Is Serb Hall's Fish Deep Fried?

Long time readers of this here blog might remember back almost six years ago to the saga of Serb Hall and the Solidarity Fish Fry.

The management at Serb Hall were trying to bust their union, blaming the union workers for costing them too much money. When we learned of the news, Randy Bryce (yes, THAT Randy Bryce) and I spearheaded one of the most unique direct actions in labor history.  Instead of the usual informational pickets or even a boycott, we organized the Solidarity Fish Fry.

The idea of the Solidarity Fish Fry was, instead of avoiding Serb Hall, everyone would go to Serb Hall every Friday for the then famous fish fry and eat to their heart's content.  The thing though was that when the people were to be seated, they needed to ask for a union table.  If a union table was not available, then you'd say you'd wait for one. 

The effects were clear on the first night when scores of people showed up for dinner.  Randy and I did this week in and week out for six straight months.  We had people from all walks of life - and from all parts of the globe - come join us to raise their forks in solidarity.

Unfortunately, it did not work out the way we had hoped.  During negotiations, the management declared an impasse and broke the union.  As it turned out, they also broke their own backs at the same time with businesses dropping as word got out.

The reason that I bring all this up now is that over the weekend, I had run into one of the union waitresses Randy and I and few score of our closest friends tried to help.  She said that she was still at Serb Hall but only part time because things were going to badly.

As we talked, two things that she said really struck me.

One, she said that Serb Hall's business had cratered so badly that they were having problems meeting payroll.  Sometimes workers were going for days after payday before receiving their checks, putting the worker's personal budgets into tailspins.

The other thing was that whatever money problems Serb Hall was having had nothing to do with the unions.  It turned out that one of the managers was embezzling tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.  But given the top manager's boorish and idiotic tendencies, I would not be surprised to learn that he new about it for a while but still blamed the unions.  I hope he's proud of killing the business out of spite and ignorant hatred.

Greed never wins.

ADDENDUM: Oh, Randy, if you're reading this, I'm supposed to tell you that the waitresses are cheering for you in your race to repeal and replace Lyin' Ryan!

Serb Hall Versus Solidarity

As long time readers of this here blog know, there had been a labor struggle going on at Serb Hall in Milwaukee,  The new management at Serb Hall wanted to throw away their long standing tradition of being the best known unionized restaurant in Southeast Wisconsin in order to squeeze a few more bucks of profit for themselves.  So they began mistreating their workers and bargaining in bad faith with them.

When we learned of the news, Randy Bryce of Ironworkers Local 8 and I felt we had to do something to show our support for the workers. But instead of the usual ways, like holding an informational rally in front of the restaurant, we wanted something more unique.  And thus was the beginning of the Solidarity Fish Fry.

The response we received when we came out with this idea was nothing short of phenomenal.  We had dozens of people coming each week, specifically asking for a union server and waiting if one was not available.

We had supporters come from all over Wisconsin and at least one support come all the way from England.  We even got a little national coverage for our unique way of showing support for the union workers.

We knew we were getting our message through to management because they kept trying to sabotage our efforts.  They would berate the union staff publicly.  The would berate their customers coming to support the union workers.  They would lie to people and try to seat them in non-union tables and telling them that they were indeed unions.

But we kept coming to show our support.

Despite the strong message we were sending, Serb Hall still kept maltreating their staff and bargaining in bad faith.  Even getting punished by the National Labor Relations Board was not enough to deter their greed (and to think that they are supposed to be affiliated with a church!).

But even then, we kept coming.

Finally, after six months, management sabotaged the contract negotiations and declared an impasse.  Management refused to return to the bargaining table.

So we stopped coming.

If Serb Hall wouldn't return to the bargaining table, we weren't going to return to their tables.

As Serb Hall continued to break the unions, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, which had held their monthly meetings there for years and years and years, decided that they too were done with Serb Hall.  On December 4, MALC held their last meeting there.

Not only will there be no more Solidarity Fish Fries or Labor Council meetings, but there will be no more union retirement or holiday parties or other union-related events there either.

This past Friday, as the fates would allow, was the first time that I happened to be near Serb Hall on a Friday night.  I was curious to see how they were faring now that the unions took a stronger showing of solidarity against them.  This is what I saw:

The place was dead.  Being the Friday before Christmas, one might have thought they'd be packed with holiday party goers or people just going out for a fish fry, not wanting to cook anything big before the holidays.  Instead, they were lucky if there were more than 20 cars in the parking lot.

I wonder how their profit margin is looking now.

On a final note, when I shared the news with Randy, he was so elated at this show of solidarity that - you guessed it - he had to just dance with joy:

Solidarity Fish Fry: The Primer

As I have reported, the management at Serb Hall has been trying to bust the union there.  Recently, they have shown their true selves and have declared an impasse in negotiations and are now being extremely abusive to the union members.

