Wisconsin workers march on Madison (Photo: Blake Deppe/PW)
MADISON, Wis. – A sunny Saturday found thousands of workers rallying and marching, the conclusion to a week of activities leading up to the anniversary of the night Gov. Scott Walker pushed his anti-worker collective bargaining law through the legislature. Wisconsinites stood up and proved that once again, they are ready to fight back.
The goal is to ‘reclaim Wisconsin’ and ‘recall Walker.’ Signs emblazoned with such slogans could be seen even in the small neighborhoods that lay just outside of Madison – proof that Walker’s harsh cuts to public services and assaults on union rights have agitated workers far and wide.
With a reported 62,000 demonstrators, the rally was a sight to behold. Workers from all walks of life marched around the capital, declaring, “Workers rights are human rights!”
“I’m standing up and fighting back!” called one worker from the crowd. “I refuse to accept Walker’s bad choices for Wisconsin.”
Another worker added, “The only way to compete with the one percent is to stand together and form a network. It’s time for corporations to stop forcing the 99 percent to carry their burden.”
Jen Leonard, a student and mother, remarked, “It’s all about mobilization on a grassroots level; keeping up the enthusiasm.” She, like the rest of the working class, felt the pressures Walker has put on her. “I was going to be a high school teacher,” she added. “Now I’m two years behind [on reaching that goal]. Everything is so uncertain. It’s hard.”
That’s because a year of Walker’s anti-labor agenda has left its mark on Wisconsin. In addition to attacking collective bargaining rights, his policies have allowed tax cuts for corporations, at the expense of the 99 percent.
“You shouldn’t have to be wealthy or lucky to have healthcare,” said Kelly Albright, a mother of three. “If we don’t stop Scott Walker now, he will destroy Wisconsin. We must repeal the tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, and make them pay their fair share.”
“For some of us, it’s not a matter of choice,” said Reza Mehrparasb, a scientist whose son suffers from a disability. “It’s a matter of life and death.” And if workers aren’t successful in kicking out Walker, he suggested, it may embolden the right wing to launch similar attacks on worker rights throughout the country.
“This is serious,” he stressed. “Walker is going for the jugular of the working class.
“Call your local union. Tell them to send their best organizers.” And, to the People’s World, he added, “All comrades from Illinois should come up here and help. This is a desperate situation.”
“If we don’t win this for workers now,” he concluded, “it’s going to set a bad example for the rest of the country.”
This article was originally posted at peoplesworld.org, and was given to us courtesy of Mr. Deppe.
At the behest of the bond rating agencies, whose fraudulent collusion with Wall Street largely caused this Great Recession, federal and provincial governments up here in Canada are now slashing and burning cherished social and cultural institutions, public services, and public servants. While the average CEO in Toronto received a 28% increase in 2011 without question, Ontario’s teachers will see their wages frozen, sick days slashed by 3/4, and class sizes increased. They will be frozen on the salary grid for 2 years while the province increases the number of years it takes to reach the top by up to 50%. While almost 13% of a teacher’s pay (22% of their total compensation) goes to their pensions, the government will be attempting to increase contribution rates even more, decrease the government’s share and reduce retirement benefits. Yet before the 2008 market meltdown, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan was in very good shape, and thanks to actions taken by its members, is recovering. Federally, the government increased the eligibility age for Old Age Security to 67 (except for Members of Parliament, who get $100,000 per year at 65 for a minimum of 5 years in office). If teachers don’t “agree” to the attack on their collective bargaining rights in the next “collective agreement,” Ontario’s Finance Minister has threatened to legislate these strips. Our students will also be adversely affected; in our school board alone, 200 high school teachers and over 400 Educational Assistants (who specialize in assisting students with disabilities) will be cut. Of course, for those Ontarians on welfare, whose benefits will be frozen in the face of inflation, the situation is very grim. When Andrea Horwath, leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party, told the Liberal government that her party would only support their budget if they raised taxes on those earning $500,000 or more a year by 2%, the Finance Minister responded, “That’s not what the credit agencies are looking for.” So, the Scam is on and it’s gone global. In effect, the very bond rating agencies that precipitated the financial crisis, which led to government debts incurred by bailouts and economic stimulus programs, have become a de facto global government. Our unions and activists here have been following the situation in Wisconsin very closely and warning us that the “shock and awe”-style attack on labour rights would likely be coming our way. You have my sympathy and solidarity. I would love to know how the 99% globally can organize to use the collective power of our pocketbooks to fight the corporations and financial institutions responsible for this attack on the right for workers to make a fair living wage and the necessity for societies to support their most challenged and vulnerable members. Without such conditions, there is clearly no basis for a social contract. I’ve pondered switching savings to a credit union, creating “labour-friendly” lists of domestic businesses that believe in investing in communities and fair labour conditions, and boycotts of corporations that support the regressive policies of the 1% (though the Chapter 11 clause in NAFTA may expose organizers of boycotts to lawsuits). What strategies are your movement considering or putting to action?