New Page rally report

LC2 and I attended the rally on Saturday afternoon for the employees of New Page in Kimberly, WI who as of this morning have all lost their jobs.

I believe that the reason the plant closed is pure corporate greed. New Page wants to control and compress the market for coated paper (used in magazines, catalogs, etc.) and doesn't want any competition, so that the prices will rise because of less of this type of paper on the market and they will profit. I also believe that they had this in mind from the moment they bought the plant. Unfortunately this means the loss of around 500-600 family supporting jobs from the area. The plant is located in the heart of Kimberly--apparently the town was built around the plant.

At the rally, there were lots of area politicians--not surprising since it is an election year. The gist of the political speeches (we left after an hour and a half) was that the Democrats all talked about how bad this was for the city and vowed to do what they can to help the people of Kimberly fight this. The Republicans pretty much held up their hands in defeat and told the crowd there's not much they can do and that they should let the market work and maybe the plant will come back online. Interestingly, the group of Republican politicians there all left the stage en masse before the rally was over.

Now, I don't know how much interference any politician could have run on a private company to derail this kind of decision, but at least they could try and not give up and go home. It's stupid to even look that way in front of a crowd of about 3000 people who are there to support these folks in their hour of need. Geez, at least fight a little.

I was really happy to hear on the local news this morning that a group of now former New Page employees are on their way down to corporate New Page headquarters in Dayton, OH to see what they can do about it. Godspeed, my fellow AFL-CIO brothers and sisters.

All we hope is that the voters of the area keep this sort of thing in mind when they vote tomorrow and on November 4.

--LC1

Do I hear an echo?

I had a recent encounter with Michelle Litjens, former Winnebago County Republican Chair and now Vice Chair of the Wisconsin Republican 6th Congressional District. Let me begin by saying, she is a very nice person and I admire anyone who puts into action what they believe. Unfortunately, some of those things she believes are misguided and just wrong thinking.

For example, she was talking about how she just loves her health savings account (HSA) and fervently believes that we should "let the market work" with respect to health insurance. I don't know about letting the market work--isn't that how we got into such a mess now? It's all well and good that she and her husband have the money to put into an HSA. Not everyone does. Some people are just scraping by and making it from paycheck to paycheck. She proceeded to denigrate the "Healthy Wisconsin" plan that is endorsed by the AFL-CIO in Wisconsin. (Read about the Healthy Wisconsin plan here: http://www.healthywisconsin.net/Healthy_Wisconsin__The_Deta.html )

She made it sound like it would be a handout of health care to everyone--she apparently didn't read the fine print or is just echoing the Republican legislator point of view. She then went to to give personal reflections on her advice to some of her tenants (she and her husband run a home rental business) who have no health insurance. She has guided them to go and apply for Badger Care. Now, excuse me for pointing this out, but if we are painting the proposed health care reform system as a bad thing and a government handout(which it really isn't), then why would you in the next breath guide people to another health care program that is, at least in the Republican mind as best as I can figure it out, a government handout program. I don't get it.

I'm trying to understand what Republicans want with respect to health care. Michelle is a proponent of personal responsibility, some tenets which I actually agree with. She carries the idea a little too far for me and a lot of others. Are Republicans truly following the call of their churches with respect to the idea of caring for the poor? Last week in our church bulletin, there was an interesting insert on "Faithful Citizenship". I hope Michelle and other Republicans at church read this thoroughly. I know I did. I also went to the website for the Catholic church to read more about it: http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/
In the website, the document with the title of "Forming consciences for faithful citizenship" tells the reader multiple times in many different ways that everyone should have the right to health care, that it is our moral responsibility to make sure that everyone does. If we "let the market work" as the Republicans echo, will everyone have health care or will only the wealthiest amongst us end up with health care?

--LC1

A little history....

From the DC AFL-CIO This week in Labor History (scroll down)
During the Great Depression, the Seattle Library Board announces it will fire married women if their husbands have jobs and can support them. Nine are fired; 14 others keep their positions by submitting affidavits and swearing to the fact that their husbands earned less than $100 a month (8/23/1932)

Good read---especially for Library folks

Perusing the AFSCME Library update today, I found the following:

Anatomy of the 88-Day Vancouver Library Strike Last Year
Library Journal Insider
July 28, 2008

So, what was it like during the lengthy strike last year against the Vancouver Public Library, BC? An Indomitable Spirit: The Eight Hundred of CUPE 391," (PDF) by Anita Galanopoulos et al., first appeared in the Winter 2007/2008 issue of Progressive Librarian. LJ covered the strike off and on, and the local news media did so as well, but these reflections by workers on strategy, solidarity, pay equity, and professional commitment are worth a read.