Due to this, we have stopped going to Serb Hall to eat, but have gone back to support our union brothers and sisters through education.

Randy Bryce drew up these fine informational fliers for us to distribute to people going to Serb Hall:

We had a small crew there to hand them out, including Randy, Representative Chris Sinicki, Richard Schwalb, and one of my tweeps, @runtodaylight.

Even though our crew was small, we had more than enough people since they weren't very busy at all:

Things were so slow that they had two busers out picking up garbage from the yard.

It took management about five minutes to realize we were out there and to keep sending people out to make sure we stayed on the sidewalk.

While we were distributing the literature, one car pulled up with a young priest in the passenger seat.  He asked what was going on and we gave him a flier and explained that we liked Serb Hall but that we didn't like that they were treating union workers so poorly.  He identified himself as a priest that formerly worked at the church which owns the hall.  He told us that he was on the way to the church for a meeting and would make sure that they knew what was happening.

That encounter alone made our efforts a success.

Sadly, our happiness didn't last long.

Shortly after the priest went on his way, another car pulled up.  Driving the car was Maryann, a union waitress who had been at Serb Hall for 38 years.  She told us how they cut her hours to one shift a week and then gave that shift away to one of the non-union workers.  The poor woman was in tears as she told us of the abuses they are suffering for having dared to stand up for their rights.

At about ten minutes before we were going to leave, a squad car pulled up.  A handful of people handing out leaflets was enough to get management so rattled that they called the police.  I can just imagine how that call went:

"Hello, 911? Yes, there is some union thugs in front of our business and they are causing all sorts of mayhem.  Worst of all, they have leaflets! Leaflets, I tell you!  No, leaflets...fliers, literature!  Yes, yes!  Can you send a hundred police to arrest them all?! It's pure chaos out there!"

While we were chatting with the officer, another squad car started to pull in until the first officer waved them off.  After chatting with the nice officer for a few minutes. we decided to stay for another 20 minutes to make a point.

Afterwards, we went to Clifford's Supper Club for the Solidarity Fish Fry.  We had the pleasure of having Rick and Linda Rumpel join us there:

All of the tables are long ones, so it fits our needs wonderfully.  And the management didn't mind having larger groups there, where Serb Hall can make it seem like expecting them to cater to the customers is too much for them to bear.

The all you can eat fish fry was more expensive than Serb Hall, but we all agreed that the fish was better at Clifford's.  The fish was large slabs of cod done to perfection.  The fish was moist but not underdone.  The fries weren't the greatest, but were still good.  The coleslaw was the creamy kind which I prefer over the vinegary type that Serb Hall serves.

The meal was served family style, although we had a very difficult time to get Randy to understand that included the tartar sauce:

We were even fortunate enough to have a former union waitress, so the service was pretty good.

True to the nature and spirit of the Solidarity Fish Fry, we made sure we left our "calling card":

As we were leaving, the waitress asked me what the message meant.  I was more than glad to explain it.  You never know when a seed will take root and grow into something beautiful.  (This is where I learned she used to be a union server until the place that she had worked for broke the union.  Now the business is gone.  Talk about a learning opportunity for Serb Hall!)

After dinner, my wife and I went back to Serb Hall to see how things were.  The dining hall was an echo chamber, it was that quiet.  Tim, the maitre d', was looking awfully bored.

Next week, we do it again, but we will turn it up a notch.  Get some poster board, some markers and make some signs.  Let's let people know that the way they are treating their employees is not only wrong, it is absolutely unacceptable.  We need enough people with enough signs to make sure everyone hears our voice, especially the board members.*

We will hold another informational rally at Serb Hall next Friday from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, and then we will adjourn to Clifford's for some more of that cod.  Man, it was good!

Let's do it up right and send our message loud and clear.

*And judging by the way Serb Hall's general manager was trolling my previous posts tonight, our small event had a big effect.  Imagine how much more of an effect it will be when they hear all of us next week!

PS: Does anyone know where we can get a giant Scabby the Rat costume for Randy?

Solidarity Fish Fry: Organize! Educate! Agitate!

As the gentle eater is aware, the management at Serb Hall has been trying to bust their unions for almost a year.  As we started the Solidarity Fish Fry to show our how bad things were there for the unions workers:
support for the union workers, we learned just

• Bad faith bargaining
• Being targets of harassment (like I just mentioned),
• Not being allowed to exercise protected rights,
• Management interrogating workers regarding union activities, and not allowing union representation be present,
• Stopped providing health care coverage
• Stopped providing dental coverage
• Discrimination against potential employees who might be eligible to join the union

And that doesn't include the boorish bully boy of a general manager, Tom Miller, harassing, verbally abusing and threatening union staff in front of the customers.  Fortunately for us, after he got caught on video treating customers poorly, he wasn't seen in public again.

