezing work- ing Americans' incomes and living standards. To help counter those forces and provide some immediate #'"" &$#"& relief, Bernstein has called for a better second stim- %"% '(" $)!! ulus package, preferably in the form of state fiscal aid and public investment in needed infrastructure, such as highway and school repairs. The invest- ments would keep more Americans working and con- tributing through any downturn, Bernstein noted. He also advocated strengthening oversight of the finan-
'' cial sector to provide long-term protection from the kinds of bubbles that have buffeted the US economy. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 19 forced even conservative talk tage cars and Harley motorcycles Labor 2008 The AFL-CIO has put together a video-rich website show hosts to admit its accuracy. will gather in anticipation of the From Page 1 for Wisconsin. Emphasizing local events and union Even with three dozen Laborfest parade Sept. 1. the wealthy, the favoritism to big personalities, it is labor2008.typepad.com/wi/ offices around the state, the The Obama team invited oil and big business and the Obama campaign and the Wisconsin's three noted early failed approach to Social Wisconsin Democratic Party backers of Obama to christen the Security, Medicare and health decided to center its state efforts space: Gov. Doyle, Mayor insurance? Surely that will in this big Milwaukee Downtown Barrett and Rep. Moore. But to become obvious as the election office across the street from the emcee the event at 744 N. 4th approaches. Midwest Airlines Center. St. on Aug. 20, it chose a local So I thought - until I con- It is, in fact, at the corner of labor leader -- Cochran. nected to the barrage of emails, Wells St. and 4th St. where vin- the echo chambers of conserva- tive radio, the planted series of Measures of success criticism and derision. s the media remains amazed by the range of volunteers, saw even Obama supporters money and personal activity of the Obama direct forces, it has affected by the sheer volume neglected the potency of the union member-to-member cam- of the falsehoods. From A I paign. "transparent" the lies had moved ALF-CIO staff did some counting at the end of July to measure to "where there's smoke there's Labor 2008 in support of Obama and the legislation he has promised fire." Even if it's just smog. to sign and most Democrats in Congress support -- the Employee Free And there's still more: Choice Act. What the staff recorded at that time: Has-been celebrities finally • 4,391,585 worksite fliers distributed; able to get airtime by sneering at • 70,000 union members visited by a fellow union activist at their Obama. home; Books that paint any • 40,000 local union letters downloaded from the Working Chicago politician as belonging Families Toolkit; to the era of Capone and repeat- • 135 rapid action events; ing what are clearly racist and • 1,053 union activists trained. religious lies. In addition, the AFL-CIO noted: Whispers even among gun • 129 Locals have passed resolutions in support of the Employee owners. The curious charge of Free Choice Act; elitism because Obama can think • Members have already signed 300,000 of the Million Member on his feet and speaks well. Mobilization Cards in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. It all may not add up to a • Officials in local races are being presented with poll and survey hill of beans, but now McCain is proof that nearly 60,000,000 people -- more than half of US workers using the entire apparatus of lob- -- say they would join a union right now if they could; byists and moneymen that did • Labor forces have made it possible for 300,000 message calls to this to him (!) in 2000 and did it be dialed per day; to Kerry in 2004. • Even better, 400,000 GOTV message calls (Get Out the Vote) n the Internet, which is Steve Kwaterski of the AFL-CIO and Stephanie Bloomingdale of can be dialed per day; sometimes a world of the Wisconsin Nurses and Health Professionals, AFT, lead a • 2.1 million union members are veterans being urged to respect Opreaching to those Labor 2008 training session for union enthusiasts -- one of John McCain's military record but support Ocala's proven support for already in the choir, a veritable several such sessions held around the state to learn how per- veteran issues, veteran benefits and economic common sense. industry has developed to forage sonal neighborhood contact strengthens workplace fliers and urveys also indicated as of July 25 that McCain's favorable rat- for new email recipients for the phone banking. ings with union members had gone down more than 21 points. smears, which has created an The AFL-CIO Voting Record for Sen. Barack Obama, inciden- often amusing counter-industry labor. S so enthusiastic and busy is the tally, is 98%. of videos exposing the mendaci- Obama Campaign for Change Both Obama's campaign and Aside from the presidential races, unions are actively playing a ty of Fox News and other sup- that you'll find many union the AFL-CIO campaign have role in more than 500 races nationwide. posed factual sources. members happily doing double- also created teams of military Included are 61 US House races (including Rep. Steve Kagen's Among the best is foxat- duty, visiting union households veterans who honor McCain's bid for re-election in the Green Bay area): tacks.com/virus/ -- Obama sup- one day and then joining the service but don't want to see his 11 US Senate races; porters will laugh until they cry, Obama teams to visit any house- policies burden their families. 4 Governor races; and each video ends with the hold. The Milwaukee Building & 434 State Legislature races headline "Pssst - do something!" oth projects share similar Construction Trades Council The most important number may well be that more than 12 mil- Any doubts I have had about enthusiasms and realiza- lent its headquarters to Obama's lion union members nationwide are being actively recruited to under- Labor 2008's initial mission tions, one of which is the team to unveil the recent radio stand the issues and support union candidates. evaporated. B ad that points out McCain's importance of the labor grass- Now I wonder if it is roots model. stance against Harleys and other enough. The Obama campaign in the American products. See photo So I'm happy to see more state has devoted more than a opposite page. pointed excursions. dozen of its members simply to It was an effective ad that ne of those comes from the Milwaukee Area OLabor Council the same evening the GOP convention handles McCain's acceptance speech. From 4-8 p.m. that Thursday, Sept. 4, Labor 2008 will answer with facts and a food fight! This Labor 2008 walk fea- tures a chili cook-off between the council's president, Willie D. Ellis, and its secretary-treasurer, Sheila D. Cochran, at Yatchak Hall, 633 S. Hawley Road Labor 2008 is pursuing more volunteers for these important member-to-member strolls, but
