Call to Action! Rallies To Stop The Wage Theft Bill

There are currently three events scheduled to protest the wage theft bill that Scott Walker and company wants to ram down our throats.

The first one is in Milwaukee on Monday, February 23 at Zeidler Union Square at 5 pm.

The other two are both in Madison on Tuesday, February 24 and Wednesday, February 25, at noon on the State Street side of the Capitol.

There is also this:

The Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform will be holding a hearing Tuesday, February 24.  Please join us at 9:00 a.m. to testify in opposition of Right to Work.

You can also CONTACT your legislators in opposition of Right to Work. The legislative hotline is:  1-800-362-9472

Sign the petition to stop Right to Work in Wisconsin.

Now is not the time to give up. Other states have beaten back this attack because they never surrendered and never gave up.

Yes, we have been beaten down a helluva lot in the past four years and we will probably get beaten down several more times.

But it doesn't matter how many times we get beaten down. The only thing - the only thing - that matters is how many times we get back up.

And then there is this:

At a gathering Sunday of influential Wisconsin workers and political activists, a unanimous decision was made regarding how to respond to news that the Republican majority in the state legislature plans to ram through so-called “right to work” legislation this week.

Wisconsin’s union and non-union workers have apparently had enough and today every person at the gathering voted in favor of calling for a general strike if the legislation is passed.

The attack on families by the legislature comes just a couple weeks after the release of the Wisconsin governor’s proposed biennial budget, which contains cuts of historic proportions to education, health care, state parks - even an attack on the University of Wisconsin where the governor proposed eliminating  “the search for truth” from the University’s mission statement.

The AFL-CIO (which was not represented at the gathering) is sponsoring a rally at the state Capitol on Tuesday. Groups who were represented at today’s gathering plan to use that opportunity to call for the strike, which they are confident will be honored by a wide cross-section of private-sector and public-sector employees, union and non-union workers, and students.

Are you ready to make a stand for your rights?

Call To Action! Help Milwaukee's Foster Children!

For those who were unaware or might have forgotten, I had worked for the child welfare system in Milwaukee County from 1995 to 2001.  At the time, the system was struggling because Republicans like  Tommy Thompson, Alberta Darling, Margaret Farrow and Scott Walker thought it perfectly fine to short change the system.

It wasn't fine and when they were caught out in their lies and malfeasance, they chose to cover it up by taking over the system themselves.  Despite spending extra tens of millions of dollars each year, the system hasn't really improved.

Last summer, I wrote about how it was about to get much, much worse:

Sadly, it appears that things are about to get much worse. 

I have received an email pointing out that the state, in an effort to recruit more employees, have lowered the standards required for the job.  Where it once required the employee to have at least a Bachelor's Degree in social work or other related fields, the bar has been substantially dropped. 

The application to work for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) is more concerned if the applicant has a driver's license than the appropriate education and experience.  In fact, you don't even need to be a college graduate anymore to be hired, which should scare the heck out of anyone who cares about children.

I have also been informed that the BMCW has about 50 openings at this time.  The lowering of requirements and credentials is no doubt a move to fill these positions with warm bodies, whether they are qualified or not, and to do so on the cheap.

The good news is now is your time to call them out on their failure and put pressure on them to do the right thing.

The Partnership Council, their steering committee if you will, is holding a community meeting this Friday, March 28th.  The meeting will be from 12 noon to 2 pm and will be held at 635 N. 26 St.

If you are available, please come to the meeting and tell the Council that the children deserve to have workers with the appropriate training and education.  If they claim that they can't find such workers, remind them that they need to look at they way they treat their workers and to pay them an adequate salary.

Abused and neglected children have already suffered more than they ever should have.  They don't need to have their lives made worse because corporate politicians don't want to spare a few bucks to ensure they are receiving good services and qualified workers.