Serb Hall's management was treating their employees so poorly and behaving so badly and illegally that they were reprimanded by the National Labor Relations Board.

Even after all this, management couldn't put their greedy, maleficent ways aside and they kept bargaining in bad faith, ultimately calling an impasse and refusing to return to the negotiations table.  So we refused to return to their tables.

Last week, we learned just how petty these tin tyrants could be when they started becoming punitive with the union workers, punishing them for no reason other than they dared to stand up for their rights:

Serb Hall has decided to stop negotiating with our union. Everyone got raises, while the servers didn't. Also, we servers have lost most of our hours. We only work when there are parties larger than 200 people. Kitchen staff and bussers [sic] are going to do our jobs for us instead. The 2 servers at the top of the seniority list, who have worked there for 30 years or more, will lose several shifts a week. How can management live with basically reducing our salary to only Friday fish fry. People have bills that are based on the income they have been making.

Thus we felt it was time to go back to the old school (of fish) ways of doing things, which means we need to educate people to what's going on.

We need all boots on the ground at Serb Hall at 5 pm Friday evening to help with an educational event.  Randy Bryce will be bringing out educational fliers to share with people.  If you have the time and the supplies, feel free to make and bring some signs.  (Randy said if the signs refer to tartar sauce, they get bonus points.)

We'll stay there for an hour or so and then we will go to Clifford's Supper Club for  our Solidarity Fish Fry.  

If, for some reason, you cannot make it, please feel free to call their "negotiating team" and let them know that you won't spend another dime there - and will make sure that your friends and organizations stay away from there too - until such time that they return to the bargaining table in good faith.  

The people you need to call and their phone numbers are:

• Tom Miller at 414-331-2219
• Mike Malsted at 414-241-4018 
• Don Fluyevas at 414-545-6030

Miller and Malsted are members of the Board of Trustees.  Fluyevas is the Office Manager.

And let them know that you will be sure to tell Clifford's or whatever other places we choose to go to that they have Serb Hall to thank for their business.

I look forward to seeing you all again.

In Solidarity!

PS: And if all else fails, we will unleash our secret weapon!

Solidarity Fish Fry: The Return To Serb Hall

Six and a half months ago, I asked people to send Serb Hall a message.

The management at Serb Hall was trying to bust the union.  I asked for people to
go there that Friday not to protest, but to show their support for the union workers by having a fish fry.  The catch was that we needed to make sure we were served by a union waitress.

The response was overwhelming.

But despite our efforts, despite being reprimanded by the National Labor Relations Board, and despite common sense, management continued with their myopic and hateful ways.  Just when it looked like things were finally being worked out, management stopped negotiating and declared an impasse.

We decided that if management wasn't going to return to the bargaining table, we weren't returning to their table.

However, this Friday, our second week away, two very disturbing things have come to my attention.

One is that at least another one of the union waitresses was forced out.  Michele, the union waitress that worked the early shift has quit.

When I saw an update from another one of the waitresses, I realized why.  Victoria gave us an update on what's been going on since we've been gone, and it made me green to the gills:

Serb Hall has decided to stop negotiating with our union. Everyone got raises, while the servers didn't. Also, we servers have lost most of our hours. We only work when there are parties larger than 200 people. Kitchen staff and bussers [sic] are going to do our jobs for us instead. The 2 servers at the top of the seniority list, who have worked there for 30 years or more, will lose several shifts a week. How can management live with basically reducing our salary to only Friday fish fry. People have bills that are based on the income they have been making.

As you can see, they are now back to their punitive ways, punishing the union workers for no reason other than they stood up for their rights as workers.

This will not stand without being addressed.

So, next Friday, we will return to Serb Hall.  We return not to eat*, but to educate.

I hope that I can count on each and everyone of you to show up like you have for the past six months.  With our voices joined, they will have no choice but to hear us.

Stay tuned for details.

*After the event, we will go elsewhere to celebrate our solidarity. Any suggestions as to where are welcome, but I do have some ideas.  But we got to get Randy some tartar sauce or who knows what will happen.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 28: Going Cold Turkey (Fish)

Last week, I had the particularly unpleasant task of informing the gentle eater that
the management at Serb Hall.  Despite the overwhelming support of the union workers, Serb Hall's management has decided to forsake the best interest of their workers and of themselves by declaring negotiations with the union to be at an impasse and refusing to return to the bargaining table.

Sadly, I have no better news to bring to the gentle reader this week.  We have heard from Local 122 and have learned that there has been no progress.

So, just as last week, if they won't return to the bargaining table, we won't be returning to their tables.

It's that simple.

I really do hope that the management grows up soon.  I miss the camaraderie and the solidarity.