To get involved contact the AFL-CIO Southeast Wisconsin political coor- dinator Steve Kwaterski at 414-476-2896 or email [email protected]. Page 20 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Laborfest From Page 1 between 3rd and 4th, for where the marchers gather and the gigantic vehicles must finish assembly by 9:30 a.m. to help all units. Rules of the Milwaukee the parade marshals prepare Area Labor Council also require smoothly. political candidates (who are free ther things are happen- to roam at Summerfest) to be ing besides lining up invited to march by an accompa- trucks. Unions are hand- nying union. O But while marching in the ing out their special logo T-shirts, readying the banners, parade requires an invite, preparing flatbeds for children Laborfest itself is open to all the and retirees, and realizing - Milwaukee community for free sometimes in shock -- just how and each year attracts hundreds big the union movement is in of families who just want a good Milwaukee. time on the holiday organized • WMCS 1290 will be con- labor helped create but doesn't ducting interviews all morning pretend to own. from the gazebo in the park. The At Maier Festival Park radio station picks up again at (Summerfest to newcomers), the Summerfest grounds in the there is a 30-year Laborfest As last year, some things reflect honored Laborfest tradition. cians! - still serve as attractions. afternoon. lakefront history, as well as sev- Such as the float of professional musicians, proud members of Weather permitting (the • An ecumenical prayer ser- eral surprises among all manner American Federation of Musicians Local 8, who manage impec- workers run South to help in vice sets the tone of thanks at 9 of entertainment from 11 a.m. to cable music even as they bump along the route in a flatbed . . . case of a hurricane), visitors can a.m. Organized by the Faith 5 p.m. ... . Such as the care and attention so many unions show their also get high (in the air) on the Community for Worker Justice This is still the festival with- retirees (below), finding a way to include them in the parade. bucket trucks. These are the We and open to all, it will again out admission charge, with Energies repair cranes that have take place at Postal Workers shows for the children super- been so busy all summer because Hall, 417 N. 3rd St. vised by the Milwaukee Public of floods and storms, but they Of course, if you ride a Schools, where pro wrestlers hope to be set up north of the Harley, you can lead the parade make you forget the Olympics children's area, courtesy of as hundreds of union members (well, almost) and Reynaldo and IBEW Local 2150. The operators do. But even if you don't ride a his squad of quick-sketch artists of the bucket trucks ask those Harley, you can win one at the draw out your inner self. who can afford it for a $1 charity close of Laborfest. Tickets for ut don't look for food donation. the Sportster and the cash prizes ticket booths. Those bar- The parade's "Cruise Show" -- two for $5 - will continue to Bgain tickets were passed of vintage cars will again be on be sold on the grounds. out in advance by union leaders, display on the north end of intage American-made eliminating an entire set of wait- Summerfest. cars follow right behind ing lines for food and drink. ead center on the the Harleys and before (The 10% discounts provid- grounds are the sitting V ed by the tickets are still avail- the color guards in this orches- areas and resting spots trated parade. Literally orches- able, but only through your D around the Union Industry Tent, trated. Up front is the float of the union or local’s leaders.) where partners and locals offer The vendors are directly tak- entertainment unions - actors and grounds, with winners of oldies and a mighty brass sec- special displays and information, ing cash (and some credit cards) stagehands accompanying the announced during the afternoon tion. plus samples of their work. and ATMs are available on the musicians who flourish show so the children especially don't This is also the third year for As you enter the main gate, grounds. That should speed tunes all along the route. have to wait until the festival's Night Life (once known as look for new interactivity in the things along. When unions and their fami- end to win something. Resonance and moved to the Pullman Porters Exhibit (see So will the raffles you must lies and partners kick off down his year the dance music Miller Stage to alternate with Page 21). attend to win -- toys and sports Wisconsin Avenue promptly at is virtually nonstop with Spider George), providing sever- Freed this year from food memorabilia for children, dinner 11 a.m., they have to be invited two big bands taking al vocalists and instrumentalists ticket duty, volunteer can help in advance. Insurance regula- and hotel packages for adults. T out during the afternoon. Look turns at the Miller Stage (where led by pianist David Brady. Those require names stuck in tions require such permission for the Harley winning ticket is also Bingo (appropriately in the for the people with badges or raffle boxes scattered around the announced at festival's end). Potawatami area), special dis- bright safety nets or driving the Spider George and the Web, plays from generous unions and special carts at both the parade formed back in the mid-1980s corporate sponsors, fire and and the festival itself. and led by George Busateri , has police units, corporate mascots Once again, Laborfest spon- tirelessly rocked labor's house and strolling performers - and sors are counting on volunteers for years with its diverse range look out for those strolling politi- to set up the grounds, then dash to Zeidler Park to help coordi- nate the parade -- and then at 5 p.m. help take down the banners and chairs. Meetings have been held all summer to choreograph the sequence but more helpers are always needed. Contact Robin at (414) 771-7070. Two labor councils - those of Washington and Ozaukee counties - have merged into the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, main sponsor of Laborfest in close cooperation with the Waukesha County Labor Council. Chief organizers of the day are the officers, staff and execu- tive council of MALC, led by Secretary-Treasurer Sheila D. Cochran. Next year this central labor council will celebrate the 50th year of its formation under the AFL-CIO. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 21 Some children walk the parade. Some find a way to ride the It’s about the kids parade. And many find willing fathers to carry them the dis- tance. BELOW: We’ll let you in on a Laborfest secret. The so-called children’s stage with its sophis- ticated jugglers and magicians draws a lot more than toddlers.
