Faces of Laborfest Photos, Articles Pages 2, 7, 8-9, 14 The happy guy who won a Harley. Gwen Moore in a mod- est hat hitches a ride with Sheila Cochran. Far left, Spider George and the Web bring out the dancing beast in festgoers.

Vol. 72, No. 9 Thursday, September 27, 2012

Media, pols aren’t paying attention The Underdogs: but voters in the districts sure are By Dominique Paul Noth nuances. Add in, especially in ment program, never agree to a ism now chuckle over their gull- THE RACES Editor, Labor Press Milwaukee, a profound media tax, never help people with pre- ibility. Their children shake their State Assembly hat's driving local indifference to roundly inform- existing conditions -- listening heads over modern moderate District 13 - John Pokrandt, Page 4 elections has not been ing and educating the public. to the attacks on public workers parents duped by a brand name District 14 - Chris Lockwood, Page 4 much reported. It's not But under the radar the long- and on struggling single parents -- something the grownups District 15 - Cindy Moore, Page 6 W -- true traditional conservatives always accuse the kids of falling as simple-minded as those parti- ing for true cooperation and District 23 - Cris Rogers, Page 11 san TV commercials used to out- reform is clearly confounding the describe being "shocked" and for. And this time the brand is District 24 - Shan Haqqi, Page 7 line partisan positions on news expectations of negativists who "isolated." They feel sidetracked GOP. State Senate shows. What is truly happening thought right-wing excesses, from their own party by the By making Democratic dis- District 20 -- Tanya Lohr over Glenn is a frustrated public, a desire superior money, redistricting and peculiar ugly new breed stealing tricts even more Democratic to Grothman, see story below. among everyday people, not peo- other games would simply pro- their label. Neighbors once sym- increase Republican volume in District 28 -- Jim Ward over Mary Lazich, Page 5. ple stigmatized with labels, to duce submission and subservi- pathetic to their political activ- Contests continued Page 10 get things done and not sheepish- ence. Go on the street and ly marry the ever-narrowing you'll find something else - social agenda that has taken over foment and potential upsets. Lure of Lohr dilutes red district the Republican Party. Redistricting is a partisan By Dominique Paul Noth, Editor, Labor Press Down-ballot, beneath the maneuver allowed the winning presidential race for Obama and side every 10 years after the US adison insiders and GOP lawyers can the US Senate race for Tammy census. But the GOP insisted spread out their definitive pattern charts to Baldwin, that longing for coop- against all facts that they were Mconfirm that, despite some unintended eration is palpable - the dream to simply doing this time what the softening in redistricting, Senate 20 remains the red- elect people committed to the Democrats would have done to dest of red districts and any Democrat who even slow haul upward not the protect turf. In modern history dreams of running there is deluded. demeaning rhetoric downward. the Democrats never went so But there sure is something astir in Ozaukee and An irony not lost on many extreme with secret dealings and Washington counties. While notorious as Scott traditional conservatives is that possibly illegal cabals. Walker's designated talking head, and a Tea Party that the candidates radiating the So now that hard right shift darling painting himself as the next Jim courtesy and desire for coopera- has been exposed and has spit Sensenbrenner, Glen Grothman is actually a burr tion are Democrats more than the out strange backfires for Nov. 6. under the region's natural saddle. His three P reputa- current faction of the GOP. The Koch-funded Tea Party dis- tion - prickly, prissy and pedantic - hardly matches While these local Democrats guised as the Republican Party, the hardy Ozaukee Washington neighborhoods or have a chance, they are fighting with its narrow party label, even the educated elite running businesses and uphill in a vacuum of coverage. smells foreign to many building homes. The only match he has is the Republican label - It will be hard to gain atten- Republicans who grew up think- Tanya Lohr greeting Senate District 20 voters. tion to win back the state legisla- ing of themselves as Eisenhower and it is lifelong Republicans joining Democrats in ture given the coverage factors. Republicans or even Reagan era dismissing him. negatives about Ozaukee Washington citizens, stem- There is general fatigue over Republicans. Tanya Lohr, on the other hand, is the glove-fit ming from those voting patterns and the bad old elections combined with citizen Listening to the harsh rheto- Midwestern daughter, devoted to her family, shy days of white flight and enclaves hostile to urban focus on everyday survival. ric about contraception, shoot at with the media, forthright with people, quiet but lifestyles and racial mix. Sometimes all that seems to will, punish children of immi- firm. Her weapons are hardly secret, just honest and Whatever vestiges of truth in such fear of pro- trump attention to political grants, never support a govern- direct. Many of her supporters voted for Walker and gressive ideas, the clichés don't fit the families you detest Grothman and if there is time for her to meet meet from Port Washington to West Bend and farms all the district residents up close, or get him to stop in-between and villages to the north, and it is there ducking face to face debates, she could upset those that Lohr reflects the concern about family, commu- slavish voting map devotees. nity and restoring local control and input. That includes Democrats who count numbers Lohr comes from these people, from large clans more than feelings in the electorate. If you talk to of kin and neighbors devoted to hearth and kids, them after liberal gatherings along the Milwaukee River or out near Miller Park, you hear some harsh Lohr continued Page 12 Page 2 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org Hoffa hails Obama, progressive to D.C. press By Mark Gruenberg meeting and having their unions war" to crush the labor move- others. Press Associates, Inc. pooling resources on politics, he ment, he said. "We've never "But there's also a tidal ashington, D.C. -- said. seen this type of activity before" wave attacking the pro-choice The Tea Party, which Labor will still get outspent on multiple fronts and in multi- position and a woman's right to Whas taken over the by business by huge margins in ple states, he said. The conflict medical health. This is all part Republican Party and engen- the 2012 election, Hoffa predict- includes voter suppression led by of a cultural revolution (created) dered the current "craziness," is ed, but unions will offset that the Tea Party and the right by the Republicans and the Koch responsible for the "tremendous with "boots on the ground" for extremists. brothers" and other millionaires, war on workers" now being Barack Obama. Hoffa compared the Tea he told the reporters, reeling off waged nationwide, Teamsters Hoffa's remarks and answers Party and its views to the 1950s- the names of the very rich spend- President James Hoffa told the to questions from the press era John Birch Society, a notori- ing more than $100 million to National Press Club. underscored his insistence that ous radical right group that used try to buy the 2012 election and In response, the labor this Nov. 6 balloting was the "anti-communism" as a cover for to strip workers and unions of movement has united politically most vital to workers in decades. its extreme views against work- any power to oppose them. and is fighting back through con- The organized workers' ene- ers, African Americans, civil Their objective, he added, "is to stant on-the-ground cooperation, mies have launched a "cultural rights, the Supreme Court and take the US back to the 1890s" led by "Labor Tables" of leaders using the cover of the US Hoffa speaking in Milwaukee at Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens a rally for his union. He made United decision to unleash big national headlines this summer donors and corporations. with a strong speech to the The situation is so bad, he National Press Club. revealed, that the Teamsters now back a proposed constitutional bers. Hoffa spent much of his amendment declaring that, for speech praising Obama, includ- purposes of politics, corporations ing Obamacare. He added are not persons and should not Teamsters will not only tell have those Bill of Rights protec- members about registering to tions. vote but also about how to A similar advisory referen- ensure their votes are counted dum was supposed to be on the this fall. Many locals of Hoffa’s Teamsters marched in Milwaukee’s Laborfest parade on Labor Day while Milwaukee County ballot Nov. The Labor Tables are up he was at the National Press Club in D.C. excoriating the Tea Party attack on unions. More 6, but maneuvers by County and running in key states in the Laborfest photos on Pages 8 and 9. Executive Chris Abele delayed industrial Midwest, including and effectively blocked it despite Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, overwhelming support from the Pennsylvania and Indiana, Hoffa County Board. said. They got their start when Unions Matter More Than Ever "So why are they attacking the union movement united to organized labor?" he asked. battle Wisconsin Gov. Scott hen I travel across the country, I often hear from business leaders, "Organized labor is not only the Walker's destruction of collective politicians, even union members, that unions do not matter anymore. backbone of the Democratic bargaining rights for state and They say there was a time and place for unions, but that era has passed. Party, but of the entire progres- local workers. sive movement," he said, a Hoffa said they'll continue WThey cite the fact that union membership in the U.S. stands at less than 12 percent. remarkable statement from the after the election. They cite the Wisconsin recall, the passage of right-to-work laws in Indiana, and the head of a union not known in the The Labor Tables had a 2012 Democratic National Convention taking place in a city with one of the lowest past as a progressive leader. mixed record in Wisconsin, he union membership rates in the country. Unions don’t matter, they say. "They know we're organized, we conceded: Walker killed collec- have money, and we have boots tive bargaining and beat back a They are wrong. Unions matter today speaks for the interests of business and AARP speaks for on the ground" to oppose their labor-pushed recall effort. "But more than ever. the interests of the elderly, but who speaks for workers schemes. we won the state senate majori- If we want to rebuild the middle class in this everywhere? Unions do. If workers are to have a share in So the Teamsters and other ty" in that same recall vote "so country, we need strong unions. It is not a coincidence the future prosperity of this country, they need unions to unions will pound the pavements we can stop his madness, at least that the decline of the middle class began with the advance their issues. Otherwise, the voices of corporations, to communicate with their mem- for now." decline in union membership. A study published last the rich and the well connected will drown out the voices of year in the American Sociological Review by Bruce average American workers. Western of Harvard University and Jake Rosenfeld In order for unions to remain strong, we must of the University of Washington found that “between remain united at the ballot box. We cannot allow our a fifth to a third of the growth in inequality can be opponents to divide us politically. We must support explained by the decline of unions.” each other’s causes and leaders, and stand united in We see the result of this decline every day. More of the common interests of organized labor—the right our citizens are working in low wage jobs, are without to collectively bargain for wages and benefits. Union Published Monthly by the Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO healthcare, and are without the means to save for members must vote in their self-interest, not against it. www.milwaukeelabor.org retirement. If we want to do something about this nation’s secretary-Treasurer ...... Sheila D. Cochran As they did nearly fifty years ago, union jobs offer inequality, if we want to rebuild the middle class and if President ...... Willie D. Ellis workers good salaries, pensions and health care benefits we want to train the greatest work force the world has Vice-President ...... Annie Wacker that give families the economic security they need to send ever seen, we need unions. Administrative Assistant...... Robin Lundgren their kids to college or trade schools, to invest in their Unions matter. They mattered in the past, they editor, Communications Director ...... Dominique Paul Noth communities and to have a secure retirement. This is not matter today and unions must remain strong if they are editorial Assistant, Advertising & Circulation. . Lynnda Guyton EXECUTIVE BOARD - Richard Abelson, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees some socialist ideal. It is the American Dream and unions to matter in the future. If