I read a bit of this and was especially amused at the paragraph about the Knit Picketers, Knitting in Solidarity. LC1 and I would have definitely fit in with this group.

I guess this is a great way to come out of the warm, fuzzy knitting world we've been hiding in, stay tuned for some summer updates, Labor Day, and of course, the Chicks always interesting viewpoints on politics and the upcoming elections

--LC2

Interesting video

Here's a thought-provoking video on voting Republican:

http://imvotingrepublican.com/

Enjoy!

--LC1

Thought for the day....

If you're interested in more of this stuff, look on Alisson Burda's website...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5592046&order=&section_id=&page=1

It's HI-larious.

--LC1

Organizing Roadtrip

Last week, LC2 had the opportunity to go out of state to help with an organizing drive at a university in New England. I'm not being real specific about the place, since management is making the union sound like we are a marauding pack of thugs trying to take the money from their poor, defenseless employees. There has been a concerted effort to make the employees believe that they will be taken care of by the administration, with their best interest in mind. Needless to say, there are horror stories out there amongst the employees, and even though they are well paid, their benefits, especially health care are starting to be eroded. There are also issues with policy interpretation, explanations change from one hour to the next and folks really have a hard time with classification issues. It shouldn't be a surprise to know that with this kind of atmosphere, the "pseudo" process on campus for employee greivances is not very functional. Despite these issues, the employees are scared, many not wanting to be seen talking to a person from "da union". More on that....

Anyhow, to avoid being googled and this being spread all over, I'll just use this photo to tell you what state I was in:





I arrived on Wednesday and met the folks I'd be working with for the next few days. The group included 4 of us from midwest universities, coming to spread the good news of the union. The governor recently signed an exec. order allowing for organizing on campuses. The requirement is to be able to get 50% + 1 of the employees to sign a union card. As a result, there are two international unions working on organizing the campus. As a result, there is even more pressure being put on the employees to sign cards and back one union or another....in addition to being fed misinformation by the administration. Here's the office for the union I believe will best represent the employees!

The campus is beautiful with flowering trees and bushes, old buildings mixed with new, construction going on. The perfect picture of a thriving campus. But, yet, the employees are being told that there is not a lot of money to pay for generous raises AND the health insurance they have grown used to. One of the stories an HR manager used in an email to employees stated, "she didn't know how she would find the $32 a month to pay union dues, as a single parent, she'd have to make her daughter give up dance lessons". Needless to say, organizers who were single parents had real issues with that. Being a single parent trying to make ends meet is about more than dance lessons that cost a whole lot more than $32 anyhow. Another "tale" being spread by the HR department is that the union would "take away" their benefits. Hmmmmmmm......... Guess those health insurance increase don't count as taking benefits away. But, that is what the union is up against here.

The building to the left in the above photo is the library. LC2 did go there. There is support there (of course, library workers are usually pro-union). I had a great conversation with a librarian at the reference desk. The Faculty ARE represented on this campus, and the one I spoke with believed that the staff need a union. The Faculty just finished a prolonged contract negotiation, but, came out with a good settlement, both economic and benefits. This will be a great tool for the staff organizing drive.

In previous Organizing experiences, I've encountered folks who were against joining a union. This was the first time I experienced folks who were scared to even talk. We spent time leafletting the first day. This was our first taste of the problems we would face. Talking to folks as they left the parking lots (oh ya, parking fees are also a big issue), we encountered reluctance to talk with us. That reluctance grew as the day went on. Spending time in an area with the shops and IT department, we encountered real resistance to our message. At one point, we spotted employees watching out a window. It was close to quitting time, yet no one came out of the building.....until we left. The same thing happened when we tried again to talk at break time the next morning. After we left, folks came out. In the shops, usually a pretty easy place to go and talk to folks, our two blue collar brothers from the midwest were met with a very cold shoulder by their colleages.

I went into the IT building and had a conversation with an employee tearing down a computer lab. Making small talk and IT chit chat, I started having a pretty good conversation, including talking a bit about the union. As soon as another employee came in however, she clammed up, and the other employee started in on the "who is that, they aren't supposed to be in here". Oh, well, you gotta try!

In the same complex as the facilities shops, the IT building, the HR Dept. had their offices. This is a site 1 mile off the main campus. So much for HR being where the employees can deal with them face to face. Guess they have to hide out so they don't have to face the folks they're messing with.

