Have faith! Speciiall Labor Day Ediitiion LEFT: Pointing out that the heavy lifting was done before he became Milwaukee’s archbishop, Timothy Unions want county to dump Wackenhut -- Page 8 Dolan was nevertheless moved and Children, teachers put dunce cap on Wal-Mart -- Page 18 grateful Aug. 11 to accept a special plaque to the archdiocese for its Profits at Milwaukee firms, losses for workers -- Page 20 leadership in ethical principles for Big push for better immigration law -- Page 22 church construction and renovation. At its packed picnic, the Faith What media doesn’t say about unions -- Page 23 Community for Worker Justice also How labor unity improved state budget -- Page 25 geared up for Labor in the Pulpits, Congressmen face political price for CAFTA -- Page 27 which will focus on corporate social responsibility. A full list of congre PLUS stories on United Way, the Supreme Court, the gations and speakers on Page 28. More stories and photos on Laborfest bash and the current rifts and possible healings Pages 29 and 30. within the labor movement. Vol. 65, No. 8 Thursday, August 25, 2005 Pulling apart Aug. 3 Walking together By Dominique Paul Noth ing money through per-caps. Labor Press Editor The delegates also heard a in Sept. 5 parade n August 3, at the most farewell address full of memo- somber delegate meeting ries and belief in solidarity from aborfest is in the air! (It's Oin memory, the John Goldstein, who is resigning also on the air, as we'll get Milwaukee County Labor as president effective Sept. 1 Lto in a moment.) Council AFL-CIO bid goodby to because of a new job that has For any number of reasons, 41 delegates and two executive Delegates continued Page 10 the free parade and free festival board members whose three in downtown Milwaukee Sept. 5 national unions had announced seems to be drawing unusual disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO. attention. "It was like when the judge Some reasons are quite pos- imposes a sentence you know is itive. For one thing, this coming," said one delegate of a Laborfest has long had its act leaving union. "You don't believe together, with a huge outpouring Ringmaster for Laborfest, Sheila it till you hear it." of volunteers to professionally Cochran now expands such Unlike a hanging judge, keep things humming. duties for the entire MCLC. though, the leaders of the council There's heavy advance involvement, extensive planning, what will happen to America's were brimming with sadness and middle class if unions continue regret. If there was anger over and entertainment, games and prizes to attract families whether to lose organizing strength or the consequence of brinksman- weaken their political clout. ship indulged in by national union members or not. This is the 30th year Reporters probably will hear union leaders, it was carefully some talk about the national rifts swallowed. Laborfest has anchored itself at the lakefront (noon to 5 p.m., when unions start gathering in Among the delegates, and the early morning at labor's own among the rank and file and even Maier Festival Park, aka the Summerfest grounds). downtown park, Zeidler Union the retirees, there was so much Square, 4th and Michigan, to line instant shock and unhappiness There are corporate sponsors happy to help, some with their up people, machinery, politicians over disaffiliation that within a and civic partners for the 11 a.m. week the national AFL-CIO own special displays during Laborfest. Dozens of unions march to the lakefront. moved to create a local-level Let's hope they also notice solution. have contributed troops and money. Many will sport the spe- that virtually all the unions of As we went to press it was Milwaukee will be in the parade, finalizing the concept of cial Labor Day T-shirts that also will be on sale on the grounds. affiliated or not, as comrades in Solidarity Charters that would celebration and fun -- not to men- allow disenfranchised locals of Other reasons for heavy Departing MCLC President John Goldstein continues speaking out tion close colleagues, since so- the three departing unions to attention deal with the "trou- for unions, as he did Aug. 10, joining children at Neeskara School called rival unions have worked come back into state and local bles." It sure looks like the to urge a boycott of Wal-Mart as a back to school destination. media will pay higher notice to together for years on local com- labor councils with full delegate munity issues. voting power and weight in local this Laborfest because of the rifts within the AFL-CIO. There may They may also note the organizing and political mobi- Passion for partnerships flood of politicians who well lization. See Page 11. be some pundit nonsense about unions putting on a "brave face" understand that, while some rules