WI Teachers and Students Organize Three Day March for Workers' Rights | Change.org News #WeAreWI #WIUnion

WI Teachers and Students Organize Three Day March for Workers' Rights | Change.org News

WI Teachers and Students Organize Three Day March for Workers' Rights

by Antonio Ramirez · March 07, 2011

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• Business & Human Rights ·
• Civil Rights ·
• Democracy ·

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Dozens of Wisconsin teachers, students and community members will walk three days and almost 100 miles from Milwaukee to Madison this weekend to protest Governor Scott Walker's attacks on public employee unions and public education.

"We are marching to Madison to defend the rights of all workers to collectively bargain and to make sure that all students are guaranteed a free public education," said Chris Fons, a Milwaukee social studies teacher and member of POWER, the organization sponsoring the rally.

Last month, Wisconsin became ground zero for Republican attacks on public unions when Gov. Walker announced he would "fix" an $137 million budget shortfall by eliminating collective bargaining rights for public workers. Outrage against the bill quickly spread across Wisconsin. Tens of thousands of workers, students, and supporters overwhelmed the capital building in Madison chanting "Kill The Bill!". Last Saturday, crowds topped 100,000 in Madison and were supported by solidarity rallies in all 50 states.

This week, Gov. Walker also announced he would cut state aid to public schools by over $800 million and limit the amount districts can increase revenues. Walker's plan could amount to a $74 million drop in