International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberge #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger addresses the crowd gathered on the Wisconsin Capitol Square in Madison, Wis. on Feb. 17, 2011. Protests and demonstrations are ongoing in response to provisions in Gov. Walker's budget repair bill that would strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

As Public Employees in Wisconsin and Nationwide Protest Cuts in Collective Bargaining, del Valle Defends Essential Rights to Association #wisolidari

Del Valle for Mayor | For All Chicago For Every Neighborhood: As Public Employees in Wisconsin and Nationwide Protest Cuts in Collective Bargaining, del Valle Defends Essential Rights to Association

As Public Employees in Wisconsin and Nationwide Protest Cuts in Collective Bargaining, del Valle Defends Essential Rights to Association

by Vanessa del Valle

Pledges, as mayor, to fight against measures to undermine workers’ rights

(February 19, 2011) CHICAGO--As the city entered the final weekend before the mayoral election, candidate and Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle expressed his support for public employees across the country, including in Wisconsin, who are fighting to protect their collective bargaining rights.

“Today, as thousands gather just a few hours away, in Madison, Wisconsin, to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to undermine the rights of workers in his state, I express my solidarity with those workers,” del Valle said.

“What’s happening in Wisconsin has implications for Chicago. In Illinois,

Democurmudgeon: Song: "14 Senators" Walker protest update.. #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Democurmudgeon: Song: "14 Senators" Walker protest update....

Song: "14 Senators" Walker protest update....

14 Senators - a song by Ken Lonnquist (written 2-18-2011)

WSJ:

Protesters in Madison are getting support from near and far, whether it's the offer of a couch to crash on near the Capitol or Ian's Pizza ordered from around the country.

As of Friday, more than 200 people had been invited to a Facebook event aimed at finding out-of-town protesters a place to sleep. Capitol-area residents offer couches, sleeping bags and even

Education Support Professionals Shoulder-to-Shoulder in Madison Education Votes #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Education Votes

Education Support Professionals Shoulder-to-Shoulder in Madison

by treed [editor] | Discuss 2

Tags: activism, activist, Education Support Professionals, ESP, Gov. Scott Walker, Scott Walker, Union, WI,Wisconsin, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin ESPs, Your Voice

A three-hour drive to Madison to stand and march and protest the injustice of Governor Walker’s proposed bill to still her voice and strip her rights as a worker?

You bet. Whitehall Education Support Professional local member Sonja Lyngen decided it was the right thing to do – for her, her family, her co-workers and her grand children. She said “I just could not stand by and do nothing. So here I am.”

Among the thousands of public employees and allies you will find not a few Wisconsin Education Association Council ESP members. She could not say how many because of the sheer number of people packed into the city. But they are there and they are making their presence known.

A Wisconsin native, she has always lived in her school district and worked in the schools for over 30 years. She said, “I cannot express how upsetting this all is to me and my co-workers. Taking

The Washington Teacher: WTU's Letter To Mayor Gray Re Furloughs

The Washington Teacher: WTU's Letter To Mayor Gray Re Furloughs

WTU's Letter To Mayor Gray Re Furloughs

by Candi Peterson

Friday, February 18, 2011

Mayor Vincent C. Gray

Government of the District of Columbia

Executive Office of the Mayor

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 316

Washington, DC 20004

RE: Alternatives to Furloughs

SENT BY MAIL

Dear Mayor Gray:

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 District of Columbia Public Schools’ teachers received a letter informing them of four (4) mandatory furlough days. A copy of this letter has been attached for your reference. The Washington Teachers’ Union believes teachers should not suffer due to poor budget decisions made by senior level DC government officials. These same officials also violated city spending laws, causing employees economic hardship and reducing confidence in our city’s

Save Our Schools NJ (SOSnj)

Save Our Schools NJ (SOSnj)

What You Can Do to Protect New Jersey's Public Schools

• Sign up to receive critical action alerts and encourage your friends to sign up -- the more legislative districts we represent, the better we can protect New Jersey’s public schools
• Sign Our Petition to vote against the Voucher Bill.

---

New Jersey has Outstanding Public Schools!

Our students’ performance consistently ranks first or second nationally.[1] Our public schools draw people to New Jersey and are critical for maintaining the state's economy and property values. Yet our excellent public schools are under a political attack that will destroy them unless parents and other concerned residents speak up.