new attraction is licking its lips at the fountain Anear the Main Gate.. It's intended for children (though likely to frighten some adults) willing to enter the mouth of the tiger. The Sabre-Tooth Tiger Slide is a colorful and scary-looking addition to the activities for chil- dren, which grow each year of this family festival. Most of those occur around the children's area stage, but with playgrounds and finger-painting and family sit-down areas, the children's side of Laborfest has definitely expanded. With supervision provided by the Milwaukee Public Schools recreation division, a full schedule has been worked out to combine stage shows and New attraction for more than train buffs appearances on the grounds of clowns, jugglers and magicians. ew technology will tell an old story of the ware, a three dimensional version of Hurst, capable Among the performers: civil rights era and struggles at Laborfest of interfacing with visitors, was born. The pairing of Magician Glen Gerard. this year. It is the Pullman Porters Exhibit the avatar with the historic railcars provides visitors N with a unique museum experience. Shows from Ken Head's from the National Railroad Museum. "Heads Up Juggling Revue." In July 2007, the National Railroad Museum An interactive touch screen kiosk will offer visi- Matthew the Magician, alias began to look for ways to enhance the interactive tors an opportunity to discover more about the Mathew Morgan. capabilities of a proposed Pullman Porters exhibit. Pullman porter history. Visitors may listen to music "Mom the Clown" & Working with animation specialists at Balance written and performed by porters, and learn how Company (also providing face Studios in Green Bay, the museum began to develop they influenced the development of American blues. painting). a three-dimensional avatar (computer representation The story of the Pullman Porters reminds us of "The Pocket Lady" of a person) based upon a real-life porter named the towering efforts of ordinary men and women (Kathleen Mohr), providing sto- Emanuel Hurst. who succeeded in bringing this country closer to ries and activities. Using 3D animation software and MULE - realizing its cherished democratic ideals. And look up! No - look Balance's proprietary rendering application - artists During Laborfest, this exhibit will be located in higher. Look even higher! That's from Balance Studios re-created Hurst based upon one of the buildings to the south of the Main Gate of Debra Davis, the stiltwalker historic photographs. Combined with facial motion- the Summerfest grounds. extraordinaire who performs capture technology and Balance's data-mapping soft- around the grounds after strutting the entire parade route. BELOW: Cameras snapping regularly clearly bugged these young marchers. Photos from 2007Laborfest were taken by AFT’s Sue Ruggles and Labor Press’ Dominique Paul Noth.
American Income Life Insurance Company N88 W17015 Main Street Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 Phone (262) 502-9777 WHY NOT WORK WITH A 100% UNION COMPANY? We offer unions and their members a no cost benefit package and supplemental benefits. For a career opportunity call Cindy Vogel at 1-888-502-8777 Page 22 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Has election left you fighting for facts? By Dominique Paul Noth events that foolishly led this The Take Action section of Editor, Labor Press administration to war in the first www.milwaukeelabor.org, place. 12% alone is not enough here's nothing more dis- our website, now includes to explain all that. It just lights concerting or angering full reports from outside up the argument about how the than someone who confi- experts as well informa- T public has been misled for years. dently spouts a piece of data that tion from unions. seems to destroy your view of an So who do we trust? ur confusion over facts issue - and then sits back defying any of us are unthink- you to contradict them. As if you mounts given the com- ingly guilty of such plexities of all the issues could know instantly if their behavior. Recently I O data is correct. As if there were M facing us as well as a new presi- dropped a little aside during a dent. We are so deep in the hole an encylopedia you could leaf dinner conversation -- that while through on the spot to refute the that no one can easily pull us out the US imports some 66% of its and we do have to think our way viewpoint. oil, less than 12% of our imports I've seen professional cam- out. Our tendency to accept comes from Persian Gulf states. information out of context, to not paign workers for John McCain Other guests were agitated and Barack Obama stumble investigate, mainly hurts candi- beyond belief. How can that be? dates who engage in nuances when thrown up against such 12%! Given our cost in blood random facts by a know-it-all not rather than flag-waving extreme and treasure? Surely I'm nuts? sound-bites. To me the thinker is willing to listen to opposition hese are not the distrac- The Center for American (Well, that's a different issue.) Obama and the emotional over- reasoning. We've all heard talk tions and petty concerns Progress, with charts, photos and No, my figures are right. reach is McCain, but saying that radio that lives on such tech- Most people don't know that that call to mind colum- quick reading segments, details niques - and cuts off any intelli- is not enough to demonstrate T nist Paul Krugman's suggestion how the basic principles of gains Canada and Mexico are our larg- that. gent dispute. for a new GOP slogan: "Real for both business and labor were est importers and that many Citizens may like to believe The Internet is alive with men don't think things through." shown the door in this "owner- other nations are involved. But otherwise, but candidates don't thinly disguised hate messages At present the studies in the ship" economy, how public