That evening, an event was held at the union office to allow employees to come and meet the organizers off campus. That was where I heard some horrow stories, but, also had some very fulfilling conversations with folks with questions about the union. At least we were able to give them real answers, and not the misinformation that HR is spewing out.

There is some tough work that needs to be done here, but, fortunately there are some leaders coming out of the employees who are willing to be upfront about supporting the union. My concern is that management will use one of them as an example and give them grief for supporting the union. When something like that happens, it can either help the cause, or scare other supporters away.

The second day produced successes and more frustration. We traveled around campus talking to employees and trying to get the truth out. The group I was with got to ride with one of the pro-union employees to an off campus site on the water. Although the employee out there was not willing to support the union, she understood the need "others" probably had for one. It was interesting talking, since she did not have the spector of HR hanging over her head.

After debriefing, the local organizers got ready for a "summit" the next morning. This was going to involve planning between the organizers, the local supporters and those visiting from other campuses. Unfortunately, most of us from the midwest had to make our planes to return home and weren't able to participate. Hope it went well.

In between a lot of walking and talking, there was some time for some great seafood meals in the evening (this was New England after all). We also had some time for really kicking back on Friday night at a bar serving micro-brew. This is called a "Paddle" and features 10 samples of the various brews. LC2, was one of two who finished every glass.

Other then meals, there was little time for sightseeing. But, I took a backroad to the airport to see Derry, the location of many Stephen King novels. LC1 is a big fan. Note, the play that is being done at the Derry Opera House soon---Little Shop of Horrors.

Good luck to the employees, know that the union is your best avenue for gaining a voice on campus.

Stay tuned for a report on the WCLC Labor Dinner and the Chicks contract.

In Solidarity.

--LC2

......Holy Pic update.....

Went to our Labor Council meeting this evening. Apparently our labor council president was asked to be there--the night before (he had offered himself up a month before, with no takers). Of course, he's been really busy working on the movie stuff right now, being the IATSE business agent for the region which stretches from roughly the Fox Valley to the Michigan/Wisconsin border and halfway across the state, so he was not able to come pose for pics as the token union person on such short notice. But the pictured folks did ask him for information on how the money stuff positively influenced the community, yadda yadda and gave him no credit for such information. As a fellow union person, I can relate--we don't really appreciate being trotted out as token people and then told to go back to doing grunt work with hardly any recognition of organized labor and ordinary folks contributions. Kinda gets to you after while.

--LC1

Posin' for Holy Pictures

This picture appeared in the photo gallery on the Oshkosh Northwestern website detailing the set teardown in Oshkosh's downtown after the departure of the movie making people for "Public Enemies". While the Labor Chicks political bent is of the Democratic Party and everything and we don't want to not give these people in this photo any credit for helping in whatever small way they did with facilitating the way for the movie being made here, we have one small thing we would like to point out. Where are the union members in this picture, particularly IATSE members who worked their butts off getting everything set up, built, painted, and torn down for this shoot in Oshkosh? This makes this Labor Chick feel a little steamy under the collar (so what if it's a pink collar--ya wanna make somethin' of it?). The IATSE people actually did work hard to help get the tax break legislation in place in our state and had to actually convince the AFL-CIO that it was a good thing as well.

And....what were IATSE members doing during the Holy Picture shoot?

See for yourself:



'Nuff said.

--LC1

1930s era gangster violence hits for real in Detroit

I read in the New York Times this morning about a melee which occurred at the Labor Notes conference last weekend in Detroit. The story in a nutshell (which was not easy to find) is essentially that the California Nurses Association has been attempting to organize nurses in Ohio. SEIU is not pleased and sent a contingent of SEIU protesters to the Labor Notes conference to disrupt it.

I am appalled that some amongst the labor community would like to bring back the mob-style tactics of the past. We don't need that sort of thing going on. I'm not suggesting we all join hands and sing kumbaya, but for heavens sake, knock off the violence and disruptive tactics and TALK TO EACH OTHER.

Read more about the goings on here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/us/16labor.html?ref=us

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/15/175916/721/535/495763

--LC1

Love your library workers!

Happy National Library Week! Today is an especially good day because it is National Library Workers Day.





Have a book mark!

--LC1

Welcome to Oshywood

Filming for "Public Enemies" started on Friday at Pioneer Airport. It starts downtown tomorrow.

Here's a job related sign we saw in a fake soup kitchen on the "set":

Yow--who could live on money like that? Of course, collective bargaining and unions weren't really in full swing until the late 1930s, or you would never have seen something like this. Women's work wasn't valued as highly then. Hey, wait a minute, is it now? Men still get paid higher wages.