unions do not stand united District Council 48, Lyle Balistreri, Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council; Ike Edwards, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1473; Nacarci Feaster, Laborers Local 113; Dan Large, International help to ensure that more Americans have a chance to live it. and do not fight for the needs of working Americans, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 494 (Washington County); Larry L. Nunley, IAMAW Lodge 1916; In addition, unions matter if we want to retool and then Labor Day is meaningless. It will be just a day off Candice Owley, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5001; Dan Panowitz, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 33; Scott Parr, International Association retrain our workforce for the global economy. You often in September. of Machinists Lodge 2110; Anthony Rainey, United Auto Workers Local 469 (CBTU representative); Scott J. hear of employers not being able to find skilled workers. That matters to me and it should matter to you. Redman, Plumbers and Gas Fitters Local 75; Joy Roberts, Communications Workers of America Local 4603; Kenneth Roberts III, Graphics Communications Council/International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 577M; Unions and their training programs are a critical Christine Vidmar of Workers United Local 122; Andy Voelzke, United Steel Workers (USW) Local 2-209; DiAnn Wagner, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2150 (APRI Representative); Patrick R. component of the answer to this problem. At their Edward M. Smith is the president and CEO of Ullico Weyer, Brewery Workers 9, United Auto Workers; Ross M. Winklbauer Sr., United Steel Workers (USW) Local own expense, unions and union contractors provide Inc., the only labor-owned insurance and investment 2-232. training and apprenticeship programs that teach the company. He is a former vice president and former AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press latest construction and building techniques, with a focus Midwest regional manager for the Laborers’ International Editorial and Business Office on safety. This training gives our workers the ability Union of North America and has been a member of 633 S. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53214 to compete with anyone in the world. These union Laborers’ Local 773 for 44 years. Telephone (414) 771-7070 FAX (414) 771-0509 E-mail: [email protected] training programs should be rewarded and encouraged THE MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS (USPS 350-360) is published once a month by the Milwaukee Area and the workers that graduate from these programs Labor Council AFL-CIO, 633 S. Hawley Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53214, and is also available by subscription should be put back to work rebuilding the nation’s Ullico Inc. for $12 a year. Periodical postage paid at Milwaukee, WI. 1625 Eye Street, NW POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the AFL-CIO MILWAUKEE LABOR PRESS, 633 S. Hawley Rd., infrastructure and rebuilding our economy. Washington, DC 20006 Suite 110, Milwaukee, WI 53214. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement which is deemed objectionable. More importantly, unions matter because who else will 202.682.0900 | www.ullico.com Publication of advertisements is not to be construed as a personal endorsement nor are all ads necessarily speak on behalf of workers? The Chamber of Commerce from unionized companies or services of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council or any of its affiliates. sponsored by Ullico COPY DEADLINE: Usually by noon 3rd Monday of each month except December (2nd Monday). www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 — Page 3 Goodby, Act 10! (For now) Hello, elections! By Dominique Paul Noth But recall past experience -- Editor, Labor Press these so-called justices rapidly Analysis ustice delayed is justice aborted the thoughtful process in denied - or is it? Wisconsin 2011 when a lower court judge of Milwaukee determining pen- workers were shocked into questioned the legislative haste sion contributions. A city union J that pushed Act 10 through. and the Madison teachers union rethinking that old saw September 14 when a Dane The high court has enough filed the case. County judge - 18 months after questionable pushiness on its Immediately Walker branded the pain -- threw out as unconsti- plate in terms of looking fair, Colas as a liberal activist and tutional the Scott Walker promul- since GOP Atty. Gen. J.B. Van Van Hollen vowed to continue gated Act 10, the evisceration of Hollen is simultaneously press- Act 10 while appealing. But Walker, Van Hollen and his Supreme Court majority now have a bat- public worker collective bargain- ing the court to jump over the much of Colas' ruling parallels a tery of experienced legal minds to contend with in the decisions of ing rights. lowers and restore the Voter ID federal ruling by US District (from left) Dane County Circuit Court Judge David Flanagan, Dane It was a long overdue affir- law - for this November! - previ- Court Judge Conley who had County Judge Juan Carlos and US District Judge William Conley. mation that, whatever you think ously overturned by two state invalidated the prohibition of entire approach into doubt. -- and there is another election in about unions, you can't crush courts and still facing federal dues deduction and the annual In effect, the court has made April that could rectify the bal- the constitution like a bug to challenges. One of those lower recertification elections as the maneuvers against all public ance. Conservative justice sideline political opponents. It's judges, David Flanagan, unconstitutional. unions illegal. Now think of all Patience (Pat) Roggensack is up almost a surreal moment when September 15 rejected in clarion Colas went further in declar- all those handbooks, refusals to for re-election - will anyone you consider how Walker has terms Van Hollen's attempt to ing the Act 10 overreach on work with unionized employees, unshackled by political game- created such deep cynicism shortchange procedure. equal rights null and void. all those arbitrary conditions playing take her on? Or will she about our public officials’ hearts Dane County Judge Juan hat same day in a separate imposed without bargaining by remember her ethics? and our lumbering system. Colas, on the bench since 2008 press release, it was cities and school districts - all More immediate is Nov. 6. Finally Wisconsin has found and previously a state prosecutor revealed that the efforts to T illegal. For now. Imagine Act 10 returned to the a judge looking at American with a record of taking down recall Walker and GOP legisla- But hold the glee. There will legislature for new approval or principles as something to cher- sexual predators, in his summa- tive figures had cost taxpayers not be a rush by unions to reliti- Walker's people concocting other ish rather than step around with ry judgment Sept. 14 bluntly $14 million. gate current local situations laws repellent to the public. high-priced lawyers. ruled the legislature overstepped TV bleated how this was a because the legalities are a mess The control of both cham- Simply put, the ruling made constitutional bounds by going waste of money, the largely los- and the appeals process is real bers becomes vital and now the Walker and the GOP legislative after city, county and school ing effort by those opposed to and dangerous. court has put wings under the majority law-breakers, violating employees, creating separate Act 10 and other Walker maneu- he public needs to turn Democrats' resolve to restore basic human rights including free classes of workers, union and vers because he survived June 5. immediately to a deeper civility. It’s also provided ammu- speech, free association and non, to cap pay or elevate the But the reports neglected to point reality: Elections matter. nition for change unless voters equal protection. employers' muscle - without ask- out that there were enough recall T The only full correction is at the really want outlaws to represent ut no parades. Not yet. ing the employer or the public. wins to remove GOP control of polls and then making sure those them. The decision will be is ruling confirmed what the state senate for now and that elected behave honorably. Remember, Walker didn't immediately appealed to many had been arguing - voters in exit polls were not If the Dane County decision B that picking between agreeing with Walker's shenani- pass Act 10. His slavish minions a state Supreme Court majority H gans but willing to give him his loses before the high court, that did, and they should be shown beholden to right-wing campaign union and non and even among could represent another blatant the door for voting so willingly money and ideology. Even the union workforces as Act 10 did full time in office. slap at judicious thinking to ben- and knowingly against the con- winning lawyers expect the was unjust as well as unjustified. So to many citizens, $14 efit the political party that helped stitution. A chink in the Tea appeals papers to fly. The Act retained full bargaining million is a small price to pay to elect the majority of Supremes. Party cup needs to be followed This Sept. 14 ruling in its rights for police and fire while stand up for basic rights - espe- If the court finds legal flaw by a flood of human indignation complexities allows Walker con- removing rights for others. cially now that a court of law has worth weighing and deliberating Nov. 6. tinued sway over state-employed In addition Act 10 violated vindicated the anger even as over, that will take time. workers. But it really puts the the "home rule" clause, interfer- budgetary projections and lousy Either way, it deals directly issue of shoveling manure rather ing as one example with the city job numbers throw Walker's with whom we elect to that court than the spade work of true judi- cious deliberation squarely before the high court. In com- mon decency it ought to take more time to work through this measured decision than its previ- ous behavior. ‘As Goes Janesville’ goes to MKE festival cott Walker's "divide and Sconquer" pledge to destroy unions was included in a snippet of "As Goes Janesville" shown at a labor history event last spring - and that started a media storm exposing the governor's real motives when confiding to his rich backers. Now the full serious docu- mentary by Brad Lichtenstein -- a high-stakes drama of a shattered suffering American community and its people trying to survive the loss of its GM plant under Bush and such allies as home- town boy Paul Ryan - will be shown as part of the Milwaukee Film Festival, mkefilms.org. Screening at the Landmark Oriental Theatre will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday Oct. 6 (main the- ater), 2:15 p.m. Oct. 8 and 7 p.m. Oct. 9 in smaller theater and at the Fox Bay Cinema 8:15 p.m. Oct. 11. Page 4 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org Response at doors boosts Rockwood efforts he GOP redistricting law- yers produced a geo- Assembly District 14 graphical band, District T deep into areas of Waukesha political insiders to work with 14, to hover like a parallel uni- County. He is a constant pres- him and John Pokrandt, a candi- verse to District 13 over the ence on the blocks and cul-de- date with similar background and northern part of Brookfield and sacs of Brookfield. beliefs running in District 13. Wauwatosa, including a few Rockwood is working a ter- The redistricting combined wards that still belong to Gwen ritory hard to get attention - not with Tea Party social policies Moore in Milwaukee County. just from lifelong Republicans have actually made the region But this redistricting made but from jaded Milwaukee more competitive, not less, as GOP incumbent Dale Koyeenga Democrats. One of his supporters Rockwood is discovering, saying a new face to about 40% of the admitted a measure of disgust for "The interest in issues and in territory and has opened the door "Democratic moneybags" indif- working together has impressed to a novice office-seeker (but ference to this race, pointing out me to campaign even harder." knowledgeable political figure) that even GOP operatives recog- "I'm not saying we will Chris Rockwood, a Michigan nize that Koyeenga is vulnerable. win," one District 14 resident native and veteran engineer with Too many city progressives told me, "but it's a self-fulfilling high-tech companies who moved like the media have their minds prophecy to not try even when into Wauwatosa four years ago made up about the openness of your principles have a good with his wife, loves Wisconsin the people to fresh faces and chance. There is a lot of concern Already assured of Assembly seats after August victories, Evan and is angered at what is happen- ideas, having written off the about better service at home and Goyke (left) and Daniel Riemer are helping Chris Rockwood (right) ing to public schools and envi- Waukesha communities as better ideas coming from in his fund-raising speeches and forays through a newly config- ronmental leadership. beyond salvation, but that is nei- Madison." ured west side district. In District 14 he is getting ther fair nor accurate. It