But it's really Randy Bryce that I'm worried about.  He's been running around with a 55 gallon drum of tartar sauce, putting it on everything, from fish to chicken, hot dogs to brats, from hamburgers to steak.

We tried to do an intervention, but he just shouted, "Lather it up!" and poured some tartar sauce on a piece of chocolate cake.

Either they have to go back to the negotiations table or Randy will have to go back to the Mrs. Paul's Tartar Sauce Detox and Rehab Center.

In the meantime, we are in search of a new place to hold our gatherings.  If Serb Hall doesn't want to respect the unions, they don't need our union dollars.  If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments or drop me a line.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 27 Has Been Tabled

Last week, I had the unpleasant task of informing the gentle eater that even after 25 weeks of our ongoing show of solidarity, even after being advised by the
Milwaukee Area Labor Council that they would pull all of their union business and after getting reprimanded by the National Labor Relations Board, management had Serb Hall was still being led by their greed.

In an effort to educate them and get our message into their heads, we called the management's negotiating team to advise them that we would also pull out our support of their business if they did not return to the negotiating table and start bargaining in good faith.

And that's just what we did with amazing success.

Sadly, Serb Hall still doesn't get it.

They have not returned to the negotiation table.

And if they won't return to the table, we won't return to their table.

For this Friday, eat at home, get a pizza, or go somewhere else.

But we shall send them another message by showing them that we hold true to our word, even if they won't hold true to theirs.

It was not an easy decision to make, but it was one that had to be made.

Even worse was Randy Bryce's reaction when he realized that there would be no tartar sauce:

He was inconsolable until I reminded him that other restaurants also have fish fries and have tartar sauce.  I also reminded him that we would be back at Serb Hall as soon as they return to the bargaining table.  Then Randy was all this:

So yes, we are taking this week off from the Solidarity Fish Fry.  Next week, we will consult again with our union brothers and sisters at Local 122 to review the matter and see what our next action will be.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 26: Six Months And Done?

As advertised, this was the twenty-sixth week - a full six months - of the Solidarity Fish Fry.

It was a bittersweet occasion.  It was bitter because we knew it might be the last one.  Even though management has been at the negotiation table, they were not bargaining in good faith.  They are still trying to bust the unions.

Even though the unions had already made some steep concessions, management claimed it was not enough - I think that nothing would be enough for them - and called an impasse.

But it was also possibly the best night we ever had.  Not only was the solidarity as strong as it's ever been, but we also had some VIPs lending their clout to the day.

The solidarity fish fry started even before we got there:

Angie Aker, Ellen Monahan Holly,
Gigi Molini, and Charlene Fell Staples

I knew it was a success when just our group alone took up two long tables:

Making up the group was some old friends that have been participating in the Solidarity Fish Fry all along.

Linda and Hippy Rick Rumpel

Gary and Christine Ballewske 

Chris Rockwood

The wonderful and talented Kelley Albrecht,
who will be ousting Robin Vos in the next election.

There were new friends who came with old friends:

Kimberly Wilke, Wendy Strout,
Tanya Lohr, Lashell Drake

Jasmine Gladney, Luz Sosa

And then their were the esteemed dignitaries:

Annie Wacker, Goddess of Labor and Vice-President of
the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, with her arm candy,
John Kaye

Kimberly Wilke, Lashell Drake (Class of 2012 and Board member), Kelley Albrecht (Class of 2013), Wendy Strout, Annie Wacker (Board member), Tanya Lohr (Class of 2012)

Phil Neuenfeldt - President, Wisconsin
State AFL-CIO

We also made sure that management got the message on why we were there:

There was one other thing about the evening.  To be more accurate, there was one thing missing from the evening.

Randy Bryce was absent.

People kept turning to me asking, "Where's Randy? Where's Pope Tartarsus? Where, oh where, is the Tsar of Tartar?"

I didn't have the heart to tell them the truth.  I made up some silly story about Randy having a family obligation.

But my guilty conscience is bothering me and I must tell you why Randy missed tonight, possibly the last night for the Solidarity Fish Fry.

As the gentle eater is aware, last week, we were joined by Ed Fallone and Janet Protasiewicz.  Despite my worries, Randy managed to be very well behaved through the evening, for the most part.

But Randy was pretty excited about meeting Fallone and Protasiewicz.  He was also full of the Easter Spirit.

And then it happened near the end of the evening.  Our distinguished guests had already left and we were about to do the same.  In a moment of very bad timing, the buffet attendant suddenly came out with not one, but two large bowls of tartar sauce.

It was enough to send Randy over the edge.

He jumped up and yelled, " Solidarity - Tartar Style!"

He then grabbed both bowls and ran off and into the hallway.

I gave chase the best I could.  But when I hit the hallway, what I saw caused me to yelp in terror and run back into the dining area:

I won't go into all the sordid details of what happened next.

