This from Professor Will Jones, a labor historian at the University of Wisconsin:
THE BATTLE FOR UNIONS IN WISCONSIN
HOW YOU CAN HELP Folks from outside Wisconsin are contacting me and asking how to help with the battle to save collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin.
(Additional information on the current status of things here is at the end of this letter.)
YOU CAN PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT People of generally modest means, including many college students, are continuing the occupation of the Capitol and the daily picketing in resistance to the Governor's plans. Most teachers have had to/have chosen to return to their classrooms, but many other union members remain, people from private sector unions and public unions including police and firefighters.
There are many private citizens, often seniors. Those remaining in the capitol and on the picket lines need food, water, transportation, housing. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is coordinating much of that support. No matter how small, financial support is welcome:
ONLINE: The AFL-CIO is accepting donations online through PayPal or any major credit card. Please go to http://wisaflcio.org
CHECKS: can be made payable to the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Defense Fund, 6333 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53213 (Please indicate the purpose, e.g. "Capitol protests" or "Madison rally", on your check.)
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SEND FOOD AND WATER DIRECTLY TO THE PROTESTERS These two close-by shops will supply food and water to those in the Capitol or on the picket line:
Ian's Pizza 608-442-3535 minimum order $20.00 These folks are now taking orders only for delivery to the resistance, they've stopped all delivery to the general public. They tell me they deliver to wherever the people are -- if they're inside the Capitol, they go in. If people are marching and picketing, they take the food to the picket line.
Subway on the Square 608-255-1636 NOTE: minimum order $100.00 They have set up a fund there for your orders, and they are giving free food from that fund to any union member or pro-union demonstrator who requests food. Thank Pat for arranging that, I'm sure this is the first time they've done anything like this.
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CONVEY YOUR OPPOSITION IMMEDIATELY TO THE LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR This legislation can be stopped in the Wisconsin Senate. The state has shut down the Legislative Hotline (!) through which you could reach the Wisconsin Senators. So each needs to be contacted directly.
The Republicans
We need only 3 Republicans to vote "no" to stop this. I'm listing here Republicans who may be willing to listen:
Eau Claire area -- Terry Moulton [email protected] (608) 266- 7511 District 23
Green Bay area -- Rob Cowles [email protected] (608) 266-0484 District 2
LaCrosse area -- Dan Kapanke [email protected] (608) 266-5490 District 32
Ripon area -- Luther Olsen [email protected] (608) 266-0751 District 14
Richland County -- Dale Schultz [email protected] (608) 266-0703 District 17
Racine area -- Van Wanggaard [email protected] (608) 266-1832 District 21
Sheboygan area -- Joe Leibham [email protected] (608) 266-2056 District 9
Menasha/Fox Valley -- Michael Ellis [email protected] (608) 266-0718 District 19
Fond du Lac area -- Randy Hopper [email protected] (608) 266-5300 District 18
Dodge County -- Scott Fitzgerald [email protected] (608) 266-5660 District 13
To contact other Republican Senators, or if a voice mailbox is full, try sending an email. Email addresses are above, or at the senate home pages. Try this link: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate
If you live here or if you vacation here, contact the Senator from your District and urge a "no" vote on this legislation. If you know someone who lives or vacations in Wisconsin, ask them to contact the appropriate Senator. If you don't live here, contact as many of the Republicans on the list as you can with your opposition to the legislation. ("The Whole World is Watching")
The Governor: Gov. Walker is not listening to us, and is in fact bragging about having received 19,000 emails in favor of the legislation to get rid of unions. So we need him to hear us. Try his phone 608-266-1212 That mailbox will probably be full. There are several email routes, I've used them both. Email him directly at [email protected] or go to http://walker.wi.gov
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KEEP THE RESISTANCE ALIVE, WIDESPREAD, HIGHLY VISIBLE AND VIBRANT
* Participate in a protest rally
Come to Wisconsin or urge those you know who live here to get involved. The Capitol in Madison is occupied 24 hours a day, with pickets outside at all hours. Come on down!
Daily rallies and protest activities are happening throughout Wisconsin.
Join in the activities near you. Two sources for detailed and timely information are http://wisaflcio.org
* Organize a rally, a protest, an act of solidarity or civil disobedience wherever you are in support of Wisconsin workers and our cause. Alert the local media that you are acting in support of public employees' right to keep their unions in Wisconsin.
* Spread the word in whatever way you can: postal mail, email, Facebook, twitter.
* Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and to the editorial directors of your local TV and radio stations.
* Send this email on to anyone who might help with this fight, via email or postal mail.
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SUPPORT THE "WISCONSIN 14"
In a remarkable act of civil disobedience and courage, the 14 Democratic Senators have left the state to deny the Senate a quorum. Without at least one of them, the Senate cannot pass this particular legislation. Their leaving had to be done quickly and some left, literally, with just the clothes on their backs.
Contact information for the "Wisconsin 14" is listed below. I suggest:
** Send them messages of solidarity and support, and urge them on.
** Most of these folks are not wealthy. Consider writing a check to their campaign committee to help with these extraordinary expenses. Send it to their home addresses and be sure to write it to "The Campaign Committee of Senator xxxx" -- home addresses are on their senate web pages ("voting address") which you reach via http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate (The Government Accountability Board here has ruled that campaign contribution funds can be used for these expenses. No personal gifts are allowed, and they will be returned.)
Tim Carpenter Dist 3 [email protected] 608-266-8535
Spencer Coggs Dist 6 [email protected] 608-266-2500
Tim Cullen Dist 15 [email protected] 608-266-2253
Jon Erpenbach Dist 27 [email protected] 608-266-6670
Dave Hansen Dist 30 [email protected] 608-266-5670
Jim Holperin Dist 12 [email protected] 608-266-2509
Bob Jauch Dist 25 [email protected] 608-266-3510
Chris Larson Dist 7 [email protected] 608-266-7505
Julie Lassa Dist 24 [email protected] 608-266-3123
Mark Miller Dist 16 [email protected] 608-266-9170
Fred Risser Dist 26 [email protected] 608-266-1627
Lena Taylor Dist 4 [email protected] 608-266-5810
Kathleen Vinehout Dist 31 [email protected] 608-266-8546
Bob Wirch Dist 22 [email protected] 608-266-8979
Thank you.