About 2,000 rally against right-to-work in Wisconsin

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SCOTT BAUER

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — About 2,000 construction workers, electricians, carpenters and other union members rallied at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Tuesday, pushing back against a fast-tracked right-to-work bill backed by Republicans and Gov. Scott Walker.

The gathering was larger than most at the Capitol, but paled in numbers and intensity to the protests seen four years ago when Walker pushed through his measure that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers. Rallies then lasted for weeks and grew as large as 100,000 people.

"Let's be loud today and let them hear us," Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, said at the rally where people sang, chanted and booed references to Republicans pushing the issue.

Right-to-work laws, in place in 24 states, prohibit private-sector companies from reaching labor agreements in which workers have to pay fees to the unions as a condition of employment. Indiana and Michigan were the two most recent states to pass such a law, in 2012 and right-to-work was also being debated this year in the New Mexico Legislature.

FULL story at link.



Steamfitters Local 601 members Mike Puleo, left, and Gary Pease join labor workers for a rally in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. as state legislators hold hearings regarding a proposed right-to-work bill Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Opponents of a Republican push to turn Wisconsin into a right-to-work state began to converge on the Capitol on Tuesday for a rally and to testify against the fast-tracked measure. (AP Photo/John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal)



Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/26693e9707484691aa9fed62dc71188c/right-work-debate-begin-wisconsin-hearing

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This is what democracy looks like today in Madison, WI

https://twitter.com/CitizenActionWI/status/570320041138397184

Working families in Wisconsin rally to stop @wisgop "right to work" sneak attack. #WrongForWI #wiunion




And this

https://twitter.com/OLBLightBrigade/status/570318330621509634

OverpassLightBrigade
?@OLBLightBrigade
.@wisaflcio Assembly Democrats show support 4 Wisconsin workers during today's rally against #RTW #wiunion @MTEAunion

[olddots]

1. as long as I can stand

I will march against the parasites .

[Cryptoad]

2. Wisconsin just trying to be another Alabama! nt

[Jackpine Radical]

3. And succeeding.

[Still In Wisconsin]

6. We play them in Football next fall

Maybe the GOPers figure if we make the whole state look like "Bama, we might just find their keys to success on the gridiron.

[HereSince1628]

4. There's that pesky Peter Barca AGAIN! (on the left)

I R.E.A.L.L.Y. like than man!

For some reason he isn't seen as 'material' worth moving up. IMO it's a real shame.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Only way to get Labors message accross is to

do a mass work stoppage on a Wednesday. Wisconsin used to have the best protect for workers doing a Wild Cat Strike.

[Augiedog]

7. Who? Me get my hands dirty working? Not me says Walker.

Scott Walker can never understand or appreciate people who actually work for a living. He has never had a private industry job, he has never had to worry about feeding his family, he has never had to worry about making money....except for the Koch cash he needs so badly. Wisconsin is going to experience its own special ecnomic depression once Walker gets his way. When he has crushed the economic vitality of Wisconsin and citizens start to wake up it will be to late, he will have moved on to destroying our state park system....which intends to privatize. If Wisconsin has a crown the state park system is one of its jewels. Walker fully intends to dismantle this great tradition just as he intended to change the mission statement of the University system, another jewel he is trying to crush. Scott Walker is not even close to done as far as the damage he is going to do to this state and those of you who voted for this piece of human trash were warned time and again. When you finally recognize the greed and grasping for power that is his hallmark perhaps you who voted for him will finally feel a well deserved sense of shame...if that's possible for republican minded people.

[Snotcicles]

8. NEVER! EVER! thought I would live to see the day Michigan would fall this low.

If it can happen in Michigan the whole country is doomed.

We need a BERNIE SANDERS to lead this country!

President Obama did a lot of good things, Bernie Sanders knows what needs to be done next and will not sell out.

[Dont call me Shirley]

9. People need to stop electing corporate tools.

[Taitertots]

10. I refuse to call contract limits "right to work"

It's unreasonable to have the government place these restrictions on agreements between employers and employees.

Let's call it the right to negotiate. They are infringing on my right to make contracts with employers and co-workers.

[Scuba]

11. I'll be there today, calling for a general strike. Will post pics tomorrow.

[Enthusiast]

12. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

I am disappointed in the people of Wisconsin for electing this fucking Walker.