But I will say that the good doctors at the Mrs. Paul's Tartar Sauce Detox and Rehab Center say that Randy is making good progress and might be released soon.

As to whether there will be a Week 27 next week, I don't know yet.  It depends on how management responds.  But it just might be time to let them know how much a drop off in business they would have without us.  Or it might be time to take other actions.

Stay tuned and I'll tell you as soon as I know.

Solidarity Fish Fry Call To Action: To Phones And To Forks!

Six months ago, the members of Local 122 - the union that represents the waitstaff and bartenders at Serb Hall in Milwaukee- came to the Milwaukee Area Labor Council to ask for our support.  They told us how management at Serb Hall was
trying to bust their union, making unreasonable and unconscionable demands of the union.

Shortly after that, not knowing what kind of response I would get, I asked for you, the gentle reader, to help send a message to the management at Serb Hall.

I should have known not to worry.  The gentle reader became the gentle eater and the response was overwhelming.

And thus the Solidarity Fish Fry was born.

Over the course of 25 weeks, we've learned just how poorly management was treating their employees.  They were bargaining in bad faith, they were harassing their workers, they were threatening their workers, and they were illegally discriminating against job applicants who were eligible to join the union - to name just a few of things.

Things were so bad that the National Labor Relations Board had to step in and sanction management for their illegal behaviors.

Sadly, I must report that Serb Hall's management has not figured it out yet.

Tonight, there was another meeting of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council.  And just like six months ago, the members of Local 122 were there to report on their plight.

What they reported was outrages and angered every delegate that was present.

They reported that on Tuesday night, they had a lengthy negotiation session with management.  They reported that even though they had offered many concessions, including pay cuts, giving up sick time, giving up bereavement time and many other things, management said it still wasn't enough and declared negotiations to be at impasse.

They said that they were no longer going to honor the contract.  They said that employees who had faithfully worked for them for decades would be treated no better than a new recruit who hadn't even been trained yet.  Things, such as working banquets, that were won over the years through good faith bargaining were no longer being considered.

To add insult to injury, we also learned that management had done their own version of Divide and Conquer by printing out a list of all their employees and their salaries.  They did so for no other reason than to cause dissension among their own workers.

In other words, they are still actively trying to bust the unions.

The members of Local 122 thanked us for our overwhelming show of support over the past six months.  They also asked us for further support.

And so, my cohost, Randy Bryce, and I are asking for a special call to action this Friday.  We need to make management understand just what they are risking with their belligerent ways.

On Friday, we would like you to call the people representing management in the negotiations and ask them in a very polite but a very firm manner to return to the negotiations table and to start bargaining in good faith.  If they do not do this, let them know in no uncertain terms that they will not see one more dime from you or any organization you belong to.  This is especially true if you are a union member.

The people you need to call and their phone numbers are:

• Tom Miller at 414-331-2219
• Mike Malsted at 414-241-4018 
• Don Fluyevas at 414-545-6030

Miller and Malsted are members of the Board of Trustees.  Fluyevas is the Office Manager.

And yes, Miller is the same guy that was witnessed by many, including myself, to be openly harassing and threatening workers while in front of customers.  He is also the same boor who was caught on video telling paying customers that he would not let them influence the way he runs his restaurant.

Then, after you make the calls, follow the usual rules of the Solidarity Fish Fry:

1. Go to Serb Hall in Milwaukee anytime between 11:30 am and 9 pm.
2. Tell the host you want a union table - the servers are usually Michelle, Victoria and Sandra
3. Enjoy a fish fry or buffet
4. Leave a good tip and make sure they know it's in support of the union workers
5. Move along so the other union supporters can get their fish fry on too.

And in case they decide to pull some more shenanigans, such as saying there were no union servers, be prepared to leave without eating. (Just don't go to Meyer's Family Restaurant.)

It is important that we do both the phone calls and attend the fish fry and to do so in force.

If we make the calls without showing up, they will figure that it's no great loss.  If we show up without making the calls, they will figure that we will just keep showing up no matter what they do to our brothers and sisters.

If we do both, then maybe, just maybe, they will understand how much our business does mean to them.

So again, first to your phones to let those three people know that we support our union brothers and sisters and want them to return to the table to bargain in good faith.  And if they don't want to do this, we will gladly take our business elsewhere.

Then show up in force to let them know just how much they would miss us if we do leave.

And tell them that Cog Dis sent you.

In solidarity!

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 25: The Scales of Justice

As advertised, this was Week 25 of the Solidarity Fish Fry.  And, oh, what a week it was.