Call To Action - Defend Public Education

From WEAC:

Defend Public Education - Email Your State Legislators  It is no secret that the powers that be in the state legislature and the governor's office seek to radically alter public education as we have known it in Wisconsin. The first volley in the new legislative session comes in the form of Assembly Bill 549 - a bill to expand privately run charter schools across Wisconsin with resources meant for public schools. AB549 is scheduled for a public hearing before the Committee on Urban Education on Thursday, Jan. 9. Even if you can't be there, you can register your opposition and disgust to your legislators and the committee by visiting WEAC's Action Alert Website. The clear intent of AB549 is to rapidly expand privately run charter schools at the expense of public schools. These schools are not accountable to communities and their locally elected school boards. They are not staffed by school district employees. Ample research on privately run charter schools shows that they do not perform as well as public schools that serve the same students. The basic facts about privately run charter schools are: 1) They can set the number of slots for students. Unlike our public schools, they are not required to serve all children. They have no obligation to take students on in the middle of a school year. 2) They can set behavioral and academic standards that promote the exclusion of certain students. Gaming the system by "cherry picking" and "shedding" students is how many "high performing" charter operators boost their test scores and claim success. 3) They deprive families and communities of important rights like due process for expulsions, services for special needs students, local election of school governance and open records/meetings requirements. Please take a minute to email your state legislators urging them to oppose AB 549 and further expansion of unaccountable, privately run charter schools. More Background from the Institute for Wisconsin's Future Wisconsin's public schools are the heart of every community in our state and the best way possible to give all children a shot at a world-class education. AB549 chokes off the flow of blood to that heart by taking power out of the hands of locally elected school boards, spreading for-profit schools across the state, and doing it with resources meant for our public school children. AB549 is bad for our children, bad for our public schools, and bad for the way of life we call Wisconsin. Tell the members of the Committee that public education works, we need to reinvest in our world-class public schools, and they should protect the local control that has worked in our communities for well over a century. AB549 expands charter schools not controlled by local school districts. The expansion of independent charters and other so-called education reforms have been made a priority by Assembly speaker Robin Vos, who said bills will be included in the session that begins soon .... a session Vos said he wants to end by March. That could explain why the bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Urban Education instead of the "regular" education committee where it would probably receive more consideration and thoughtful discussion. It is also, oddly, the only bill assigned to the committee (a group that has only came into existence recently). The main sponsors, a pair of legislators who have authored more than their share of anti-public education bills, are Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Dale Kooyenga. According to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), AB549 makes possible a statewide expansion of independent charter schools and makes it possible for students in any district to attend an independent charter school located anywhere in the state. If adopted, this legislation would allow the University of Wisconsin System schools (two-year and four-year campuses) and technical colleges to authorize independent charter schools in the county in which they are located or an adjacent county. It allows cooperative educational service agencies (CESA's) to authorize independent charters within their boundaries. Perhaps most importantly in the short-run, AB549 has profound and negative school-funding implications. Under the bill, per-pupil payments for all of these new "schools" would come from a reduction in general aid paid to every public school district in the state. Currently, that would be about $64 million statewide that will only grow if this bill is passed. Our public schools are part of every community in the state. Their job is to make sure every child has the opportunity for a world-class education. Our job, through our elected officials, is to make sure that those communities have the resources to deliver those opportunities. Instead, with bills like AB549 state government is trying to defund and destroy what has worked so well for all of us. You need to tell your legislators you expect their vote to uphold public education as a value we all hold dear ...  and that you will hold them accountable for doing just that.

Protect American Workers, Protect American Jobs Rally

Click to embiggen

Call To Action - Milwaukee Protest Of Scott Walker

From Facebook:

Scott Walker will be giving a presentation at the EMS building tomorrow at 8 am. Lets make sure he has a massive welcoming party to demand that he stop the attacks on public workers, women, public education and the environment! Meet in Spaights' Plaza (center quad at UWM)

Consider this as a warm up for State Fair next month.

Day Of Action - May 15

From the inbox:

More info and sign up sheet here.