is also Another resident, a longtime some of the experienced help not in keeping with the clearly GOP voter, noted that "Walker and organization that guided Where Cullen fled, Pokrandt inclusiveness and cooperation has certainly woken me up to Nikiya Harris to the state Senate that was the overriding message what control the state has over in nearby District 6. sees opportunity for service of the national Democrats at my schools and my living - now Rockwood has already held their convention. I just can't go along. I've got to Assembly District 13 major fund-raisers and has been A sign this is changing came look much harder than I did hen Democrat Dave Cullen saw how violently the district tirelessly doing the doors not at recent gatherings when other before at the people I elect to he had represented since 1990 had been detoured to elimi- only in the Tosa neighborhoods candidates cane rallying to his speak for me." -- D.P.N. nate his base, he literally ran for the hills of the Milwaukee that know him but also reaching W cause as did dozens of proficient County Board, winning handily there though a fellow Democrat had long campaigned for the seat. AFL-CIO honors Mideast labor leaders on human rights District 13 eliminated much of his core support and was re-elon- n behalf of their respective labor movements robust democracy with the rights of working people gated into a band stretching from Brookfield to all of Elm Grove and Oand the clear democratic and justice gains of at its core. Their courage inspires us." the lower part of Wauwatosa with a sliver of West Allis. In a three- the Arab Spring, the prestigious George Meany- "While we take pride in being recognized, we way primary, the GOP chose someone who may have gotten the signal Labor Kirkland Human Rights Award was given feel a growing responsibility to continue our com- early to run for the new district, Waukesha County supervisor Rob September 13 to Hassine Abassi, General Secretary mon struggle with strong will and determination," Hutton, parked way over in the corner in Brookfield. Part of the reli- of the Tunisian General Union of Labor (UGTT), said Hassine Abassi. ance on an interloper was the "scare" thrown into Democrats by the and S. Salman Jaddar Al Mahfoodh, General "This award does not only belong to the GOP maneuvers. Secretary of the General Federation of Bahrain GBFTU," said S. Salman Jaddar Al Mahfoodh, "but Instead John Pokrandt is treating it as a new cause. Brookfield Trade Unions (GFBTU). first and foremost, to the more than 4,000 Bahraini reflects some surprising diversity of opinion -- not just the social and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka used the workers and unionists who have been suffering from religious extremism dominating the party machinery. Wauwatosa is ceremony to recognize labor movements throughout unjust firings and the consequences of expressing politically split, with a more liberal east side and has elected the Arab region for their ongoing role in the struggle their opinions. It also belongs to the Bahraini people Democrats and moderates before and, Pokrandt believes, is eager to for democracy. "The brave working people of struggling for freedom." do so again. Bahrain and Tunisia transformed a wave of protests The Meany-Kirkland Award, created in 1980, In Pokrandt the Democrats have a personable hometown into the mass movement of democracy and econom- is named for the first two presidents of the AFL-CIO Wauwatosa guy, a veteran of business with political experience, dem- ic equality," he noted. "Unionists are a leading voice and recognizes outstanding examples of the human onstrating at the doors that he better reflects the values of the commu- against corruption, for women's rights and for a rights struggle internationally. nity than Hutton. Under public glare he's getting more support than he expected. Many Tosans and even voters from Brookfield -- with Elm Grove gen- erally a harder row to hoe for a Democrat -- openly respond to his platform of ideas about education and better jobs policies. The resi- dents appreciate not just his candor, he says, but that he is not engag- ing in the sort of rancor and ideological attacks that mark so much of modern campaigning. -- D.P.N.

John Pokrandt at a Democratic Party caucus with Assembly minority leader Peter Barca behind him. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 — Page 5 Many glad Ward has faced up to Lazich By Dominique Paul Noth Editor, Labor Press Senate District 28 or eight years Sen. Mary non-union and "I'm fully aware Lazich has strolled unop- that if my salary gets too high I posed over Senate District could be gone," he has a thor- F ough agenda of ideas. 28. The lack of contest and the protection of a southwest e is pushing for job edu- Waukesha-Milwaukee district cation training for work- long regarded as unreedemably Hers who have been laid Republican allowed her to off, strengthening the Buy become, as many commentators Wisconsin program for state pur- noted, "one of the most partisan chases, closing the Las Vegas Tea Party legislators in Madison" Loophole and insisting on tax and as constituents regularly incentives tied directly to job complain the most unresponsive creation and eliminating business to citizens - particularly those deductions for companies that Teacher Jim Ward finds many voters dissatisfied with incumbent who disagree with her. take jobs out of the state. Mary Lazich’s policies as well her dismissive treatment of her own Lazich has also become a constituents. In trying to redistrict to Jim Ward chats with voters at mistress of the current strengthen GOP strongholds, the a Greendale picnic. her behavior that has become so enough" to get him to Madison. party's lawyers actually added Republican games - opposing extreme I barely recognize her," hese elections aren't more portions of Milwaukee thinking about how Lazich has stimulus money, supporting a said a Muskego resident, long in going to get much County and failed to recognize never been opposed and didn't tech college bill that shuts out her district. "I can't vote for her coverage," he said the changes taking place from respond to any constituents with voices in her own district, push- "T again." candidly. "I've been doing the Muskego, Hales Corners, New differing ideologies - and not ing for abstinence-only education year ago, something little doors for months and realize that Berlin to Greenfield and even to lifelong Republicans, one rather than school funding and reported also happened. people don't often know who Greendale, where Jim Ward and who had given money to her calling people who expose her A last-minute campaign represents them in the first place. his wife Tricia live and are well campaign and was angry at being lies a liar. The last made head- A to recall her fell short, but With all the redistricting they are known. Ward, a self-described ignored. lines recently when she attacked despite the late start, the further confused. It's hard to moderate, teaches history in a "Whether you agree with her Latina Rep. JoCasta Zamarippa Republican reputation of the drive through to good informa- Milwaukee charter school while or not, she should be challenged. who pointed out Lazich's claims community, and even tion." Tricia works for Racine Unified. I am running into a lot of people of epidemic voter fraud in Democratic resistance to the con- But he intends to persevere, He's a personable guy up to date tired of the two party system. Racine were false. So Lazich, cept of recalls, it actually came calling on Lazich to participate on public affairs but never There has been a huge growth in despite the official investigation within a few thousand of the with voter input in three debates, thought of running for office - people identifying themselves as pointing out her exaggeration, 25% of voters needed to force an one in each of the assembly dis- until Act 10 landed. independents - and that's good publicly accused Zamarippa of election. All that now is a sup- tricts within her region. "The attack on teachers real- for me." lying, assuming voters in her port network to change the repre- "She can choose the cities," ly upset me," hr recalled. "This Aside from restoring collec- own district wouldn't notice. But sentation. he said. "I just think voters want was me and my wife. I went to tive bargaining for public work- they did. Ward knows there is change to compare us side by side." Madison. And last winter I began ers, though his charter school is "It's not only her agenda but in the air but "probably not Page 6 — AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org Reluctant warrior now girded for Sanfelippo edistricting along with Democratic disarray had Assembly District 15 seemed to give conserva- R who flatly believes in "thought- well regarded. It was only after tive Joe Sanfelippo a free ride ful and respectful discussion she left that elected officials into this Madison Assembly seat, regarding proposals and bills apparently thought more about where he can closely lobby the with all participants on both saving money than children and senate to approve a cab bill that sides of the political spectrum to the teachers - and clearly voters would turn his family from a make a difference." remembered her service. millionaire taxi company into a anfelippo is a county She had attempted to with- billionaire one. supervisor whose other draw from the Aug. 14 primary An unexpected fighter from legislative aim is apparent- in favor of Chuck Garrigues yet New Berlin, Cindy Moore, is S even while she voted for him she ly to turn the Milwaukee County putting a crimp in his plans with Board into mandated part-time won with 65% of the vote. Even a race that she at one point tried positions. Under the pretense of with low turnout that was to hand over to another speeding decisions, that idea remarkable. Today Moore admits Democrat. would reward the lazy (or those that in hindsight she didn't start It started when Democrat Uncle Scrooges who spend most out hard enough -- thinking Tony Staskunas decided to retire. of the time counting their Garrigues would win she didn't Part of that decision came from money) and diminish the voice even complete her state AFL- looking at the GOP redistricting of the people while elevating the CIO questionnaire. Now, she destroying his core base and add- powerful, particularly the legisla- says, "my brand of service must ing Waukesha areas. Part of it, he tive purse-string holders in be heard." told friends, is how different Madison where Sanfelippo hopes t took her until Labor Day to today's politics of division have Surprising primary win led Cindy Moore to take contest seriously. to be. appreciate how many other become from the cordiality he number of cab permits to 321. Financial Times, rather than in He knew no one with money citizens were willing to climb relied on in the past. I His cabs or the cabs that must the Milwaukee newspapers last aboard -- "she's very bright about or reputation would challenge February, to reveal the greed of Democrats sometimes worry policy," conceded an area mayor use his radio system not only him. He hadn't counted on grass- the game. that the seat is now deaf to more -- and not just roll over for mil- pick up passengers but handle roots fervor from what was once I caught up with Moore inclusive non-Tea-Party driven lionaire anti-competitive politi- the lucrative senior health care regarded as among the most con- shortly after Labor Day when views, but the math suggests the cians like Sanfelippo. His family transportation underwritten by servative areas of his district, she was working on putting up extremism has opened up a win- owns half the cabs in Milwaukee taxpayers. New Berlin. There Cindy Moore her website -- cindymoore4as- dow for a Staskunas-like replace- and he worked the inside track at To date there has been no had fought on the school board sembly.victorydiy.com -- and ment - and that describes Moore, City Hall years ago to limit the study about the increasing until 2006 when its policies were demand for varied forms of campaigning with Organizing for transportation even as the Third America for Obama's re-election, Ward and Water St. thrive and even then not putting her own the city tries to lure empty-nest- race front and center. But now ers with promises of easy transit. she is out at the doors in force in Sanfelippo's push in Madison is between holding down a full to continue the 321 limit and time job. turn those permits into medal- "That's what I like about lions. The carrot is the city could her," said one neighbor. "She's make 10% of the profit in sec- going to listen to us and work for ondary sales and a few aging us. She has lived the working cabbies who own their own cabs life." Beyond that, noted activ- could make a bit more money. ists in nearby districts believe But the officials didn't look District 15 could be quite com- at who would profit from the petitive for Democrats if you other 90% of sales - the accept the versatility of West Sanfelippos -- or whether the Allis and don't give up on the refusal to expand the cab base residents' interest in their own opens the government to anti- worth, not serving as pawn to a competitive lawsuits. In fact it millionaire's personal advance- took a story in London's ment. -- D.P.N.