fear it's a body blow if you have need to speak the truth in TV that string together unrelated Take Action section include: of taxes produces enormous debt framed oil as the center of our commercials. They should but "facts," make historical judge- that sells off our country and Mideast policy. Our ignorance there's no quick penalty if they ments over half-truths and use BUSHONOMICS - It is eventually will require a reckon- about oil is one more item in a don't. So prattling back at the random pieces of data to offer a rare that a report cites what's ing. complex series of attitudes and dinner table the supposed "facts" convincing yet false case. wrong with our current economy This report provides a lot of in a TV ad doesn't mean a thing. by conjuring up an old foe of the facts and connections for We need whole views and com- organized labor, Henry Ford,. people seeking to understand parisons - unless we're willing to But Ford at least saw the devas- what happened to the United vote like our parents did or even tation for democratic capitalism States -- and what will continue how we did four years ago. if it paid so poorly that he didn't to happen unless we change our Digging deeper is one rea- have customers. The loss of that ways. son the Take Action segment of simple common sense is a good HEALTH CARE - There the Milwaukee Area Labor place to start looking and under- may be no starker contrast Council's website is devoting this standing what went wrong with between McCain and Obama election year to comprehensive our economic policies. than their approaches to provid- reports from outside experts that ing health care for the nation, provide not just figures but Citizens may like to and the differences are certainly understanding. not as simplistic as they have These are the meaningful believe otherwise, but been painted. For instance, comparison that have a progres- candidates don't need to McCain's approach may cost less sive leaning but they put the rea- speak the truth in TV over 10 years but it actually soning and the history right out commercials. costs more in its first year than there and carefully. the Obama plan - and still doesn't cover most of the unin- sured. Obama's plan is not -- despite the commercials suggest- ing otherwise -- seeking to dis- mantle the entire current health system and turn it over to the government. It outlines a sophis- ticated marriage between the public and private sectors on the road toward universal health care. The Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center did the study and the Economic Policy Institute has detailed the differ- ences in a factual side-by side 5-page summary. Also available in Take Action are the AFL-CIO fact sheets on Obama's plans for edu- cation and to employ construc- tion unions to rebuild our infra- structure. nd given the vicious dis- tortions in Jerome ACorsi's book about Obama, Take Action also offers the full "Unfit for Publication" report that step by step exposes the misstatements and deliberate distortions of a discredited author notorious for his previous work as a political smear artist. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 23
SEE YOU AT LABORFEST.08 NEA Kenosha also AFL-CIO n Aug. 6, the Santa Maria Elementary (Calif.) The Labor Solidarity Partnership is supported by Education Association, the Kenosha Education AFT, a long-time AFL-CIO affiliate. To date, more than OAssociation, and the Professional Staff Union in 12,000 NEA members across the country have joined the Massachusetts announced their affiliations with the AFL- AFL-CIO through the partnership. The Kenosha teachers CIO. The AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in are the first new NEA unit in Wisconsin to join the AFL- Chicago noted that the affiliation of the NEA locals will CIO. encourage greater cooperation to meet the needs of work- The National Education Association is the nation's ing teachers, students and their families. largest professional employees organization, representing AFL-CIO President John Sweeney presented certifi- 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher cates of affiliation to the presidents of the associations. education faculty, education support professionals, school He was joined in the ceremony by National Education administrators, retired educators and students preparing Association (NEA) President-elect Dennis Van Roekel to become teachers. and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President The AFL-CIO is the nation's largest organization for Randi Weingarten. working families, with 56 affiliated unions representing Noting that "teachers and education professionals are 10.5 million men and women. being assaulted by the lack of funding for public educa- Weingarten, who just won election to head the AFT's tion," Sweeney said, "Today's affiliation means greater 1.4 million member union, was one of three new mem- collaboration. We're pleased that working families are bers elected to the AFL-CIO executive council, which coming together to advance the right of every student to also honored four retiring members. attend a quality public school." Also new are Matthew Loeb, president of the The affiliation will also boost cooperation among 110,000-strong Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and union members in the fight for health care, retirement Jill Levy, president of the School Administrators (AFSA). security, and good jobs. Retiring are former AFT President Ed McElroy, who The affiliation comes as part of a groundbreaking served on the council for seven years, and former AFT agreement between the national AFL-CIO and the Secretary-Treasurer Nat LaCour, along with retiring National Education Association allowing for local associ- IATSE President Tom Short and Baxter Atkinson, a for- ations of the NEA to affiliate directly with the AFL-CIO. mer AFSA president.