When we arrived at Serb Hall, the first thing that I noticed was that the crowd was

nowhere near the size of what it used to be.  Serb Hall used to be the go to place, especially on Good Friday.  The TV stations would always send a camera crew out to take pictures of the crowd and interview the manager who would talk about how many tons of fish, how many gallons of tartar sauce, how many tons of fries they would go through in just one day.

But those days are long gone.

I surmised that it was probably the effect of two things.

One is the fact that years ago, Serb Hall started going through a series of changes at the management level, which in turn had a rather negative effect on the quality of the food and the services.  They have never been able to draw back the crowds they used to have.

The other reason is that people simply don't have the expendable money they used to have to go out to eat, see a movie or do other sorts of things, thanks to Scott Walker's maleficent agenda which has sent the state's economy down the tubes.  Without that little bit of extra cash, there's not many places that have door-busting crowds anymore.

Despite the smaller crowd, it was still a glorious evening.

First of all, I was able to join my stalwart and good-humored co-host of the event, Randy Bryce, for dinner.

But the highlight of the event for me was the fact that we had the privilege and honor of being joined by Ed Fallone,  candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, and his son Andrew:

Ed had a rare moment away from the campaign trail and was spending some quality time with his son.  Part of their itinerary included joining us for dinner before going out to catch a movie.

It was a pleasure to see Ed again and listen to his stories from both the campaign trail and from his teachings.  While the conversation mostly stayed light, I was again impressed by his gravitas and his intellectualism.  But even though he has these qualities, he was, as Randy put it, "genuine."  There were no pretensions, no arrogance and no snobbery.  He exuded a calm confidence without any airs of superiority or condescension.

And even though his dinner was being repeatedly interrupted by well-wishers and admirers, he treated each person with the same grace and civility that he would bring to the Supreme Court, qualities which are sorely missing from it right now.  He even was gracious enough to have his picture taken with us:

I must also say that his son, Andrew, was also most impressive.  The young man obviously has his father's intelligence and interest in the world around him, but was nothing but polite and charming throughout the evening.

Also at Serb Hall on this spring evening was Janet Protasiewicz, who is running for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 45.

Janet was following the time-honored tradition of going to Serb Hall to meet with the people and introduce herself.  She told me that outside of one or two tables, everyone was very gracious to her and were willing to listen to her and share their thoughts and concerns with her.

I took note that she had befriended an older gentleman named Eugene.  Even though Eugene was from Brookfield and could not vote for her, she took extra time to visit with this 91 year old man dining by himself and made a point of taking him to meet Ed.

I took note of this because to me, it was pure Janet.  She did not do this because it would have benefited her politically in any way (because it wouldn't), but because she is a genuinely compassionate person.   It is that compassion and attention to details that others would overlook that would make her a wonderful judge.

I also noticed that her opponent, Rebecca Bradley, was not to be seen.  Apparently, Bradley feels confident enough that the corporate special interests, like Wisconsin Club for Growth, are going to be able to buy the election for her that she didn't need to meet with the people she expects to vote for her.

No less important, I was also able to see and briefly visit with Rick and Linda Rumpel of Watertown, who have been frequent supporters of the Solidarity Fish Fry.  They had a busy day of it themselves, having started out in Madison for the Solidarity Singalong before coming to Milwaukee to protest the unjust decision not to issue charges in relation to the death of Derek Williams.  They ended their day by joining us in solidarity with the union workers at Serb Hall.

Overall, it was a most pleasant evening.

It makes me look forward to next week, when we will be celebrating not only Ed's and Janet's victories, but also Week 26 - a full six months - of Solidarity Fish Fry.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 25: Any Solidarity Fish Fry Friday Is A Good Friday

This coming Friday is Week 25 of the Solidarity Fish Fry.  It is also Good Friday, the busiest day of the year for Serb Hall.  It is sure to present a challenged, but one I'm sure we are up to dealing with.

From what I understand, they will be using both halls.  One will have the buffet in

it and the other will have the traditional family style all you can eat fish fry.  Unlike other weeks, whatever group you are with will all have to agree on which way to go.

(For what it's worth, we'll be doing the traditional side.)

But on the down side, even as we approach the six month mark, management at Serb Hall is still as dense as a box of rocks and still keep trying to play their little games, as evidenced by this email:

Since Randy told me he was always at the Solidarity Fish Fry Serb Hall -- I tried to go last night -- recently relocated to Milwaukee for a UNION job in education.

FWIW Last weekend, when I told them I was there for the "Solidarity Fish Fry" the man that takes your name at Serb Hall acted like he knew nothing. I was by myself and wasn't sure I would stay for dinner if it wasn't to support labor -- since he would not acknowledge that there was a set of union tables I could ask for, I eventually left.

Last night, I went again and this time, per Capper's blog, specifically requested a union table with the man that takes your name when entering Serb hall. Again, I was alone -- when I was called, they tried to sit me at a non-union table and had I not asked to verify that status, would never have.