Until that plan is finalized, lures Goldstein away of the game may be changing, and depending on how it is and there may well be more ommunity alliances have become a passion of John Goldstein. received, the impact on the thoughtful analysis wondering Laborfest continued Page 14 The seed was planted long before others saw that organized MCLC will be financial as well labor would not be strong enough on its own to change com- as personal. C munities for the better -- that it had to reach out, understand and n Milwaukee as elsewhere accommodate groups with similar values in support of working fami- around the nation, participat- lies and struggling neighborhoods. ing locals of the SEIU, the I Even as a bus driver and then president of the Amalgamated Teamsters and UFCW were Transit Union Local 998, he saw the power of getting riders to join removed from governance and voting power -- and from provid- Goldstein continued Page 7 Page 2 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 25, 2005 Page 3 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 25, 2005 Opposites attract in campaign for Zeidler portrait here's a story behind every In terms of political spec- memorable. purchase and frame the portrait from the Wisconsin Labor good portrait. But there's a trum, it sounded weird. Zeidler's But it turned out that Curtis and display it in a Milwaukee History Society, which has also Tdoozie behind the recent lifelong support of issues of is a big fan of Zeidler. It also public building, such as the named its essay contests in honor portrait of Milwaukee's last social justice, the United Nations turns out the two men hit it off. downtown library or the city of Milwaukee's 1948-1960 Socialist mayor. Frank Zeidler, and liberal causes puts him way So while Curtis to this point may office building across from City mayor. created by the old Milwaukee at the opposite end of the politi- be best known for oil-on-canvas Hall (not so coincidentally Donations are tax Sentinel's most famous editorial cal landscape from the old of Ronald Reagan, William named the Frank P. Zeidler deductible in checks made out to cartoonist, Thomas Pelham Sentinel's editorial vision, which Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, Municipal Building). Curtis has Wisconsin Labor History Society Curtis. Curtis' cartoons certainly made Clarence Thomas and William F. kept his cost low, so it will take with the notation "Zeidler Buckley, it could be the portrait only about $3,000 to buy, frame Portrait Fund." he created for Ziedler's 92nd and mount the portrait and hold a The Wisconsin Labor birthday last year that may suitable reception and publicity History Society address is 313 E. become his best known for it. Plainfield Ave., Milwaukee WI Milwaukee work. The campaign is being led 53207. Groundwork has been laid by Phil Blank, retired member of Call Blank at (414) 873- and a campaign is underway to AFT Local 212, with big support 6359 for more information. An effort is well underway to find major public space for this por- trait of Frank Zeidler, honored Socialist mayor, painted by Thomas Curtis, the old Sentinel’s conservative political cartoonist. Page 4 — AFL-CIO Milwaukee Labor Press, Thursday, August 25, 2005 Organizer Annie Wacker (below) cast a wary eye lest the doors to the basement cafeteria at St. Benedict the Moor’s at 9th and State open too early. Not to worry. Her three dozen helpers, including a rotisserie of brat-grilling labor leaders, were well prepared (right). And the Community Service cookout once again served more than 450 homeless and hungry guests with donated and purchased food and labor volunteers. United Way ready to kick in irding to fight hunger, doorway with a motivational the United Way does. For two disease, poverty and the night of food and fun. The weeks, citizens can see firsthand Gneglected elderly and launch this year is 6 p.m. by participating in the Days of disabled , the labor community Thursday, Sept. 22, with food Caring, September 12-23. Under brings a lot of tools to the battle- and mutual commitment for the this program, community agen- field: volunteers, workplace annual United Way Labor Kick- cies open their doors for those campaigns and money. All are Off Rally at the Four Points who want to provide meaningful about to head into the newest Sheraton. service. United Way campaign to help Flying in to serve as guest To participate, contact your our community. speaker is Jordan L. Biscardo of MCLC Community Services Yes, Labor Matters, which is the AFL-CIO Community Liaisons, (414) 771-9828, or also the theme for organized Services and vice president of [email protected] labor as the AFL-CIO the United Way of America's There is also still time (until Community Services team of the Department of Labor Sept.