Global union plays hardball D@CN8LB<<8I<8 C89FI:FLE:@C By James Parks transportation. AFL-CIO Correspondent USW President Leo Gerard and Unite General 8=C$:@F Secretary Derek Simpson signed the agreement in a `jfec`e\efn n a global economy where multinational companies milwaukeelabor.org operate across borders, unions are developing global transatlantic ceremony broadcast live at the USW con- strategies to better represent their members and sus- vention in Las Vegas. I "This union is crucial for challenging the growing tain the middle class. In July the United Steelworkers (USW) and Unite, power of global capital," says Gerard. Britain's largest union, took a giant step in that direction "Globalization has given financiers license to exploit by formally joining together to form the world's first workers in developing countries at the expense of our global union. members in the developed world. Only global solidarity The new union, dubbed Workers Uniting: The Global among workers can overcome this sort of global exploita- Union, will draw on the energies of the two unions' more tion wherever it occurs." than 3 million active and retired workers from the United While the two unions will remain largely autono- States, Canada, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. mous, they will have a joint leadership to coordinate The members work in virtually every sector of the global common policy and collective bargaining. The two economy, including manufacturing, service, mining and unions represent workers at some of the same companies in diverse countries and will be able to coordinate bar- New book exposes duplicity gaining. Noted Simpson: "The political and economic power in who was a ‘terrorist” of multinational companies is formidable. They are able fter reviewing in depth the cases of 517 of the to play one nation's workers off against another to maxi- Guantanamo detainees, a study conducted by mize profits. They do the same with governments, hence attorneys and law students at the Seton Hall the growing gap between the rich and the rest of us. With A this agreement, we can finally begin the process of clos- University Law School "concluded that only 8% were alleged to have associated with Al Qaeda." ing that gap." "Fifty-five percent were not alleged to have engaged The genesis of Workers Uniting came in April 2007 Labor Day greetings from the in any hostile act against the United States at all, and the when the USW, Amicus (the largest manufacturing union Milwaukee Newspaper Guild (Local 51) remainder were charged with dubious wrongdoing, in the United Kingdom), and the United Kingdom's including having tried to flee US bombs. The overwhelm- Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) agreed to Representing newsroom ing majority -- all but 5% -- had been captured by non- set up joint committees to move toward forming a global employees at the US players, many of whom were bounty hunters." union. All this is recorded in "The Dark Side: The Inside In May 2007, Amicus and T&G merged to form Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on Unite. American Ideals." AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has hailed the E-mail: [email protected] The quotes are by the author, Jane Mayer, a noted agreement as "a bold and innovative approach to address- P.O. Box 778 Phone Website: writer whose articles regularly appear in The New ing the crushing effect of corporate-driven globalization Milwaukee, WI 53201 414-273-5151 www.milwaukeenewsguild.org Yorker. on workers and their communities." Another noted columnist, regularly syndicated Bob "Together, these unions have put multinational com- Herbert, noted these conclusions and how the book con- panies on notice: Pushing down wages and working con- trasts Mayer's investigation to the views of Donald ditions for your employees by pitting one country's work- Rumsfeld that dominated the media when he was the force against another will not work forever. By exploring much believed Secretary of Defense who described the what it would take to build the world's first trans-Atlantic bulk of detainees at Guantanamo as "the worst of the union, these unions have proven themselves to be on the Local 8 worst." cutting edge of not only the global union movement, but Representing Milwaukee’s Herbert calls Mayer's book one of the most impor- also the future of the global workforce." Tony Woodley, Unite's joint general secretary, Professional Musicians tant in the series of historic publications that have sought Since 1896 to describe how the media and the public were duped in summed up the importance of the new union: "There the years after 9/11. will be no more no-go areas for trade unions." Page 24 — AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Feingold helps Working America take off fter quietly going door to goal, gain several union benefits community service specialists door for several weeks and join the campaigns for a bet- who provide knowledgeable local Aseeking out workers who ter, more secure country. sources of help. lack union strength on the job, Over two years, Working Its busy online home, work- Working America on Aug. 4 dedi- America has established itself in ingamerica.org, provides more cated its office in a former 11 states and 20 cities, than links to Union Plus and Riverwest bar and signed up its Milwaukee now among them. other special benefits. It offers 25,000 and 1st member in The 15 canvassers here have tools with bite and even a sense Milwaukee--- a pretty well- already signed up 25,000 working of humor. known hard-worker named Russ people not unionized at work. ere you will find the Feingold. Now, through Working America, comprehensive Job The US senator took the they can participate in common HTracker that searches pledge and the red T-shirt pro- challenges - such as the policies company records on exported claiming "Working America" to