Community Protest Against Slashing The County Board

From the Facebook event:

Wednesday, January 16th at 10:00 AM at the downtown transit center 909 E. Michigan St - Join MICAH, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the NAACP, Voces De La Frontera, the League of Young Voters, and other community organizations as we respond to the proposal to slash the county board.

If enacted, the Sanfelippo/Darling proposal would mandate drastic cuts to the County Board ensuring that critical programs such as mental health services, mass transit, parks and recreation, and our criminal justice system will be incapable of best serving the needs of Milwaukee County Residents.

Milwaukee County residents shouldn't be fooled by Republican pro-democracy talking points. This process is nothing more than a sham. The referendum is being written in Madison by people who have an ax to grind against Milwaukee. It is being pushed by the conservative, pro-big business Greater Milwaukee Committee, and it will consolidate power in the hands of the very people who have a vested interest in controlling the resources of Milwaukee County without benefiting the people who live here.

The County Board has overridden vetoes of both Governor Walker and County Executive Able to protect vital social services, parks and public transportation. This proposal ends that critical system of checks and balances, consolidating power in the County Executive’s office.

WE MUST FIGHT BACK! Join us Wednesday as we demand that the State Legislature take this ridiculous proposal off the table and focus on creating jobs.

This proposal doesn't create a single job, doesn't put a single resident back to work, and does nothing to restore voters’ faith in state lawmakers ability to put the best interests of residents above party politics. We need more people working, not more partisan power grabs.

Call To Action!: Give Ann Romney A Warm "Other 47%" Welcome

Ann Romney, the Marie Antoinette to Mitt's Louis XVI, will be coming to Milwaukee on Thursday morning for a fund raiser for her hubby.

A group of groups, including We Are Wisconsin, are forming a reception committee to welcome her not only as the 47%, but in the way only Angry Badgers can.

The warm Wisconsin welcome is from 8:30 am to 10 am and will be at the Old Gym at Marquette University.

Let them know that ignoring the 47% is a very bad decision to make.

And if that's not enough, I would not be surprised if Scott Walker, Rebecca Kleefisch and the  other Republithugs will be there as well.

Call To Action: MTA Press Conference and Rally

Since Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele thinks that the voters should not be heard unless they buy the right to do so, Move to Amend and United Wisconsin will be making sure he hears our voices for free.

Long story short: Milwaukee County Courthouse, south end, Monday August 27, 10:30 am.

Details are at Milwaukee County First.

Call To Action: Help Reclaim Wisconsin's Airwaves!

I've told you how WTMJ and WISN radio stations are violating federal law, namely the Zapple Doctrine.

I've shared the story of the press rally calling out these mouthpieces of WISGOP and Scott Walker.

Now it's your turn to help reclaim our airwaves and have the radio stations follow the law like they're supposed to.

And it's real easy to do.

Just sign this petition telling the FCC to enforce the law like they're supposed to.

Solidarity Action Alert

Even as everyone is fighting the war to take our state back from the corrupt and unethical Republicans and their masters, we cannot lose sight of the smaller battles, such as the fact that MPS is looking to attack their part timers.  Thus, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council has issued a call to action:

PLEASE JOIN SEIU Local 150 and the MTEA who will be picketing outside of the MPS Central Administration Building, 5525 W. Vliet, on Tuesday, May 15th.  They will be protesting the elimination of health insurance and dental benefits to their members who work less than 30 hours a week.  In the wake of Scott Walkers budget cuts, MPS is proposing a new handbook that basically dismantles the union contracts and workers rights and benefits.  The rally is scheduled for 5:45 pm, but we are asking for folks to be there at 5:30.  There will also be a public hearing at 6:30 for folks to express their outrage about these cuts.   

PLEASE COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

See you there!

Tell Obama To Nominate New FEC Commissioners

Tired of our government being controlled by Big Business? Do you want a government that is truly of the people, by the people and for the people?