More pics from downtown, which was a crazy scene today.

Hey, IATSE 470, could you keep the fake billboards up? They are much better looking than that fountain.

Main Street never looked so good.

--LC1

Hollywood comes to Oshkosh

The Labor Chicks took a trip to the monthly Gallery Walk. It was crazy downtown....normally the Gallery Walk brings a lot of people, but, it was especially busy tonight with a lot of folks down to see what is going on with getting the area ready for filming for Public Enemy. The first photo is normally the Exclusive Company, but it will be a Walgreens drug store during the filming.

The New Moon is a restaurant for the movie--notice all the folks on the street! The transformation is amazing thanks to the hard work of the members of IATSE 470....painting, props in windows, replacing windows.

The filming for this movie, last month in Columbus, this month in Oshkosh and also Manitowish Waters is the result of a tax incentive now being offered to film companies for using Wisconsin locations. IATSE was one of the promoters of the legislation to allow this, with a great deal of support from Lt. Gov. Lawton. The Winnebago County Labor Council also promoted the legislation.

The result is, if nothing else, folks from around the state discovering downtown Oshkosh and seeing that there is something going on down there (besides the filming.)

Kudos IATSE, for your work on getting the legislation, and for your hard and skillful work in bringing downtown Oshkosh back to another era.

After all....doesn't every downtown need a hosiery store!

American Library Association Honors Russ Feingold

Since libraries are an important part of the LC's lives (as they should be for anyone interested in facts and information), we were happy to see ALA recognizing Senator Russ Feingold. See the ALA press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2008Contacts: Zach Lowe (202) 224-8657
FEINGOLD HONORED FOR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
American Library Association Honors Feingold with the 2008 James Madison Award American Library Association President Dr. Loriene Roy presents Senator Russ Feingold with the 2008 James Madison award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has been awarded the 2008 James Madison award from the American Library Association for his work to champion, protect, and promote public access to government information. Feingold has been a Senate leader on strengthening the Freedom of Information Act, reforming lobbying disclosure rules, restricting data mining and the use of National Security Letters, and seeking greater public access to court proceedings. I am honored to receive this award from a group that is dedicated to enhancing learning and ensuring access to information, Feingold said. When the workings of government are transparent, the American people can more readily hold their public officials accountable. Our government will better respond to the concerns of the American people if it is open for public scrutiny.

It is an honor to extend the congratulations and sincerest gratitude of the American Library Association to Senator Russ Feingold, a true public servant for openness and public disclosure of government information during his long and distinguished career, ALA President Loriene Roy said.

Feingold has been a leader in supporting legislation improving transparency in government. Feingold is a cosponsor of legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by ensuring that agencies act on FOIA requests in a timely manner and empowering citizens to track their FOIA requests. Feingold also spearheaded legislation that improves lobbying disclosure and bans gifts from lobbyists to members of Congress. In addition, Feingold has introduced legislation requiring federal agencies to report to Congress on data mining programs, which are capable of analyzing millions of records on every American, as well as legislation cutting back on the overbroad authority granted to the FBI in the USA Patriot Act to use National Security Letters to obtain sensitive information about innocent Americans without judicial review.

WCLC Solidarity Dinner

Below is information on the annual Winnebago County Labor Council Solidarity Dinner. This annual event is held in conjunction with Workers Memorial Day to honor workers who have died in work related accidents or work related illnesses. This event also celebrates the acheivements of local labor. All are welcome to attend.

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND OUR 7TH ANNUAL SOLIDARITY DINNER

SATURDAY APRIL 26TH, 2008
DELTA RESTAURANT 515 N. SAWYER STREET
OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN
6:00PM TILL 10:00PM
(DINNER STARTS AT 7:00PM SHARP)
Guest Speaker
Senator Dave Hansen
- -
Additional speakers include
-State Representative Gordon Hintz-
DINNER INCLUDES - HAM WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE, BAKED CHICKEN, GARLIC MASHED POTATOES, GREEN BEANS, BREAD AND CORN.
SOFT DRINKS, COFFEE, ICED TEA & DOMESTIC BEER ARE INCLUDED.
(CASH BAR AVAILABLE)
$15.00 PER PERSON



Name: ________________________
# of tickets______________________

Address: ______________________________________________________

Union: ________________________
Total Enclosed: $ _________________

Please Mail by April 18th, 2007 to WCLC 2211 Oregon Street, Suite A3 Oshkosh, WI 54901