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www.TheOrthoInstitute.com www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 — Page 7 Perfect ending to biggest Harley raffle hose who met Tom Milwaukee. Elation dripped results were announced and the Brooks the week after from his every move in response reward he picked up cheerfully TLabor Day were in the to a minimal investment, a raffle filling out papers and paying presence of the happiest guy in he left Laborfest before the sales tax - a 2013 Harley Davidson state of the art Trike Assembly District 24 worth $30,000, which he got with change from a 20 dollar bill. Business savvy at the door Brooks went to Laborfest n nearly three decades in the not realizing there were free lots United States, Shan Haqqi for visitors provided by the Ihas served multiple roles in Milwaukee Area Labor Council. business, development and politi- So he used that twenty to pay $5 cal activity. He notes his work as for parking and then was greeted an assistant to Houston mayor at the gate by two high school Lee Brown and recalls raising volunteers from the council sell- money for the fledgling political ing raffle tickets. What the heck, candidate named Obama in he had $15 left and he bought Illinois. But his activity in two. The first one won him the Democratic politics is harder to motorcycle - but he was on the measure than his business expe- grounds as the guest of his Tom Brooks picks up and promptly tries out his fancy new Harley. rience. daughter's steamfitter boyfriend He formed a global consul- so he had left before the draw- ers at the Harley center on Silver raffled was won by a local union tancy firm based in Brookfield ing. Spring when he picked up the guy and council member, a life- with connections to the US, e actually lives in West bike and drove it away. Even long cycle enthusiast who Asian and Mideast business Allis just blocks from now he is so proud of coming hopped aboard the minute it was community and the aim of bring- the labor council and has from a large family, one of 13 his. ing jobs and good environmental H children, that he advertises it in side from the happy hog- worked for years at the veterans practices to our shores. He and hospital on National Avenue -- his email address. And his wife, man the raffle produced his wife, a physician, are raising also 30 blocks away -- as a Jean, he said to her amusement, sizable cash prize win- Developer Shan Haqqi makes A twins, now 6 - and his many fac- member of AFGE Local 3, the "now says she's going to sell her ners as well. election about best credentials. eted experience in business is a American Federation of car to ride with me." The top $500 winner was welcome versatility image in Government Employees that Interestingly, while it was Randall Neiman. suburban District 24. canoodler," said one, mocking belongs to the council that runs displayed prominently through- There were eight $100 win- Now in his late forties, the name of GOP incumbent Dan the raffle and uses the donated out Laborfest, "I never even saw ners as well: standing on neighborhood lawns Knodl. "But it's going to be hard bike as a major fund-raiser. it on the grounds," perhaps Mike Staats, Angela in casual golf attire and speaking to get people to change habits." It's been decades since he because it was always surround- McLaughlin, Daniel about how his advanced degrees The D after his name on the started riding motorcycles as a ed by admirers. Jakubowski, Glenn Flaherty, in business and education qualify ballot might not be the imagined teenager, all sorts of brands, but Brooks' happiness under- Douglas Nevels, George S. him to help the area develop jobs disadvantage it seems at first he still does and "this one is top scored the perfect conclusion. Leka, Mark A. Makowski and and schools, he is a fascinating glance - not when you examine of the line," he exulted to work- The most expensive bike ever Sue Burklialter. common sense campaigner - the actual past voting patterns in first-time office seeker in a sub- the redistricted areas. In fact, the urban crescent straddling the reddest parts of Knodl's old dis- north edge of Milwaukee trict were taken away County. Interestingly his ethnic (Richfield). Local nonpartisan and international background analysts note that less than half doesn't come up often. The D of the new district can be after his name does. described as red - the rest is dis- While a distinct underdog in tinctly blue or purple. Darling-Sensenbrenner country, Redistricting has also given he has made surprising inroads Haqqi a foothold in new Rep. in a redistrict that encompasses Gwen Moore and old Sandy all of Brown Deer, Germantown Pasch territory. and River Hills and vital portions Knodl has other curious lim- of Mequon, Menomonee Falls itations given the concerns of the and Glendale -- even among life- community. These may not be long Republican voters. Of the neighborhoods to sell your course, that was the old major legislative accomplish- Republican Party. ment of concealed carry and Shan is his nickname turned reducing fines on bad behaving into campaign name since Shah nursing homes. Nor his waterboy Fariq Haqqi is quite a mouthful role in the Assembly to Jeff campaigning with and explaining Fitzgerald who came in last in in District 24 where confusion the GOP senate race despite or about names from Pakistan perhaps because of Knodl's back- Ernestine O’Bee J.C. Frazier (where he was born), Iran and so ing. 1907-2007 Funeral Director forth are common. Under his full name he is “We are Setting New Standards for Funeral Services in our Community” also known as a local developer and adviser on Milwaukee and Let us remember in our prayers the families of: suburban projects - a quick-mov- ing, articulate, qualified go-get- Mrs. Minnie Love- Master Lock ter, according to many conserva- tives in the business community. Mr. Howard Stewart-Master Lock He says the advertising emphasis avoids confusion and "besides," Mr. George Staples- A.O. Smith Over 30 years experience he laughs, "Shan looks better in Mrs. Jannie Wilson- U.S. Post Office the fonts on campaign literature." No attorney fees unless the case is successful The only disadvantage he Mr. Odis Hill Sr.-American Motors hears about is that he is an Call now for your no Mrs. Future McKinney- Milwaukee Public Schools underdog against an established obligation consultation incumbent. But his supporters Mrs. Ersaline Martin- Milwaukee Public Schools have a quick counter. "He sure knows more about what needs to Mr. Randy Butler- Allis Roller be done here than Dan the Page 8 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 — Page 9 Page 10 — AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org hey no longer say given the PAC-MAN redistrict- on talk radio but in terms of Darling yet considerable heat Contests they won't ever vote ing in Milwaukee County. It is a political and education coverage within her Assembly districts. To From Page 1 for a Democrat," gobble video game that turned the Journal Sentinel, whose man- the west and north, US Rep. "T compact or familiar senate and agers daily tilt the agenda of nearby districts, the Walker con- another candidate said, "Even Sensenbrenner is hobbled by tingent offended more than the conservatives are tired of the assembly districts into bars or even once-reliable reporters. injury and the GOP party minorities further ghettoized. polarization. In the privacy of the crescents floating across coun- Interest is hard to generate machinery trundles along con- They offended more than the voting booth they are free to ties, seeking to gulp down when you care more about sales centrating on Romney - missing Democrats seeking a distinct choose." chunks at the corners generally than public service. It would much of what is really happen- voice in communities such as Other candidates told me of regarded as a Democratic strong- require strong media attention to ing. Fox Point and West Allis where people stealing up to them at hold. Where they win, expect drill down beyond the president n Congressional District 1, they know they aren't always a places like the farmers' market the Republicans to crow that and senate to examine local Rep. Paul Ryan could be in majority but could still fight to and pledging support. Milwaukee County is turning races. trouble simply by getting be one. more conservative. et a surge for Obama I Little of this shows up for such a national boost as VP nom- hey also offended tradi- the bean-counters and money That myth would normally and Baldwin could inee. Rather than help his con- tional GOP voters, several dispensers who dominate on both be a hard sell with fiercely pro- Ychange the coloration. gressional race it seems to have of whom grew up regard- sides of the political equation. gressive US Rep. Gwen Moore GOP overconfidence in their exposed him to media scrutiny T now striding even through the own redistricting already has - it ing the Democrats as the "dark Several of these candidates are and unflattering descriptions side" but now know a swing is getting moral support but no North Shore and nine progres- has resulted in campaign inertia even from his own party as an hardly as horrible as a Packers active financial help from either sive Democrats sweeping legisla- and neglect of constituent ser- evasive exaggerator prone to fab- fan turning into a Bears fan. Not the Democratic Party or the for- tive races Aug. 14. vice. rications and misstatements. today, when a moderate hard- mal machinery of unions. They But the GOP does have a There is no overriding state Redistricting added retirees and working Democrat is like the must rely on their own devices secret weapon to sell the myth - senate contest for Alberta veteran workers who deeply Republicans they used to sup- and doorway sweat, on indepen- media silence and indifference. understand and detest his ideas port. dent alliances from like-minded ny political combat and about Medicare and Social Their policy positions are groups and volunteers. Since the turmoil on the ground Security. The door has been familiar to Republicans of old - numbers don't look easy for Awill not be covered in opened wide for opponent Rob and rather welcome. Not surpris- them, the side with less money depth by local media - except for Zerban, with echoes down the ingly, several don't flaunt their has decided to be frugal. that token story with short bios a ballot for other Democrats. party label even on their litera- Yet these Democrats have a week or two before Nov. 6. The media can sniff away ture, just detailing how they are distinct advantage over those That's why the candidates that the public won't miss much committed to creating jobs, rais- official Republican candidates - release their news to local and from their silence because most ing communities and restoring it's called freedom. They can Internet outlets rather than deal of the challengers to seats held schools to full strength - and speak out without looking over with being ignored by the estab- by the Republicans or redistrict- talking across the aisle. their shoulder. lishment media. That is why the ed to add Republican areas are They bill themselves as epublicans running for citizenry that cares is turning notable underdogs. What they moderate progressives or even office are clearly nervous more and more to smaller news are not covering is the possible just flatly progressive, but their about saying something outlets and social media. along with the probable - and the R They have learned that the tone and