Assault on New Jersey's Public Schools Part I - Fiscal Starvation

• In February 2010, the State confiscated $475 million that school districts had set aside for necessary capital improvements[2]
• This year’s budget cut an additional $820 million from the state’s schools
• The 2 percent property tax cap prevents school districts from making up these budget cuts and the proposed “tool kit” reform would do nothing to offset the current costs faced by these districts[3]

While the full impact of these draconian funding cuts is yet to be fully realized, school districts around the state already have been forced to lay off teachers and dramatically increase class sizes; eliminate art, music, language, full-day kindergarten and extracurricular programs; and cut the transportation necessary to insure our children's safety.[4] And, next year’s State budget is sure to bring additional cuts.[5]

Assault on New Jersey's Public Schools Part II - Eroding Local Control

Save Our Schools NJ « Parents Across America

Save Our Schools NJ « Parents Across America

Save Our Schools NJ (SOSnj)

New Jersey currently has one of the best public school systems in the country.

Check out the policy goals of one of our newest affiliates, Save Our Schools NJ, formed to preserve the quality of New Jersey’s public school system from devastating budget cuts and privatization.

Save Our Schools NJ (SOSnj) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of parents and other concerned residents who believe that all New Jersey children should have access to a high quality public education.

Our group initially formed in early 2010 – during the State Budget cuts – when we

Cheesehead Rally NYC - Standing in Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers#wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

LetitiaProductions | February 18, 2011 | 4 likes, 0 dislikes

February 18, 2011, New Yorkers took to the streets to show their support for workers in Wisconsin after union-busting WI Gov. Scott Walker promised to call out the National Guard against striking workers.

www.jobparty.us

www.letitiaproductions.com

Some Pretty Interesting Additions to “The Best…” List on On Wisconsin Struggle | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day#wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Some Pretty Interesting Additions to “The Best…” List on On Wisconsin Struggle | Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

Some Pretty Interesting Additions to “The Best…” List on On Wisconsin Struggle

by Larry Ferlazzo

Here are some new, and pretty interesting, additions to The Best Resources For Learning About Attacks On Teachers & Other Public Sector Workers In Wisconsin:

Fiscal Crisis Strikes At Labor’s Core: Public Workers is from NPR.

Union battle echoes beyond Wisconsin: ‘We’re fighting for our very existence’ is from The Christian Science Monitor.

The real Republican strategy by Robert Reich

Why FDR would support the Wisconsin protests is from Salon.

Here’s a video of firefighters — who are exempted from the changes proposed by Gov. Walker — marching into the state capitol playing bagpipes to support the protest by teachers and other public sector employees:

School Tech Connect: The Power of Digital Storytelling #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

School Tech Connect: The Power of Digital Storytelling

The Power of Digital Storytelling

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill Protest from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

Hats off to Matt Wisniewski.

Wisconsin rallies, Detroit is next – Rally planned today and on February 23, 2011 | Dailycensored.com #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Wisconsin rallies, Detroit is next – Rally planned today and on February 23, 2011 | Dailycensored.com

Wisconsin rallies, Detroit is next – Rally planned today and on February 23, 2011

Written by Danny WeilEducationFeb 19, 2011

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Rally and March Wednesday February 23 Noon at the Michigan State Capitol

• Stop Emergency Financial Manager Dictatorships in Michigan! Defeat the New Jim Crow / House Bill 4214 !
• Run Rob Bobb out of our State! Save Public Education!
• Tell Snyder – Hell No More Budget Cuts!

Buses to leave Northwest Activities Center at around 9 am; Many people carpooling

Teachers, Students, DPS Workers, Cityworkers, Parents, Community, and More

Other cities and towns to join us in Lansing!

DPS Students walked out of schools throughout the city this week to protest Bobb, teacher layoffs, class size hikes, school closings and all the worsening conditions in their schools !

Join our city’s new generation of heroes at Wednesday’s rally!

Planning meeting for Detroit teachers: Saturday at 4:30 pm at 19484 James Couzens

Steve Conn

Defend Public Education / Save Our Students

313.645.9340

sjconn@msn.com

Join us on Facebook at Save D.P.S.

http://www.youtube.com/dftmembers

Rally and March Wednesday February 23 Noon at the Michigan State Capitol

Stop Emergency Financial Manager Dictatorships in Michigan! Defeat the New Jim Crow / House Bill 4214 !

Run Rob Bobb out of our State! Save Public Education!

Tell Snyder – Hell No More Budget Cuts!

Buses to leave Northwest Activities Center at around 9 am; Many people carpooling

Teachers, Students, DPS Workers, Cityworkers, Parents, Community, and More

Other cities and towns to join us in Lansing!

DPS Students walked out of schools throughout the city this week to protest Bobb, teacher layoffs, class size hikes, school closings and all the worsening conditions in their schools !

Join our city’s new generation of heroes at Wednesday’s rally!

Planning meeting for Detroit teachers: Saturday at 4:30 pm at 19484 James Couzens

Steve Conn

Defend Public Education / Save Our Students

313.645.9340

sjconn@msn.com