Blog rant

LC1 has chastised me for my posting, but, I'm sorry, when I see misinformation and rude comments, I can't help it. I've got one thing to add to what I wrote, unless my post doesn't make it to Kent Monte's blog, which, mine usually don't because I'm not just spreading foul thoughts and misinformation. (note-3/20/08--just to keep the record straight, Kent did allow my posting to be published---I feel so special). Whoever made the crack on there about AFSCME being a union for lazy folks is full of @#$!. Make all the smart comments you want, but, like I said, who do you think is dealing with all the beautiful potholes in our fair city. Who picks up your smelly garbage, plows the snow? Who works in the Correctional Institutions to watch the people convicted of crime--having crap thrown at them,etc? Who cleaned up Oshkosh after the wind storm in 2001. Who helped in the recovery and clean up after 9/11, who ran the last ferry to help folks get out of New Orleans during the hurricane? It was AFSCME members. Don't call us lazy damn it!

(LC1 editing here--

Watch this colorful language video on YouTube for more information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3mw49mk_x0

You got that a$%*(^#? )

In addition to that, AFSCME probably represents more employees in Winnebago County then the UAW (oh shudder). If you add the state employees here to the city/county group, we're a pretty formidible number. AFSCME is one of the only unions in the country that has grown over the past decade because we work hard at organizing.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

---LC2

Defending our honor

LC2 just told me she descended into the evil maelstrom of Oshkosh blogdom and posted on one local blog (you figure out which one), defending our honor on one of the more toxic blogs in the city.

Why is local politics, especially the blog scene, so horrible in this city? Is it that the combination of stupidity and a big speaker via the internet is a really dangerous combination?

Keep in mind that I have a big knitting bag full of pointy sticks. They can go up against the pointy heads in this city any time in a more creative way. At least I'm making something useful with my knitting. The uncreative narrow minded blogs, not so much.

--LC1

I am armed with pointy sticks

I am armed with pointy sticks--don't piss me off. Perhaps it is better when knitting to not discuss politics or any other hot button issues since the participants in said discussion are armed with potential weapons. All I'm saying is.

Now, be that as it may, I have to report that we knit with some folks who don't share our political persuasion. Perish the thought, I know, but we try to not discuss any politics there because believe it or not, Republicans and Democrats can be friends. Pick yourself up off the floor now--it's not that bad. Honestly, we're all people. However, that doesn't mean that perhaps our good vibes and stuff may turn our friends back to our side. You never know. I'll take what I can get.

--LC1

Buh bye, Carol

It must be the election cycle for those named Carol to retire. Carol Roessler just announced she's not running again. Woo hoo. This should up the amount of money others running in the race have to come up with. Bummer.

It will be interesting seeing what kinds of yahoos come out of the woodwork to run now. (Jess King who already announced, is not a yahoo, for the record).

--LC1

Endorsement go'round

Apparently the Chicks have been kinda busy and intent on ignoring the world while we are absorbed in the kindler, gentler world of knitting. Unfortunately, that world crashed down yesterday afternoon when I heard about the flap going 'round in Oshkosh blogland over the WCLC endorsements (see previous post). I just have a few short comments. Short, because if I start going on and get worked up about this again, LC1 will kill me and feed me to the cats for supper. Ha, I'd probably end up giving the cats the chirpy's after they eat. Anyhow....

It constantly amazes me when someone running for political office says that endorsements don't mean anything. Yet, the discussions and hand wringing over the endorsements and the press release associated with them makes me think that is not true. If WCLC endorsements are baseless and meaningless, then why are you whining about not getting endorsed? Hmmmm??????

Second comment about the process, then I'm done. No, WCLC did not send out questionaires to the candidates. Since OEA is a participant in WCLC, we based our endorsement on the questionaires and interviews that they did. This isn't the first time that the Labor Council has used the work done by our affiliates to assist in our endorsement process. Two AFSCME Council 24 locals regularly sponsor candidate forums for state offices. The council helps put the event together and helps get them on cable, but, the organization mostly done by Local 579 and 48. Many of the questions are pertinent to State Employees mixed with some general labor questions. However, the Labor Council endorsement is made based on those forums. Labor folk are busy with work, union work and trying to have a life. Sometimes we try to work together with our affiliates and other "friends" to all get to the same base.

So, if you're not a WCLC member or affiliate, don't whine about our process. If you are a candidate and didn't get endorsed, either ignore it and move on with your life...get over it.

'nuf said.....

LC2