that lead to good jobs, affordable jobs, health and safety records show solidarity with the goals health care, world-class educa- and worker rights. and encourage all Wisconsinites tion, secure retirements, real Ask a Lawyer educates to support this fast-growing com- homeland security. workers on employment-related munity affiliate of the AFL-CIO, The policies and tools avail- issues. Ask a Working Woman which now boasts some two mil- able to Working America mem- provides important regular sur- lion members across the nation. bers are pragmatic and progres- veys. See Page 8. In between his Kenosha lis- sive for communities. The mem- The popular Bad Boss cam- tening session and a sit-down on bers work against the "wrong- paign, selecting the worst bosses economic policy with the Journal headed priorities" of special inter- in America, has returned to amuse Sentinel, Feingold made his par- ests. The senator joins Working America and grabs a T-shirt. readers and create hundreds of ticipation more than symbolic. He he need to return America more stories in the nation's media. visited volunteers and canvassers to its democratic princi- CIO executive vice-president, that consistently indicate that Joining all that is a new Word on at the Riverwest location and told ples, and to a belief in Sara J. Rogers, underlined most workers would join a union the Street Blog that allows mem- TV cameras that only by uniting T Feingold's observation with some mutual advance for workers and tomorrow if the playing field was bers to tell their own personal worker voices, union or not, can business, has never been greater, grim statistics - 10% of level - and given the pledge by stories. "we gain the power to change Feingold noted at the press con- Wisconsin residents living in pov- Barack Obama that with a suffi- The majority of Working policy." ference. He commented that in erty, more than 48,000 without cient margin in Congress he will America members identify them- "My colleagues in his 26 years in public office he health insurance, 28th among the sign the Employee Free Choice selves as moderates or conserva- Washington need to hear from you has "never seen people hurting states in foreclosures. Act. tives (70%). One third identify and hear your stories," he said. like today" from economic inse- There are some 250,000 eingold, in fact, reminded themselves as supporters of the Working America is offering curity, stagnating wages and the union members in Wisconsin. The canvassers that they were NRA (National Rifle opportunity to workers who growing gap between the ultra presence of Working America the spearheads of change. Association). "Born again would love the benefit of union- (signing up 10% of that number F Christians" are also the self-de- rich and the rest of us. "I wouldn't have a career," he ization on the job but can't yet get Introducing Feingold and in Milwaukee) may not seem noted, were it not for the persis- scription of a third of the mem- it. Meanwhile they can use this welcoming Working America to enormous, but it has the potential tence of door to door effort. Back bership. program to work toward that 905 E. Center St., the state AFL- to grow gigantic, given surveys in 1982, he won his first race (for Yet they are also committed the state senate) by only a few to progressive programs for the >O`b\S`W\Ub]Oaac`Sg]c`TO[WZg¸aVSOZbV votes and still credits that grass- economy and the community. roots underdog spirit as the dif- Two out of three people talked to ference. door-to-door sign up. /b2S\bOZ/aa]QWObSaeSVOdSOZZ Membership is free, but all David Wehde (pronounced bVSSf^S`bWaSg]c\SSRb]S\ac`S who join Working America are "Wade"), state director for g]c`TO[WZg¸aRS\bOZVSOZbV asked to volunteer dues of $5 a Wisconsin and four other states, 4`][P`OQSab]P`WRUSa]c`QO`W\U month if they can. Every member notes that the Riverwest office is ^`]TSaaW]\OZaeWZZb`SObg]c`TO[WZg¸a does become a part of the AFL- the first in Wisconsin. It will RS\bOZVSOZbV\SSRabV`]cUV]cb CIO and thus their households remain and grow long after the g]c`ZWdSa can be part of Labor 2008 and November 4 election. AQVSRcZSg]c`SfO[O\RRS\bOZ other political or social programs. To contact Working America QZSO\W\UO^^]W\b[S\bb]ROg Nationwide, central labor coun- here, visit 905 E. Center Street, cils such as the Milwaukee Area call 414-374-8330 or email mil- Labor Council make available [email protected]
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CPLBRPRS808 DENT3495 LBRPR808-CPLBRPRS808.indd 1 8/14/08 9:59:31 AM www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 25 Labor in Pulpits seeks clarity in faithful n every faith, society is The open heart explains why here that goes beyond fair immi- admonished about corrup- social justice and action trump gration laws,' Dropkin said. tion, the misuse of the pow- theological nitpicking or avoid- atholics are not heeding I John Paul's own encycli- erless. We are warned to reach ance of people who are different out to the homeless, to not "take from us, noted Wanda Ccals, noted Father Gerry the cloak of a widow as security Washington, pastor of Grace Hessel of Our Lady of Divine for a loan," to not cut every United Church of Christ. Providence. He pointed out to grape in the vineyard but "leave xploitation of workers is listeners a series of pronounce- enough for the foreigner, the not kosher - in fact kosher ments, including that profit is not orphan." food rituals should be the core reason for a business' E existence. These injunctions against built around the dignified treat- exploitation have suffered of ment of workers and the most The pope reminded us that late, often in the name of reli- painless treatment of animals for "work is 'for man,' and never gion. food. So noted David Dropkin of man 'for work.'" - and also that There's a whole school of Congregation Shir Hadash, pick- there is an important reason for thought