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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2011)
MARCH 4, 2011:NWLP 3/1/11 10:09 AM Page 10 ...President Obama calls governor’s action ‘an assault on unions’ (From Page 1) ing a 24-hour-vigil inside the state capitol building, a sleeping bag protest that was still under way two weeks later. Protests outside the capi- tol grew day after day, reaching 100,000 two weeks after the bill was introduced. The protests spread to 66 cities and every state capital in the na- tion. Here is the remarkable chronology of the fight-back movement: Friday, Feb. 11: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker introduces SS SB 11, a bill that would eviscerate public em- ployee collective bargaining rights. Sunday, Feb. 13: 150 University of Wisconsin students protest outside the state capitol building. Tuesday Feb. 15: The Joint Finance Committee of the Wisconsin Legisla- ture opens a hearing on the bill at 10 a.m. AFSCME members bus in from at least seven Wisconsin cities and are joined by hundreds of Madison high school students who leave school to protest. Over 10,000 march and rally outside the capitol building, while 3,000 more pack the halls inside, signing up by the hundred to testify at the hearing, which runs until 3 a.m. Republican leaders cut off debate and close the hearing, but Democrats con- tinue taking public testimony in an- other room, which gives protesters the right to stay overnight in the capitol. Thus begins a 24-hour-a-day occupa- tion of the state capitol building, which continues at press time 13 days later. Current and former members of the Green Bay Packers, America’s only fan-owned non-profit pro sports team, issue a statement, nine days af- ter their Super Bowl win: “Public workers are Wisconsin’s champions every single day and we urge the gov- ernor and the State Legislature to not take away their rights.” Wednesday Feb. 16: Madison pub- lic schools close as teachers call in sick. The protest outside the capitol, now joined by teachers, students and parents, swells to 20,000. [Madison schools remain closed for three more days.] A U.S. Labor Department offi- cial warns the Legislature that under 13(c), an obscure provision of federal transit law, Wisconsin could lose fed- eral transportation money if it denies transit workers their collective bar- gaining rights. Thursday, Feb. 17: By now at least 15 school districts around the state are closed due to a spreading teacher sick-out. Capitol protesters — now numbering 25,000 — block the door to the state Senate chambers. All 14 Wisconsin state Senate Democrats flee to Illinois, leaving the Senate one member short of the 20-member quo- rum it needs to vote on the bill. Presi- dent Barack Obama, in an interview on Milwaukee TV station WTMJ, says the Wisconsin proposal seems like “an assault on unions.” Friday, Feb. 18: Rev. Jesse Jackson and national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka speak outside the capitol as 40,000 people rally. The Madison school district asks a judge to order teachers back to work, since teachers strikes are illegal in Wiscon- sin; the judge refuses. Saturday, Feb. 19: Outside the capi- tol, an estimated 60,000 protest the Walker bill, while several thousand, organized by Americans for Prosper- ity, rally in support of Walker. Sunday, Feb. 20: It’s snowing in Madison, but thousands continue to rally outside of the capitol. Inside, demonstrators by now have organized cleanup details, set up a system of marshals, and brought in food. Monday, Feb. 21: The capitol is ringed by 40,000 protesters. Madi- son-based South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, unanimously passes a resolution endorsing a gen- eral strike if the bill becomes law. Tuesday, Feb. 22: Madison teachers return to school voluntarily. The Wis- consin Assembly (lower house) takes up the bill. In part to delay passage, Assembly Democrats propose over 100 amendments and insist on their right to debate them. MoveOn.org, backed by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Service Employees, and over 40 other organizations, announces plans to rally in every state capital on Feb. 26. Wednesday, Feb. 23: Gov. Walker takes a phone call from a man he thinks is David Koch, a well-known right-wing billionaire who contributes to Republican causes. The caller turns out to be a progressive blogger, who records the phone call and puts it on- line. In the recording, Walker says he “thought about” planting troublemak- ers among the Capitol protesters, un- derscores his refusal to meet with unions, and gives details of his plan to trick Senate Democrats into return- ing to the state. Thursday, Feb. 24: The U.S. Con- ference of Catholic Bishops issues a strong statement supporting workers’ collective bargaining rights. Friday, Feb. 25: At 1 a.m., after more than 60 hours of debate, Republican leaders in the Wisconsin Assembly abruptly call a vote on the bill and de- clare the bill passed before some As- sembly Democrats even have a chance to vote. Thus ends the longest EE R F BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published A UTOMOTIVE ’41 FORD TRUCK on S-10 frame, 350/350 with 9” rear, tilt front end, $7,500 obo. 503- 799-5167 after 5 p.m. ’98 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, 105k, CD changer, Bose sound, $4,250 obo. 503- 252-3698 ’98 DODGE DAKOTA w/canopy, V6, 5 spd, 90k miles, very good cond, $2,250 OBO. 503-826-0376 ’63 RAMBLER CLASSIC 770, 4 dr, 98k, 3 spd st trans w/OD, white/green, 1 owner, no DEQ required, $4,295. 503 357-3771 ’95 MERCURY COUGAR XR-7, 100k mi, 2nd owner, very clean, no smoke, well maintained, $3,000. 503-661-3813 H OUSING LINCOLN CITY vacation rental, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, $95/night, sleeps 8, wi-fi, 2 blocks to beach, 4 blocks to casino. 503-804-7976 ROCKAWAY ocean front 503-777-5076 http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach 5 bdrms, 2 bath, book now for spring break ROCKAWAY BEACH vacation rental, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, 4 blocks to beach/shops. 503-754-6101 WHAT WOULD YOU DO if you won a home? contest runs until March 31; go to winhomeforalaugh.com. 206-497-5216 12/31/11. 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