Only then I was told the union tables were full and it would be a while -- I waited for a while, but since a church down the street had a fish fry too -- I just decided to go there.

In any case -- Serb Hall has not cooperated with me in terms of coming to the Solidarity Fish Fry and thought you might like to know.

Maybe I will try again, but since I hastily relocated to Milwaukee, don't have a dinner partner in town and it isn't really fun to do this alone -- especially when Serb Hall is stroking you about getting a union table.

So the lesson here is don't trust the frond door guy, Tim Brady, when it comes to the Solidarity Fish Fry. He will act friendly and congenial, but he's still management. Tell the host or hostess that actually seats you that you want a union table, and don't be afraid to make sure that it is one. You are the customer and you have the right to make reasonable requests and expect that they will do their best to meet those requests.

To make sure things are clear, here is what you need to do to participate in the Solidarity Fish Fry:

1. Go to Serb Hall in Milwaukee anytime between 11:30 am and 9 pm.
2. Tell the host you want a union table - the servers are usually Michelle, Victoria and Sandra
3. Enjoy a fish fry or buffet
4. Leave a good tip and make sure they know it's in support of the union workers
5. Move along so the other union supporters can get their fish fry on too.

If they give you grief, and you need to leave, make sure you firmly but politely tell them exactly why you are leaving.  If others hear you, that is just as well.

If you need to, print this blog post, cut out those five steps and put them in your wallet.  

However,  if you plan on eating with Randy Bryce, the Tsar of Tartar, you might want to laminate the rules first.  The the tartar sauce will wipe right off.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 24: Friends

As advertised, this was Week 24 of the world famous Solidarity Fish Fry.

The evening, as usual, was filled with friends, both old and new.

I was finally able to meet a Facebook friend in real life:

Rachel and Robin Schlueter

And again I was fortunate enough to enjoy the company of Kelley Albrecht, a long time Solidarity Fish Fry goer:

The talk of the evening was the way that the Solidarity Fish Fry has changed over the months.  At the beginning, the crowds were big, the people were boisterous.  It was something new, something fun and we had a better turn out than I had expected.

Over the weeks, the crowd would fluctuate in size, but there was always a steady presence, for with the Serb Hall union members remain grateful.  We discussed how the Solidarity Fish Fry might not have the flashiness of when it was new, but it has developed the comfort of being another type of union, a family.

Oh, we have new people coming every week, which shows not only does the movement still has legs, it still is having a positive impact on the relationship between management and the union.  I would expect that impact will be even more noticeable after the Lenten season ends.

But while the evening was pleasant, there was one thing that was wrong. Very wrong.

Randy Bryce, the Tsar of Tartar, was not there.  It was not like him to miss a drop of tartar sauce.  What could have happened?

Last week, he did have another one of his episodes where he got a wee bit carried away:

Did the authorities catch up with him and put him in a de-tartar-tox center?

Or did he become enough of a threat to the corporate overlords that Scott Walker declared him an enemy of the corporate state and sent David Erwin after him?

Or did he hear of the mythical land of Tartarvania, where the rivers flow with tartar sauce and went out in search of it?

No one knows.

But trust me when I say that I will be out searching for him until I find him, or next Friday, Solidarity Fish Fry's Week 25 occurs, whichever comes first.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 24: There's Always Room For More

This week is number 24 for the Solidarity Fish Fry.  

Negotiations between the union at Serb Hall and management continues.  Due to the rules of collective bargaining, they cannot give specific details, but I have been told that they have made some progress, but there are still a number of sticking points that is making it slow going.

But still, the fact that management has sat down at the negotiation table again, instead of just trying to bust the union, is significant progress.

And as they continue to come to a contract, we will continue to show our support for the unions by following these five simple steps:

1. Go to Serb Hall in Milwaukee anytime between 11:30 am and 9 pm.
2. Tell the host you want a union table - the servers are usually Michelle, Victoria and Sandra
3. Enjoy a fish fry or buffet
4. Leave a good tip and make sure they know it's in support of the union workers
5. Move along so the other union supporters can get their fish fry on too.

We are hoping that Randy Bryce will behave himself this week, but there are no guarantees when Randy gets near tartar sauce, as we know all too well:

Solidarity Fishy Fry, Week 23: Fish Fry O'Tartar Style

As advertised, Friday was week 23 of the Solidarity Fish Fry.

We were privileged and honored to again have some distinguished guests join us on this fine evening:

From left: Graeme Zielinski, Randy O'Bryce,
Jon Newcomb and Kelly Ambrose

Also joining us was the ever-pleasant Kelley Albrecht.

The evening was filled with good food, great company and lively conversation ranging from George Bush falling at the lanes to Emerge Wisconsin's Shadow Day to politics in general.