that the right faith can ing up on an issue much on the unions and for accepting the make you rich and what happens mind of organized labor and the Christian priority of "labor over next door is your neighbor's religious community. capital," said Dressel. fault, be it foreclosure, illness, Faith intern Heather Robertson passed out packets of useful It looks more and more like When the pulpit speakers age, robbery or fraud. The quiet resources and scriptural quotes at the Aug. 5 training session of the most recent case that has address these issues they will be message seems: Be careful who Labor in the Pulpits speakers. Among the presenters was flamed both sides of the immi- well armed with information to you help; don't respect families MacCanon Brown (bottom right), director of Repairers of the gration debate also involved the explore and share the relation- from other countries or other Breach, a full time service for the homeless. politics and money of kosher ship among social policy, social faiths. Let them work for what food. needs and the commandments of expected of a moral community. they can get and live wherever Dozens from Milwaukee's faith. The packet provides down- they can. faith community joined 1,200 More than 130 faith centers home ammunition to the pastors, In contrast, Labor in the people recently in a vigil-march (churches, synagogues, mosques) labor leaders, retirees and other Pulpits, providing speakers on of protest to Postville, Iowa, over have been contacted. More than speakers - disturbing examples the Labor Day weekend through- the criminalization before depor- 80 responded in the affirmative of how society can destroy itself out the metropolis religious com- tation of 289 immigrant workers so far. by not putting faith and justice munity, is emphasizing what all and the devastation to this town A number of speakers have into service. major faiths teach: of splitting families that have been assigned. Some will also t also supplies important There is a diminishment of long been known to be from work tag-team, to handle several resources to share with con- God's values in allowing exploi- Guatemala and Mexico (and are languages, to let the homeless gregations, including social tation. Fate puts good people in I now being replaced by young make their human case alongside programs and community part- trouble. Our social response male immigrants from Somalia!). speakers and to connect con- nerships that are not some "pie in mirrors our religious faith. Yet no executive from gregants with such worker cen- the sky" fancy but proven roads This year, the Labor in the Agriprocessors (which has cor- ters as Voces to La Frontera. to improvement. The main Pulpits speakers are better pre- and individuals, as described to nered the lucrative kosher meat A list of assigned speakers, advice to the speakers: pared than ever before to address the crowd by the director of brands and businesses) has been places and times will appear at Encourage reflection, not con- and relate the central theme: Repairers of the Breach, charged. www.milwaukeelabor.org, and frontation. Homelessness and the lack MacCanon Brown, exploit the All this has given impetus in you can check on your own faith But who are the homeless -- of good jobs. homeless by grabbing them off the Jewish community (whether center's involvement by leaving a beyond the statistics that they are They're certainly related the street for less than legal pay reform, conservative, orthodox voice mail (you will be called the growing subset of the 4.4% concerns. A panel of concerned or even to run out on them with- or, like Dropkin, reconstruction- back) at (414) 771 7541, or by of Wisconsin workers without a speakers and a packet of remark- out paying, or even to demand ist) to require ethical treatment emailing mclcfaith@ameritech. job? And what is a good job any- able quotes from all major reli- sexual favors. of workers to be mandated in net. way -- and how do you get one, gions were put forward Aug. 5 (No wonder the sub-theme any imprimatur of kosher food. -- Dominique Paul Noth when our policies reinforce by faith intern Heather Robertson is "Giving Respect and Dignity "We have a responsibility cycles of poverty? at a training session for partici- to All People") The poor may not have the pants, organized by the Faith Yet the stand of religion, as $28 needed for an ID, which is Community of Worker Justice at Methodist pastor Andy Orten required for a job, or the $60 to Yatchak Hall, 633 S. Hawley Rd. reminded the crowd, is lifting renew a driver's license. The panel offered examples people out of trouble and sharing Milwaukee alone has 13,000 and reflections on what is the values of faith to do this. homeless children. Companies Wholistic Occupational erapy Treatment for the Whole Person Treatment of Pain, Injuries and More: t Headaches t TMJ t Neck and Back Pain t Vertigo tShoulder, Arm and Hand Pain t Carpal Tunnel Diane Halloran OT t Fibromyalgia t ADHD t'SP[FO4IPVMEFSt#FMMT1BMTZ 6320 W. North Ave. Wauwatosa, WI Using Craniosacral erapy and other Integrative erapies Flexible Hours By Appointment t414-258-2981t Insurance Accepted Page 26 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Even foreign firms escape taxman companies (over $250 million in assets or $50 million in sales) ost corporations, released August 12. avoiding all income tax obliga- panies operating in the United doing business here paid no taxes, including a large The Government tions to the federal government, States paid zero federal income even though they reported $372 majority of foreign Accountability Office (GAO) despite corporate sales totaling taxes. During the same period, billion in gross receipts that year. M 66% of US domestic corporations companies doing business in the reported that two-thirds of both $2.5 trillion. Twenty five percent of the United States, pay no income American and foreign compa- According to the GAO, each paid no federal income taxes to largest US corporations had $1.1 taxes, according to a report nies doing business here end up year from 1998 to 2005, an aver- the government. trillion in gross sales in 2005 and age of 68% of the foreign com- In 2005, 28% of large foreign yet paid no federal income taxes for the year. en.Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) /^^ZSb]\ 5`SS\dWZZS 5`SS\0Og EOceOb]aO States.” "$$ E 1]ZZSUS/dS < %!%:WZg]TbVSDOZZSg2` "! ;OW\Ab % E 0c`ZSWUVAb /^^ZSb]\E7#"' ! 5`SS\dWZZSE7#"'" 5`SS\0OgE7#"! EOceOb]aOE7#! Levin and Dorgan had ' %! !"# ' %#% ' "! !"# " "%% !"# requested the GAO study. The <]`bV/^^ZSb]\ 9S\]aVO 4]\RRc:OQ ;WZeOcYSS #3 3dS`U`SS\2` % %5`SS\0Og@R #"#3 8]V\a]\Ab !#A 1SaO`1VOdSh2` study was needed but it clearly /^^ZSb]\E7#"' ! 9S\]aVOE7#! " 4]\RRc:OQE7#"'!# ;WZeOcYSSE7#! " intended to expose a political ' %!" !"# $ '" % ' ' "' ' " "$"#"#" :0@>@43AB' & weakness of the Republicans, who have controlled the lawmak- DENT3575 LBRPRFEST908 Ad 4C.indd 1 Subscribe8/6/08 to 12:22:02 the PM ing that could have affected these Labor Press failures to pay a fair share. Both Democrats also noted $ that, despite the fact that many 12/Per Year corporations pay no taxes, Sen. Call John McCain is proposing to cut the corporate tax rate. The better Lynnda Guyton at approach, the senators suggest, is (414) 771-7070 to fix the giveaways before add- ing to them. A Great Labor Day to All from the School for Workers FALL 2008 Milwaukee Area Classes Sponsored by: School for Workers, UW-Extension Outreach & E-Learning, Milwaukee Area Labor Council and Milwaukee Area Technical College Collective Bargaining, Nov 11 – Dec 16 5-week class on Tuesdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Fee & Location to be determined Employment Law, Jan 27-Feb 24, 2009 Steward Training, Spring 2009 Madison Commuter & Residential Programs Sponsored by: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Oct 6-12 Worker’s Compensation Oct 6-8 Bargaining Health Care Oct 8-10 Pensions in Crisis Oct 27-31 Time Study Dec 3-5 Becoming a More Effective Union Leader (Union Leadership) Dec 9-11 Building Arguments for Bargaining Power Feb 9-10 Financial Officer Training Information: 608/262-2112 Email: [email protected] Web: http://schoolforworkers.uwex.edu G:\WORKERS\GROUPS\__CAG coordinator\Milw Labor Press\FY 2008\Labor Day issue 08.doc www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 — Page 27 The activists are meeting every Friday in the Third Ward. Paying attention at the polls is only one step, they argue, and a slow step while soldiers and innocent civilians are dying. Marching to face the GOP is also an answer. So union mem- bers, Peace Action advocates and Voces to La Frontera -- which wants the new president to offer real immigration reform within a hundred days of taking office -- were part of Witness Against the War events in late July. Here a contingent crosses the 6th St. Bridge. Power lunch aids seniors he Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans will Thold its 13th annual Senior Power Luncheon, with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) as the keynote speaker, on October 13 (a Monday). At the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. event it will also honor five Wisconsin citizens who have bet- tered the lives of senior citizens. They include a statewide leader of the United Auto Workers, Ronald (Red) Platz, Sen. Feingold, who helped Working America set down roots here and the new Democratic (see Page 24), will keynote a fund-raiser for seniors Oct. 13. Congressman from the Green Bay area (and veteran physician), The event is the major should be made out to WIARA Steve Kagen, who faces a tough annual fund-raiser for the and sent to 6333 W Blue Mound election race on Nov. 4. Wisconsin Alliance, which works Rd, Milwaukee WI 53213. The Others who will be honored with the national ARA. It offers luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. at the event at the Wyndham - tables for eight for $600 or indi- Choices are vegetable lasagna or Milwaukee Airport Hotel & vidual lunch for $75. Checks roast sirloin of beef. Convention Center (formerly Four Points), 4747 S. Howell Ave., include: Marilyn (Mike) Nemeth, who was a kindergarten teacher before her family moved to Racine, where she became very active in local and state elections and Democratic Party leadership, and served the Wisconsin Education Association Council and its retirees. She was also a board member of the Wisconsin Council of Senior Citizens before it was merged with the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, which is an affiliate of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. Leslie (Buzz) Davis, a US Army officer from 1967-1970 (serving in South Korea) and a leader of unionizing efforts for AFT-Wisconsin and a state employee. He also led organizing for the retiree chapter of the union and served as its president. Patricia Jerominski, the president and CEO of iCare (Independent Care Health Plan), an innovative health care model that integrates managed care with social services. A 20- year veteran of health service and administration, she has fought for an individual's right to quali- ty health care through removing red tape and other barriers for seniors and people with disabili- ties. Leon Burzynski, well known to the labor community, is presi- dent of the Wisconsin Alliance, which provides a newsletter at www.wisconsinara.org. Page 28 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 28, 2008 www.milwaukeelabor.org Live United You are cordially invited to attend the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO Labor Kick-Off Rally at the Center of Excellence 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave. Thursday, September 18th, 2008 6:00 p.m. Cocktails & Hors d’ Oeuvres $30.00 per person or 10 for $250.00