demeanor are respectful at the doors that may make sense human factors in play that corrupt establishment media in and responsive to the communi- but doesn't fit the Tea Party play- Rob Zerban, climbing within 8 deserve attention. Milwaukee is in the service of ties they deal with. One political book, which can get you points of Paul Ryan in polls, People are listening to more the right-wing cause -- not just adviser bluntly told her candidate drummed out of campaign joined assembly candidates than sound-bites- so shouldn't the Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling to "talk frankly about what you money. Some GOP candidates Sept. 15 for a Greendale rally. media? believe, what you will do and are shackled by the right-wing how you will work with both tilt, knowing how many of their sides -- and only then reveal party's moderates were sidelined Our retirees lead in political enthusiasm your affiliation." months ago for straying off the nion members never retire from community and under 55 in favor of vouchers. All that makes area A candidate pointed out to reservation. political engagement. The beneficiaries in this appearances for Zerban more important so Green me that "even a Democrat can Aside from worrying about U current election cycle are Rob Zerban, gaining more invited, and the candidate accepted, a talk at the connect with conservative voters social and religious principles attention and senior supporters as he closes in on Franklin High School cafeteria space, 8222 S. 51st if you don't ask them to put up a they never thought of as the cen- ousting Paul Ryan from Congressional District 1, St., Tuesday, Oct. 2. The 5 to 7 p.m. event is open lawn sign in a strongly tral Republican legacy, there is and Tammy Baldwin, in a tight race to take Herb to the public. Green asks his many friends in labor Republican neighborhood." also the inertia of overconfidence Kohl's US senate seat over Tommy Thompson. to call (414) 423-4488 to help out. Help for Zerban is coming from Casper Green Meanwhile, a notable retired couple has decided who retired 18 years ago as International to celebrate their 70th birthdays by throwing a fund- Representative for the Brotherhood of Boilermakers raiser for Baldwin at Madison’s Labor Temple, and is known in Franklin for his work with senior 1602. S. Park St. The celebrants, former state AFL- citizens. Now 82, he wants to help Zerban close the CIO president David Newby and Kathleen McElroy, gap with Ryan - and that is clearly in motion. will throw the invitational event without gifts, but Rather than a bounce from being picked as Mitt with donations to the Baldwin campaign built on the Romney's vice presidential running mate, Ryan has number 7 (for 70th birthday), so guests will get been exposed as a fabricator and district residents music and goodies for $17 to $47 right on up the are taking a harder look at his Medicare and Social seven ladder. You can also donate at wi.tammybald- Security ideas. Retirees like Green dislike Ryan's win.com/Newby. idea of taking such programs away from workers www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 — Page 11 Rogers reflects neighborly revolution in races By Dominique Paul Noth regions for Ott - she worked salaried workers. (Maybe that is Editor, Labor Press Assembly District 23 down from the north. the real economic stormfront that hat's happening on the How will they vote? Rogers Ott is now selling.) North Shore is typical laughed. "If I was playing poker ut even friends at the sta- around the state. with these people in Grafton, tion were shocked when W there's no tell. But even when Ott turned as a legislator Articulate family-focused life- I'm having a conversation with B long residents interested in poli- to only like weather patterns tics but novices to public office someone who is, say, totally coming in from the right. have been stirred to run by all against Obama, we find we have He made his bones with the this obstinate resistance to facts, a lot in common and I always Madison right-wing as their by the misguided focus on look for that common ground." token faux-scientist (because of antique concepts of families and 'm finding it," she his decades of TV blandness) values rather than on modern added. "Everyone is denying climate change, oppos- children and communities. "Itired of politicians fight- ing cap and trade legislation with Deals made behind doors in ing things. People don't see com- such pontifications as "If you're the State Capitol have been promise and want some. Win or fighting climate change and exposed to main streets and lose, it's equally important that global warming … then I believe forced people who never paid we agree on so many things what you're trying to do is make attention to politics to wonder regardless of party label. I think it colder." It caused fellow nota- about the overreach of Act 10 that's what's been lost in the cur- ble meteorologists to criticize Ott attacking basic collective bar- rent political climate and people for pandering to the right-wing gaining or Act 43 forcing a redis- are upset about that." by "leaving science behind." tricting tightrope of extreme par- It's pragmatism she talks Most of the folks who have tisanship or the broad effects of about. While she opposes the elected him to the Assembly radical budget cuts to public edu- Act 32 cutting the local citizens' Whitefish Bay’s Cris Rogers runs hard to bridge Madison divide don't know how Ott became an ability to solve education, health cation she marries that philoso- ostrich on so many issues. Nor Voss, pushing ugly social legisla- Ott is now a Tea Party sta- care and general services. phy at the doors to how the has it dawned that while other tion to enhance his clout to ple. He denies the climate hat's not what we sent Walker approach will inevitably redistricting forced Democratic become Assembly majority lead- change that gave him a TV job people to Madison to do. drag down property values as legislators to abandon their er, is under scrutiny and attack for three decades, wants penal- That's the cry you hear well as good teachers. She wants homes, this redistricting that T he never expected. On the other ties for criminals increased rather to grow small businesses and eliminated much of the Mequon around the state regardless of side of this District 68 contest is than efforts to change or rehabili- political history. Perhaps that's create jobs but balance that with he represented carefully kept a housewife and community vol- tate them and believes that peo- why people find their neighbors environmental protection. Most Ott's Lakedrive mansion within unteer, Kellley Albrecht, mother ple should have a choice - not on who step forward to run far more appealing at the doors is that she the boundaries. of three, rooted in the working women's rights but on refusing to credible than those outsider wants the ideas of citizens not But the new district removes community. She admits to being pay for the health care that raises Koch-funded ugly rallies against special interests to determine regions that tolerated him, a novice at political campaigning our premiums. health care, contraception and government transparency. including most of Mequon, and but already has the most sophis- hat ought to inflame any- Obama's birth record. Rogers has no doubt she is a added entire suburbs he did not ticated political website in the one like Rogers with a There has been a widespread distinct underdog, "but some- represent (Grafton, Fox Point state -- albrechtforassembly.com background of political emergence of people everyone T thing is happening on the ground and Whitefish Bay), which are - and a forceful voice for legisla- caring, a degree in psychology knows from down the street who that most reporters are not pay- not alone in having citizens more tive balance. and track record of helping non- are now running for office what- ing attention to," she said. "It concerned about political prog- In the Ozaukee-Washington profit social agencies. Like so ever the odds. It seems quite may work this year or not, but it ress than party labels. counties Senate District 20, many others she was content to legitimate in contrast to the coor- will work." Discussing the race, ana- Tanya Lohr is the big story (see stay informed and involved as a dinated Tea Party outrage. It's an She is not nearly as well lysts from both parties concede Page 1) but she also reflects how citizen until she "felt my basic uncoordinated but now active known as her opponent - or as how shifting alliances and detest many concerned citizens like rights being taken away." and necessary outbreak of citi- mis-known when you consider of extremism have made Ott vul- teachers and environmentalists She decided to enter politics zenship, a groundswell of civic what Ott has become. When he nerable and Rogers more genu- are now running. directly partly out of anger at the involvement to slowly restore and the equally dour Paul Joseph ine. ogers is Assembly deliberate removal of a Bay sanity and progress. Noted one were hired at WTMJ it was But they also note he has District 23's own varia- neighbor, Rep. Sandy Pasch, as political consultant, "These are because science was to be taken reputation from all those years tion -- a Bayside native her legislator. But most of her not people who can be dismissed R seriously in weather forecasting. on TV where he was as comfort- now Whitefish Bay stalwart disappointment is the "the failure as some sort of flaming liberal When ratings, small talk and able to viewers as an empty suit. making a spirited contest out of of today's GOP to emphasize our activist." personality became more impor- opposing long unopposed similarities of concern in order to The consultant was thinking tant, both were let go for lower Republican Ott, whose actual make too much of our differenc- of Cris Rogers, married to a extreme opinions ought to be es," she said. business lawyer, well-to-do, rais- unrecognizable to those who Rather than start her door- ing two sons and more and more remember his three decades as to-door campaign in comfortable convinced the current crop of the placid meteorologist on territory - Whitefish Bay and controlling legislators don't WTMJ-TV. Fox Point, which are new deserve a walk in the park to re- election. So she's forcing Jim Ott to finally face someone. But there are examples WE SALUTE THE MALC! everywhere. In Burlington, the FOR UNITING THE LABOR COMMUNITY TO HAWKS QUINDEL, S.C. GOP's major smart-ALEC Robin CELEBRATE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL Committed to representing Labor Unions and their Members CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORKERS! Go Bananas Labor and Employment Law for fair Trade! Workers Compensation Wage and Overtime Claims Monday, Oct. 15 • 7pm Family Law Speakers from Social Security Disability Law free a fair trade banana farm in Colombia MiLWaukEE OFFiCE MaDiSOn OFFiCE 700 W. Michigan avenue, 222 W. Washington avenue, ouTposT ALWAYS ASK FOR THE ALLIED LABEL FOR 5th Floor Suite 705 ALL OF YOUR PRINTED MATERIALS! naTural foods Milwaukee, Wi 53233 Madison, Wi 53701 100 E. Capitol Dr. STOP BY OUR BOOTH AT LABORFEST TO GET YOUR OFFICIAL LIST OF ALLIED LABEL PRINTERS! For details and other activities 414-271-8650 608-257-0040 in national fair trade month: Allied Printing Trades Council of Milwaukee & Madison 633 So. Hawley Road Milwaukee, WI. 53214 www.milwaukeefair Phone # 414-476-1577 Fax# 414-476-2022 E-mail [email protected] TOLL FREE 800-236-3348 TradecoaliTion.orG