Then sign this online petition telling President Barack Obama to nominate new commissioners to the Federal Election Commission:

We expect candidates for federal office to follow our campaign finance laws, but the FEC – the agency charged with enforcing those laws – is completely dysfunctional.

Three of the six commissioners staunchly refuse to enforce the law and five of the six are serving despite expired terms.

Prior to your election, you professed support for campaign finance reform. We agree with you that the Citizens United Supreme Court decision was disastrous and the failure of Congress to require disclosure of campaign-related spending was outrageous. Nevertheless, you have failed to appoint new commissioners who actually would enforce such laws.

To restore some faith into the democratic process, we urge you to nominate new commissioners to the FEC prior to the 2012 elections.

Who Do You Know Wants To Go Canvassing?

Here ya go! A listing of the canvassing spots around the state:


Northeast Wisconsin Region
• Green Bay (SD2)
2256 Main St
Office Phone #920-469-1944
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 3pm
Email: GBnortheast@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Kaukauna (SD2)
We Are Wisconsin, 131 E.2nd St.
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 3pm
Office Phone #920-469-1944
Email: GBnortheast@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Rhinelander (SD12)
We Are Wisconsin, 315 South Oneida Ave., Suite 215
Saturday – 10am and 1pm
Sunday - 12Noon
Office Phone # 715-513-9515
Email: SD12@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Merrill (SD12) –
We Are Wisconsin, 1018 ½ E. Main
Office Phone # 715-513-9515
Email: SD12@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW
Northwestern Wisconsin Region
• Hudson (SD10)
901 4th Street, #101
Saturday – 10am and 1pm
Sunday – 12Noon
Email: sd10@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• River Falls (SD10)
111 West Walnut St.
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon, 2pm and 4pm
Email: sd10@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Menomonie (SD10)
105 N. 21st Street
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon, 2pm, and 4pm
Email: sd10@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW


Central Wisconsin
• Baraboo (SD14)
We Are Wisconsin Office, 215 8th Ave
Saturday – 10am and 1pm
Sunday – 1pm
Email: Sd14@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Ripon (SD14) - Office
311 Watson Ave
Saturday – 10am and 1pm
Sunday – 1pm
Email: Sd14@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Fond du Lac (SD18)
Winnebagoland Uniserv, 325 Trowbridge Dr
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 4pm
Office Phone #920-215-1634
Email: SD18@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Oshkosh (SD18)
105 Washington Ave
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 4pm
Office Phone #920-215-1634
Email: SD18@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW
Milwaukee Region
• Milwaukee (SD8)
We are WI, 6918 W. Brown Deer Road
Saturday – 10-6pm
Sunday – 12Noon – 6pm
Office Phone #414-581-6112
Email: SD8@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• Milwaukee (SD8)
Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road
Saturday – 9am-4pm
Office Phone #414-771-7070 x12
Email: SD8@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW
Southeastern Wisconsin Region
• Kenosha (SD22)
UAW Local 72, 3615 Washington Rd.
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 3pm
Email: sd22@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

Southwestern Wisconsin Region
• Madison
Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street
Saturday – 9:30am – 6pm
Sunday – 11am – 8pm
Office Phone #608-206-9451
Email: wawmadison@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

• La Crosse (SD32)
423 Jay Street
Saturday – 10am, 1pm and 4pm
Sunday – 12Noon and 3pm
Email: sd32@allianceforabetterwi.org
http://bit.ly/onlinesignupforWAW

Holy Action Alerts, Batman!

Lots of events and calls to action going on right now, folks.

First up, they're looking for massive amounts of volunteers to help with the Supreme Court recount activities.  If you have any time to volunteer, just email KloppenburgVolunteer@gmail.com and give them your name, cell phone (or preferred phone) number, your email address, your city/county, the dates you would be available between 4/26 and 5/9, and whether you would be willing to travel.