Everything seemed to be going swimmingly when it happened again.  But it was even worse this time.

It started when our union waitress, Victoria, came out with the orders of fish fry and a huge platter full of cups of tartar sauce.

When someone reached for one of the cups, Randy yelled, "Sure and begorrah! Ye are trying to make off with me lucky charms! They're magically delicious!"

He then started snatching up the tubs and slamming them down like shots.

But then, one of the buffet attendants came out with a big bowl of the stuff.

Before you knew it, Randy said, "O'Tartar Style!"  He then jumped up and whipped off his coat and, yup, you guessed it:

He started dancing around the poor girl as she was holding the tartar sauce, singing, "Heeeeeeeyyyyyy, saucy lassie!"

Suddenly he grabbed the bowl out of her hands and said that it was his pot o'tartar and something about it being found only at the end of a rainbow trout.

He then ran off into the night, laughing hysterically.

No one saw him again that night, but when we went outside after him, all we found was a pile of iron shavings and this:

If you come across Randy, be careful.  He is probably all sauced up and very unpredictable.  Do not approach him.  In fact, if you do spot him, call the authorities.  If he spots you, run like hell.

And make sure you come to Serb Hall next Friday for week 24 of the Solidarity Fish Fry and show your support for our union brothers and sisters there.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 23: The Ides Of Perch

This week is number 23 for the Solidarity Fish Fry.  And it just so happens that it falls on March 15, the Ides of March.  But for our porpoises, we shall make it the Ides of Perch.

Negotiations between the union at Serb Hall and management continues.  Due to the rules of collective bargaining, they cannot give Pacific details, but I have been told that they have made some progress, but there are still a number of sticking points that is making it slow going.

But still, the fact that management has sat down at the negotiation table again, instead of just trying to bust the union, is significant progress.

And as they continue to come to a contract, we will continue to show our support for the unions by following these five simple steps:

1. Go to Serb Hall in Milwaukee anytime between 11:30 am and 9 pm.
2. Tell the host you want a union table - the servers are usually Michelle, Victoria and Sandra
3. Enjoy a fish fry or buffet
4. Leave a good tip and make sure they know it's in support of the union workers
5. Move along so the other union supporters can get their fish fry on too.

We are hoping that Randy Bryce will be back from the Vatican - where he is demanding a recount - by Friday so he can join us.

Solidarity Fish Fry, Week 22: A Lenten Miracle

As advertised, Friday was Week 22 of the Solidarity Fish Fry.

No, Randy Bryce did not do his Tartar Style dance, or if he did, I was lucky enough to miss it.

In fact, even though my wife and I arrived earlier than normal, I thought that we had missed everything and everyone.  As I looked around the dining room, the only faces I recognized were our two regular union servers, Sandra and Victoria.

As we were seated at one of Victoria's tables, I started to worry that this thing had run it's course.  I know that a lot of the usual attendees are working hard at regaining some justice in this state by getting Ed Fallone elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Janet Protasiewicz to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 45, but still, people have to eat, right?

I should have known better than to worry.  Within minutes, Victoria introduced us to the ladies sitting at the table next to us, her mother, Darlene, and her sister, Amber:

Just a few minutes later, Veronica tells me that another group wanted to meet me.  At the table Veronica pointed out, I had the pleasure of meeting Kim, Lydia and Jaime:

They told me that they came because of reading about it on this here blog.

I can't begin to describe how heartwarming it was to not only know that there is still a strong sense of solidarity with the union workers at Serb Hall, but that we are still bringing in new people.

Someone needs to let Scott Walker know that this is what it looks like when one says, "It's working!"

But then, when all seemed right with the world, disaster struck!

They ran out of tartar sauce.  All that remained was one tiny cup.  Men wept openly and women fainted.  What could be done?!

Just as pandemonium was about to break out, a familiar figure appeared, surrounded by men wearing red robes.

The man spoke:

Our flounder, who art in the fryer,
Deboned by thy fillets.
Thy breading on,
They frying done in oil,
Unless it is baked.
Give us this day our tartar sauce,
And don't forget our rye bread.
As we share our coleslaw.
And lead us not to other sauces,
But deliver us from Scott Walker.
For thine is the solidarity,
The power and the glory,
Forever and ever.
Omnomnom

And with that, the mysterious man picked up the last tub of tartar sauce and started pouring it out.  The sauce kept coming out as if the tub was bottomless.  Soon, everyone had all the tartar sauce they could have possibly wanted.

I never did get to speak with the familiar looking stranger, but one of the men in red - who identified himself as an Iron Cardinal - said that the man was none other than Pope Tartarsus XVI.

Even though I didn't get to speak with him, I did catch a shot of him with my camera.  See if he doesn't look familiar to you too:

And yes, there will be a Week 23 next Friday.  I hope to see you there.