www.alliedlabel.org Solidaritywww.hq-law.com Forever! Page 12 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org from his first marriage (Mallory about finding common ground," Lohr and MacKenzie) and their young she told me. "People in splin- From Page 1 twins, 6 year old Elena and tered communities want to hang Eadrick. out with their friends again and willing to pitch in, proud of their She is the accidental candi- want a representative who will self-help roots and educational date surprised as anyone to find think about that and fix that." advances and hardly deaf to the it all quite normal. Running for Asked about her platform, spirit of cooperation. A devoted senate was hardly a planned she avoids getting into national mother and teacher for 17 years, chapter. She is active in her areas where "I need further she is hardly a novice to the real- school union and was deeply study" but steps hard into ities of their lives. It is Grothman upset and politicized by the cuts detailed community concerns who represents an anti-communi- in education and the general that Madison can address. "No. 1 ty spirit and "keep away from handcuffing of local communi- is jobs, what we can really do me" approach to life more than ties from running their own step by step to keep jobs here not any party label. affairs. As a social studies teach- pie in the sky stuff. No. 2 is ast patterns don't consider er, "I paid attention to events and working together. No. 3 is health Lohr's mastery of the com- policies but more as a spectator," care. And within all that is con- munication and technolog- P she recalled in an interview. But cern about rebuilding communi- ical revolution that is overtaking when she got involved, she was a ties, restoring music lessons and the nation. It may not be fast quick study and a bright organiz- simple values to our schools and enough beneath the presidential Tanya Lohr (left) hopes to join two supportive colleagues in the er and campaigner with some- listening to people who still do election to change outcomes. No Madison Senate who came to a recent rally to speak for her. thing to say. not have access to health cover- one should pretend that Sen. Jessica King (center) won her Oshkosh area seat in a recall t first happened in Saukville age and why they deserve it." Facebook, Twitter and the rest last year and this year faces heavy GOP opposition money trying when she organized a recall o all you political know-it- don't also bring disturbing ele- to regain control. Chris Larson in 2010 during that GOP tsunami event 18 months ago. alls: Continue to rely on ments of intrusiveness and trivi- defeated a Walker cozy Democrat, Both agree Lohr “might I Knowledgeable people at the your old voting maps. ality, much less turning older become our best senator,” said another big supporter who came S outdoor park - 400 plus at a pro- Dismiss if you must as conserva- thumbs into slabs of jelly. to her district for a rally -- senate majority leader Mark Miller. gressive rally! In Saukville! - tive zombies the honest-to-gosh But the social media that is lor who lives with his mother, devoted to her in West Bend wondered who was this person- citizens so many observers actu- as natural to Lohr as swimming has minimal presence on social classrooms ("I like them right able busy bee when she spoke ally discover throughout the dis- and clearly alien waters to media. He is actually the butt of back," she says) work wonders at briefly. New state Sen. Chris trict. Grothman has also changed the multiple laugh hits on YouTube the doors. Larson was there, as was state Ignore the genuine concern immediacy and imagery of rela- given the video captures of his All this has made her the AFL-CIO leader Stephanie that harmony and cooperation be tionships and how people know prattling diatribes calling his queen of the Internet. The Bloomingdale and Emerge restored in Madison. Laugh that and deal with each other. own constituents slobs for show- Huffington Post headlined an Wisconsin leader Wendy Strout even dislike of Grothman will When that horrible shooting ing up in Madison, attacking analysis of her race "Beauty and and several others - and all eyes not cause voters to abandon the erupted at the Sikh temple in women for clogging the work- the Beast" (guess which is lit up when she spoke. They got Grand Old Label. Convince Oak Creek, it was social media place at Tea Party picnics or pon- which) and had readers rolling in busy encouraging her to share yourself that the good side of and cell phones that within hours tificating to and sneering at citi- the aisles describing Grothman's her ideas and personality. social media that reveals real brought hundreds to the site and zens during legislative hearings positions in his own words - Lohr flew through Emerge's character will not make a fig's to a religious service that eve- -- in other words, Grothman in money means more to men than intense candidate training and worth of difference at the polls ning at Cathedral Square. It is his natural element. women, women shouldn't get found that voters throughout the this year (even conceding it sure social media that hooks Lohr to ne Lohr volunteer noted: equal pay or value in the work- region also responded to her nat- will the next time around). volunteers who will walk the "If we could only get place because they leave to do ural gifts and down-home direct- Lohr has heard all the nega- doors with her or watch her chil- every woman in the dis- such terrible things as have chil- ness. She now has a sophisticat- tives. She just does the doors and dren when husband Andy needs O trict to watch YouTube, Tanya dren, women pregnant out of ed devoted legion of volunteers talks to the voters. She rebuffs a day off. (And when Lohr gets could stroll into Madison." wedlock lie about their needs charting the entire district and every stereotype attack from the that rare day off from campaign- Progressive women in the because of society's stigma, sin- helping spread the word and right about public teachers and ing, she doesn't go home to city of Milwaukee are not so gle parents should be a condition arranging meetings with voters. Democrats, substituting good sleep, she goes out to golf, as sure when they look north and of criminal child abuse investiga- ery little of her race is hard common-ground explana- you discover from her Internet east. "Those wives will never tion, alternate energy standards about demeaning tion of what she is and what she followers.) vote against their husbands," one should be reduced, early kinder- Grothman, though that will do. isconsinEye provided V said. "They're lost to the right garten should be eliminated and understandable tendency sure In this partisan hostile an insightful in-depth wing." most education of women is a exists among her champions as world, will Lohr make a differ- heads-on interview W Again, the dismissal of the fraud, Obama wants more wel- well as media pursuers. "This is ence? Win or lose, she already with the candidate, revealing her openness of the community is fare because that translates into not a race about name calling but has. personality in your living room. something Lohr on the campaign more lazy voters for him, and on It is on computers - including trail refuses to be part of and and on -- leaving traditional lohrforsenate.com -- that people without trying actually serves as Republicans aghast that this is follow her district treks and see the clarion counter to. the guy they have let speak for how in the most unlikely places Cheerfully she meets hostile them in the legislature. and hard-core GOP areas her voters and charms them into lis- ohr not only wins the humanity and ideology jump tening to her common sense publicity battle hands through. It matches what people approach to governance. "You down. Her use of discover when they meet her in L win," they tell her in the end, Facebook and other social media person handing out cookies or ready to reverse a lifelong habit lets voters daily follow the cam- rushing over to help with the of voting. The direct honesty paign. She clearly adores her children. and conversational touch that husband of 10 years, Andy, also Grothman, a lifelong bache- keep ninth graders in line and a teacher, their two teenagers

Mom’s ability to enthrall a large crowd at Saukville’s American Legion Post (left) cracks up her family members, teenager Mallory and twins Elena and Eadrick, kept under control by her husband and fellow West Bend teacher Andy. www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 — Page 13 Chicago teachers expose media union myths espite not getting the 4% excellent job in dealing with the • 600 additional art, music, raise the Chicago School negotiations and the dispute with physical education and world DBoard and Mayor Rahm the Chicago Teachers Union. language teachers. Emanual rescinded, striking In interviews, the teachers • Prep time for paraprofes- teachers after intense meetings emphasized the devastating lack sionals and clinicians. seemed willing Sept. 16 to agree of social workers and counselors, • Teacher evaluations limited to a settlement urged by leader the growing size of classrooms, to 30% of the student test scores Karen Lewis. the closing of schools without - which is the legal minimum But they delayed acceptance teacher or parental input and an and for the first time includes a into a second week, only voting unproven system in which a strong system of appeals of the Sept. 18 to suspend the strike good teacher in one year drops to rating. and return to classes the next a bad teacher the next year based • Up to $250 reimbursement day. on student evaluation attitudes for school supplies, which are The delay and then the deci- rather than facts. often out of pocket for teachers. sion to settle came almost in sually an astute politi- • Additional wrap-around spite of bullying tactics from cian, Emanuel made services, including nurses, social Emanuel, who threatened a law- Uanother miscalculation workers and counselors. suit the teachers felt was vindic- when he contrasted as selfish the • And a big one: Defeating tive hardball politics because of Chicago teachers with the merit-pay for teachers, which no his own falling poll numbers Boston teachers, also ATU, who reliable study demonstrates while theirs were rising. In fact, AFT leader Randi Weingarten always draws a crowd, and media were able without a strike to set- works in the first place. his lawsuit actually made the when she speaks about unions as she did on a MIlwaukee visit. tle a two-year dispute. Another surprise to the case for the teachers that the He instantly paid for that right-wing: Despite the Dem-on- organized labor vs. Obama's for- teacher unions have been around strike was not about wages but when Boston teachers took out Dem infighting teachers meet mer chief of staff. A feisty union the nation and how Chicago evaluation and other procedures. full page ads supporting their after-hours to re-elect Obama. leader who could give back to teachers echoed fundamental con- Emanuel’s posing, one Chicago counterparts, explaining es, one striking teacher Emanuel as good as she got. cerns. teacher told me, almost derailed the differences between the two told me, they do disagree For the teachers it may have The American Federation of approval since “we are more cities and the consistent concern with US Education been about moving forward on Teachers under tireless promoter Y concerned about schools than for children and urban social pol- Secretary Arne Duncan and fear social