Then there are the Paul Ryan "listening" sessions.  You can ask Congressman Ryan about his anti-worker, anti-middle class, anti-elderly budget at these sessions, which are all on Thursday, April 28th:

11:15 am to 12:15 pm

Franklin High School gymnasium

8222 S. 51st St

(attendees should park in the lower student parking lot

1:30-2:30 pm

Oak Creek Police Department

301 W. Ryan Rd.

3-4:15 pm

Whitnall High School auditorium

5000 S. 116th St.

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Also on Thursday, April 28th, from 5-6 pm, there will be a Worker's Memorial Day Event at Zeilder Union Square Park (310 Michigan St).  This event will be immediately followed by the Fight Like Hell for the Living Fundraiser for WisCOSH Inc. This will be held at the APWU Hall, 417 N.3rd St. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

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Also Thursday, at 6:30 pm, will be the Democratic Budget Hearing, which will be at the West Allis Library, 7421 W. National Ave.

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On Saturday, April 30th, there will be the Thunda around the Rotunda Rally at Madison.  Details can be found here.

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Sunday, May 1, will be the Mayday Solidarity March  The march begins at 1:30 at the Voces de la Frontera, located at 1027 S. 5th St and end up in Veterans Park for the rally which starts at 3 pm. 

Call To Action - Make The Call Today!!

Fellow Supporters of Milwaukee County-

Things are really starting to move in regarding the much needed dedicated funding for our transit system and our parks system.

The state legislature is poised to consider two very important bills.

One is SB-511, which is the bill that would allow Milwaukee County to pass the half-cent sales tax for the transit system as the prelude to the RTA.

On January 19, Governor Doyle was joined by many of the area’s business leaders, each of whom pointed out that a sustainable, and even extended transit system would be good for not only their businesses, but for the entire regional economy. Without a doubt, the fact that our transit system, which has been cut by some 20% over the last few years, has contributed to the fact that the Milwaukee area lost nearly 50,000 jobs in the last year, as well as why we are lagging in our economic recovery.

No less important, even though it is receiving less attention, is AB-504, which would provide the vehicle for getting dedicated funding for our parks system. And as has been proven in New York City, parks are also vital for a thriving economy:

Such cuts could turn out to actually cost the city money. Fine parks contribute to the economy by increasing property values and, as a result, real estate tax receipts. A 2008 analysis found that the completion of the Greenwich Village section of the Hudson River Park raised real estate prices in the adjacent two blocks by 20 percent.

[...]

Parks also attract tourists and residents who come to events and activities or who just want to enjoy the surroundings, generating economic activity inside and near the park. Central Park attracts more than 25 million visitors a year, about one fifth of whom come from outside the city, according to “The Central Park Effect,” which was prepared by the economic analysis firm Appleseed for the Central Park Conservancy. The study determined that in 2007, spending by visitors and enterprises in the city’s most famous park directly and indirectly accounted for $395 million in economic activity. This activity, as well as increases in property values near the park, generated $656 million in revenues for the city in 2007.

“Measuring the Economic Value of a City Park System,” released in April by the Center for City Park Excellence at The Trust for Public Land, analyzed seven ways that city parks provide economic benefits: property values, tourism, direct use, health, community cohesion, clean water and clean air. Starting with conservative assumptions of park use and other variables, researchers calculated dollar values for each of these benefits in a different city.

Even though supporters of Milwaukee County like yourself, as well as the other like minded groups, such as the Park People and the Coalition for the Advancement of Transit, have made many calls and sent many emails in support of these two bills, I have learned that there are some legislators that state they have hardly heard a peep in support of these two vital bills. This is especially true for the leggies that represent the suburban areas.

Please take a few minutes now to call and/or email your state representative and state senator and call on them to support this bill. Everyone needs to do this, but especially those that live in the suburbs.

If you don’t know who your representative or senator is, you can find out by clicking on this link.

We thank you in advance for supporting our community by making these important calls.

Cross posted at Milwaukee County First and other places.