issues they couldm’t solve and leader Randi Weingarten has public relations victory.” Leader icy that dominated both settle- too much gentrification and alone and diverse education moved the envelope in dynamic Lewis, who supported the deal, ments. (Boston in fact gave a political games in the Chicago needs including the arts, plus contracts that address tenure, explained the delay: "We teach six-year contract with increases schools he once led. Yes, they truer evaluation of teacher per- worn-out teachers and innovating reading and wanted to read the that will cost $156 million while worry about Obama's catering to formance rather than building up classroom practices and size. fine print. " the Chicago teachers seek a corporate thinking, artificial the opinions of students with In Milwaukee, the TEAM Delegates finally went along three-year deal as long as they competition ahead of true growth grumbling stomachs who detest approach adopted for MPS by the by dismissing fears the deal did got more classroom support.) and elevating tests over account- being pushed. To the reporters it MTEA puts first in line in its con- not go far enough and might be a The Boston teachers couldn't ability. was about curbing union power. tract methods to improve or side- cosmetic sop by a mayor whose wait to correct the record. But after rattling off that lit- t should be a complicated line teachers lagging in tongue is no longer trusted. "Thank you for mentioning our any of doubts, she added: "We debate about education and effectiveness. he entire dispute resounds contract settlement, which came know Obama is trying to help who knows best - parents, Several things have already as a hard slap on the I about as a result of a mutually children and will listen to good professionals, or elected offi- unfolded in Chicago -- layers of cheek to knee-jerk talk- respectful conversation between ideas. We know we can work T cials? It should be about how to social and moral victories for the ing heads and that horrifying the parties," the union told with him. So he is the only get teachers to do better (is teachers, including how wave of teacher union bashing Emanuel in their ads. "Perhaps choice in this election. Don't money the answer?), whether Chicagoans, especially parents, across the US media. you can learn from us - and confuse us with the people con- classroom experience was a bet- are backing them. Some of that might be begin to treat your own teaching sumed by one-issue politics." ter judge of ability than test hat may strike TV viewers excused by past experience since force with the same respect." -- Dominique Paul Noth scores, when principals truly as counter-intuitive since no one denies some unions were Under the framework the know what to do and how they reporters sought out the as corrupt as some businesses. T teachers will get: are chosen. angriest parents scrambling to Some stems from well-meaning Nevertheless, newspaper find people to watch their kids belief that principals and admin- editorial boards, right-wing pun- when school was closed, an issue istrators should have unchecked dits, TV talk shows and school the teachers sympathized with. power to hire and fire, even with privateers lambasted the 29,000 Turns out the media was again their own relatives and cronies public school teachers and edu- giving airtime to the most vocal hovering in the wings, even cational professionals who went minority. though unchecked power on any on strike in Chicago - the first Polls showed the teachers side is not good for education. there in 25 years and the last in with 55% approval from "voting At least the democratic pro- six years since Detroit teachers households” and 66% support cess underlying all unions allows went out. from parents of public school balance, to stop anyone running Emanuel called it a strike of students. The kicker? The poll off with the money or with reali- choice not necessity - though was conducted by a generally ty. It's not a power over their when you understand English, all Republican firm. In addition, an media corporate bosses that most strikes are a matter of choice; early Chicago Sun-Times poll talking heads possess. you can always just bend over found an eight-point edge in This whole Chicago fury sure and love the whip. favor of the teachers -- with only had the combative players to Few commentaries explored 1 in 5 respondents saying make the media sit up and woof. how sophisticated and responsive Emanuel has done a good or Democrats against Democrats -

EmployEEs arE rEprEsEntEd By: Workers United LocaL 122 (414) 271-0290 Page 14 — AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org Reality nips hard at GOP’s biggest dogs Thompson retirement ence and connections, becoming boards. a partner in a powerful Ryan relies on cash greed exposed Washington lobbying firm," the he seven-year stint narrator in the ad points out. as Zerban rises Tommy Thompson spent The campaign for Baldwin n Sept. 12 Paul Ryan at Akin Gump Strauss T has also attacked Thompson as went up on the air with a Hauer & Feld in Washington departing from previous practice $2 million ad buy in his went under blistering TV attack O to make a fortune working for congressional race - more than Sept. 12 by the Democratic lobbyists in D.C. and now refus- he spent on his entire campaign Senatorial Campaign Committee, ing to release tax returns he nor- in 2010. its first ad against the fading for- mally had to as governor. Hey, you think the VP nomi- mer governor's bid for the US According to lobbying regis- nee of the GOP hears footsteps Senate against experienced and tration records filed with and is worried about his future? climbing US Rep. Tammy Congress, Thompson, a lawyer, He sure is betting both ways. Baldwin. advised Akin health care clients Strangely, so are some Four days later, news reports including Pharmaceutical Democrats in the US Congress detailed how Thompson oversaw LABORFEST ASWIM IN CANDIDATES -- With WMCS live from the Research and Manufacturers of who are already welcoming Ryan companies that thrived on jobs Zeidler Park gazebo and floods of union members preparing to America (PhRMA), Novavax back to his old seat apparently exports and pushed defective march, Labor Day was ideal for Tammy Baldwin to hold listeners Inc. and PharmAthene Inc., the unaware the he is losing ground health products. It is a double- rapt (above) and recent primary winners to thank the crowd and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel every day to the Democrat facing whammy hard to explain away make sure they reconfirm their Assembly votes Nov. 6 -- left to right reported. From January 2010 to him, Rob Zerban. by someone marketing himself below Sandy Pasch, LaTonya Johnson, Fred Kessler and Mandela October 2011, he made $771,000 Zerban is making inroads as an expert guardian of the Barnes, who also shared airtime with morning host Eric Von. at Akin, according to a financial with crisp detailed attacks on economy. statement provided the newspa- Ryan and he is getting more The TV spot discusses per earlier this year. media exposure now that Thompson's work for special "Who better than me, that's Romney picked the Janesville interests at Akin, a firm he joined been secretary of health, to be a lad for a national spotlight. in 2005 after he stepped down as consultant and an adviser and If he can hang onto his US Secretary of Health and also an investor in health care?" House seat, Ryan expects even Human Services under the sec- Thompson told JS. "That's my weakened power to pursue a rad- ond Bush, for whom he served as strong suit!" ical agenda. But the amount of point-man in negotiating the On September 16 that same money he is now spending to "sweetheart" deal that prevented newspaper took Thompson's protect his congressional seat the government from price nego- strong suit apart, repeating the reveals a split focus - he knows tiations with private companies devastating story how, while he will have to buy his seat if on prescription drugs. long touting his experience in the Zerban keeps gaining. Thompson denies how back then private sector, several companies And the redistricting did him he promoted many of the ideas he had a fiduciary responsibility no favors. It added areas includ- now part of Obamacare. His to watch as board member face ing Milwaukee County full of plunge to the dark side in his charges of making faulty and retirees and blue collar workers retirement years is extraordinary. dangerous medical implants, fail- who intimately know and dislike "Thompson sold his influ- ing corporate watchdog examina- Ryan's plans for Medicare and tions and misleading investors. Social Security. -- D.P.N. Yet Thompson larded his person- al coffers sitting on two dozen

Calendar Visit www.milwaukeelabor.org for updated events Wednesday, October 3 Delegate Meeting 6:30 p.m., Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. Wednesday, October 31 Executive Council Meeting 2 p.m., 633 S. Hawley Rd. Tuesday, November 6 General Election Wednesday, November 7 Delegate Meeting 6:30 p.m., Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. Trapshooting FINAL STANDINGS 2.High Voltage fter 20 weeks of shooting IBEW 494...... 13-6-1 3.R717 Ain the Milwaukee Area Plumbers Local 75...... 9-9-2 Labor Council league, here are 4.Lucky 13 the results by team reflecting CWA 4603...... 0-19-1 wins, losses, and ties: Class B Class AA 1. No Shorts W-L-T IBEW 494...... 13-7-0 1. 6 volts to lightning 2. Steam Shooters IBEW 494...... 16-4-0 Plumbers Local 75...... 11-9-0 2. Wirenuts 3. Cloud Busters IBEW 494...... 11-9-0 Plumbers Local 75...... 8-12-0 3. Pipe Dopes 4.Blind...... 8-12-0 Plumbers Local 75...... 9-10-1 4. Pipers LEAGUE HIGH GUNS Plumbers Local 75...... 4-15-1 Ron Wahl 457 Jeff Jeske 454 Class A Pete Malecki 451 1.Blind Men Reported by Ron Wahl CWA 4603...... 15-3-2 www.milwaukeelabor.org AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, September 27, 2012 — Page 15 Romey’s 47% nastiness derails his campaign By Dominique Paul Noth himself, which his refusal to reliance and isn't working to Editor, Labor Press release his tax returns keeps us raise businesses as well as work- oral depth, humanity from knowing. ing people, struck many as and economic savvy The majority of those who absurd looking at their own lives for all hardly go hand don't pay taxes subsist in the and varied philosophies. So M Romney was "fiscally inept," in glove with having, making deepest red southern states he and keeping tons of money. The counts on for votes. The majori- "arrogant," "cynical" and "stu- world need look no further than ty using food stamps are white. pid" - and this was from conser- Macao gambling king Sheldon Military families and the dis- vatives! Several GOP leaders Addison, libertarian extremist abled are a huge part of his num- immediately began positioning David Koch and now Mitt bers. To condemn all these as themselves to run for president Romney. His White House hopes lacking responsibility for their in 2016. rested on convincing the public own lives forced even conserva- Meanwhile, Tea Party devo- he had the acumen to raise tive commentators to note that tees are attacking his running Americans up faster and more Romney "simply doesn't under- mate, Paul Ryan, for reasons that sustainably than Obama - that he stand who Americans are and might not please liberals, criticiz- could cure the partisan divide by how America works." ing abandoning his "take no pris- working with all sides, not dis- We are not exaggerating Chart reveals realities Romney simply doesn’t get oners" reputation of radical card half the nation in his rush to what Romney said to raise wrench to the economy to tack impose his country club fanta- money. There was a lot of other right criticizes proves a tempo- bviously, Romney dem- toward the Romney blandness. sies. silly stuff, but here are some in rary bridge to survival. The onstrated strategic inept- everal commentators Out of his own mouth it his own words, which he does majority of households that Oitude in politics and thought Romney's run for would be hard to find someone not deny: receive the EITC get it for only "grossly inaccurate" descriptions president ended when he one or two years at a time, such as of Obama's core supporters, and S dumber on "the vision thing." here are 47% who stepped clumsily into foreign The real Romney revealed are with him, who when their income drops due to a those are words from fact check- policy with premature rebuke of his thinking, inelegantly and off are dependent upon layoff, and they pay federal ers. More bluntly, it was an atti- a low-level Mideast embassy "T income tax in most other years. tude that undercuts his desire to the cuff, but truthfully by his government, who believe that official trying to quell outrage lights and inaccurately by all they are victims, who believe the Romney revealed in private lead the nation and openly dis- over a tasteless video snippet. available economic data, con- government has a responsibility and off the cuff what he really qualified him from the highest Now they call these Boca Raton demning more Republicans than to care for them, who believe thinks but knows better than to office. Even Republicans seem comments the end of his cam- Democrats. While constantly that they are entitled to health say in public. Worse, it is his eager to ditch him when, as one paign - a clear revelation of how accusing Obama of engaging in care, to food, to housing, to you- own base that he demeans since said, "He just gave the president poorly he grasps America and its class warfare it was Romney name-it. That that's an entitle- in red states with those "right to the votes of everyone who walks economy. who conducted class warfare ment. And the government work for less" laws, working res- by my door." It may be a bit early to close raising money from rich backers should give it to them. And they idents are disproportionately To describe half the country the books, but he sure is doing in a Boca Raton mansion. His will vote for this president no likely to pay no income taxes. as victims reliant on government everything he can to slam him- candor was surreptitiously taped. matter what….These are people handouts, and then claim Obama self shut. His comments have now who pay no income tax. My job relies on victims rather than self- exploded, exposing not only his is not to worry about those peo- disdain for nearly half of ple. I'll never convince them they America as moochers but also a should take personal responsibil- Orthopedic Institute misguided and outrageous inter- ity and care for their lives." of Wisconsin pretation of how tax revenue He said so much more that works. He may have been subtly Mother Jones magazine has now Thomas J. Perlewitz, MD trying to single out minorities provided the entire video and it's and liberals as lazy but actually gone viral on YouTube. Orthopedic Surgeon condemned the working whites If you don't live in that hard- Spine Specialist he has relied on for votes, the shell right-wing Romney bubble, Fellowship Trained elderly who worked all their you must wonder who he's talk- lives paying payroll taxes and ing about. Demeaning 47% of 2901 Kinnickinnic River Parkway many citizens, nearly half in his Americans as pigs suckling on Suite 102 figures, who use tax deductions government largesse dismissed a Milwaukee, WI 53215 414-384-6700 promoted by both parties to bal- vast number of America's hardest ance their low income against workers and most active voters. 2323 N. Mayfair Road their income tax burden. Romney's view neglects fig- Suite 310 In tying "real Americans" to ures that have been out there for Milwaukee, WI 53226 those who pay federal income years from researchers. He was 414-771-5080 tax, by exaggerating Obama's attacking working families, role in housing, health and nutri- grandma, kids in college. See the tion, by condemning everyone chart for how the facts break who uses public policy to down about the 47% he was talk- “I offer comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of all spinal conditions improve their circumstances, he ing about, which factually do not by utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, procedures and instrumentation. My was ironically debunking his match the nearly 49% in current ultimate goal is improved quality of life for the patient through both operative and polls preferring Obama. richest supporters who have non-operative measures.” loopholed their way out of such s the AFL-CIO quickly payments - and he may be one pointed out, the fact that Specialty Procedures and Professional Achievements Athey're not paid enough � Fellowship trained in spinal surgery at Harvard with emphasis on treatment or are active duty military or are of conditions of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine too old or disabled does not � mean they don't contribute to Compassionate care focused on the whole individual America's tax revenues. In fact, � Selected as Chief Resident in Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the the poorest one-fifth of US Medical College of Wisconsin households pay a grinding 22.7% � Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society percent of their income in vari- ous federal, state and local taxes. Medical Education Fellowship – Orthopedic Among the research sources Medical College of Wisconsin Spine Surgery that have for years taken apart Milwaukee, WI Harvard Medical School Romney's myth of the 47% depen- Boston, MA dent on government is the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Residency Board Certified In an in-depth article with charts Medical College of Wisconsin American Board of available at www.cbpp.org, the Milwaukee, WI Orthopedic Surgery More facts debunk Romney -- center debunks several fallacies particularly how much low- that the right-wing depends on to For more information or scheduling, please call 414-384-6700. income workers pay in federal promote this unicorn. Even the w w w. T h e O r t h o I n s t i t u t e . c o m payroll taxes. Earned Income Tax Credit the Page 16 — AFL-CIO MILwAukee LAbOr Press, Thursday, september 27, 2012 www.milwaukeelabor.org Piggly Wiggly settles A unique way to honor 9/11 NLRB dispute with UFCW By Dominique Paul Noth respect for mutual discussion and heeding the rules Editor, Labor Press seemed to return. fter hiring a union-busting law firm and iden even thanked Butera for returning to the declaring an impasse to dodge a court order bargaining table and resolving disputes at Ato obey a union contract - an issue reported Emany stores around the state. In a statement at length in the June Labor Press - Piggly Wiggly Eiden said, "Both sides understood that the state of Midwest this September discovered that civility and the economy and heightened competition within the negotiation were far better for both image and retail food industry made negotiations difficult, but results in a simmering series of disputes with the Paul helped both sides bridge the gap that separated United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). us" to assure what Eiden called "labor peace." While lawyers for both sides are restricted from The Sheboygan issue erupted when Piggly providing details of the Sept. 14 stipulation and Wiggly lost in court. It had unilaterally reduced 19 agreements, documents at the National Labor full time workers to part-time without regard to their Relations Board and research by Labor Press con- union contract. It claimed it did so fearing competi- firm many factors about how the union succeeded in tive pressure from a non-union supermarket chain, THE ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY of 9/11 has not settled in the its major issues. The company resolved unfair labor but contracts must be followed, said NLRB Region nation's conscience as has Armistice Day or Memorial Day - it is practice complaints at many of its supermarkets, 30 Director Irving Gottschalk and an administrative still too green. But now we have routine formalized remembranc- agreed to fulfill contractual obligations and keep judge. The company declared an impasse in talks es, making it hard to find a fresh tribute. So let us take you to open a key Sheboygan store - and also provide at and said it would simply close the store - all occur- Brady St. on that sunny afternoon and the courtyard outside the least half a million dollars to settle the complaints. ring on the eve of NLRB unfair practice hearings Dry Hootch Café created as a place for veterans to meet, congre- Both sides thanked Sheboygan Mayor Terry Van affecting various Piggly Wiggly outlets around the gate and heal through connections with each other. Akkeren for assisting in the settlement and assuring state. IN AN UNUSUALLY RELEVANT 9/11 tribute with County Executive that the flagship store in his city would remain open Among the allegations the NLRB found having Chris Abele (center) and Mayor Tom Barrett (right), veterans who and unionized. merit was that Piggly Wiggly instigated and improp- founded the Dry Hootch, VA experts and others held a discussion A few months ago UFCW Local 1473 President erly supported an attempt to decertify UFCW at a and fund-raiser for the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force. John Eiden had blasted CEO Paul Butera for a Kenosha store. PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED the needs of the veterans' community "despicable" attempt to "drive the workers into pov- With the most recent stipulated settlement, - a high degree of depression, military sexual trauma and other erty" when Piggly Wiggly announced it would close insiders report, Piggly Wiggly will have to undo issues that haunt those we send into service to defend our coun- this store rather than heed a court order to obey the those Sheboygan policies it unilaterally imposed and try. At the Dry Hootch you find veterans from Vietnam forward to rules. Many regarded the company's after-surge reimburse employees for those losses - including Iraq and Afghanistan helping heal each other and connect with around the state of franchise takeovers as a continu- that non-negotiated move to part time and eliminat- sources of therapy. ation of its "hard cheese" response to being called to ing time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays. IT IS REMARKABLE to see this place nestled amid retail bustle. account by the NLRB, particularly as it also faced While specific details have not been revealed, This task force was formed n 2004 by some 50 organizations an intense round of unfair labor practice hearings the September agreement retains the union status of recognizing a crisis in inpatient psychiatric services that exposed where the evidence was not on its side. stores and provides cash for violations. Among the major gaps in Milwaukee's system of mental health care. It con- In September, a combination of reality and stores protected in the new stipulation are two nects veterans to a range of mental health services. unionized outlets in Racine. Here 9/11 became a way to help those who serve.