Tuesday, February 22, 2011

AFL-CIO Polls Show Wisconsin Supports Protestors, Opposes Walker #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

AFL-CIO Polls Show Wisconsin Supports Protestors, Opposes Walker

Posted: 02/22/11 07:27 AM

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WASHINGTON - New polling conducted for the AFL-CIO and shared with The Huffington Postshows Wisconsin voters siding with the state workers, unions and protestors by large majorities and expressing net disapproval of Republican Governor Scott Walker

The Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research conducted two surveys among likely voters in Wisconsin this past week, one fielded between Wednesday and Sunday last week (604 live interviews, margin of error +/- 4%) and the second fielded Saturday and Sunday (402 live interviews, margin of error +/- 5%).

Both surveys began with questions about Walker's performance as governor and more general popularity ratings of Walker, Senate Democrats and other players on both sides of the controversy. The results of the two surveys on these questions were within sampling error of each other: Walker's approval rating is now net negative, with the disapproval rating reaching or slightly

Hello, Wisconsin! « Failing Schools #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Hello, Wisconsin! « Failing Schools

Hello, Wisconsin!

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

by Sabrina

Some people just don’t know when to quit.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is one of those people.

In the wake of the state’s recent budget shortfall, Walker could have done the humble, fiscally-sound thing: admit that the tax breaks and conservative health care experiment he championed hadworsened the state’s budget situation, and asked lawmakers to correct the problem. He could also have done the tough but responsible thing: negotiate fairly with public sector workers, who have expressed their willingness to pay a greater share of their pension and benefits to ease that burden on the state’s budget.

But no. Like the glutton who eats until his buttons give way, Walker and his allies have decided to keep their pet policies intact and try to grab even more power for themselves by trying to eliminate some public employees’ rights to collective bargaining. (I’m not sure how they plan to continue spinning the merehaving of rights as too expensive for the state

New York Times Article Today on Billionaire Brothers’ Money and Walker « Larry Miller's Blog #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

New York Times Article Today on Billionaire Brothers’ Money and Walker « Larry Miller's Blog

New York Times Article Today on Billionaire Brothers’ Money and Walker

by millerlf

By ERIC LIPTON Published: February 21, 2011

WASHINGTON — Among the thousands of demonstrators who jammed the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds this weekend was a well-financed advocate from Washington who was there to voice praise for cutting state spending by slashing union benefits and bargaining rights.

The visitor, Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity, told a large group of counter-protesters who had gathered Saturday at one edge of what otherwise was a mostly union crowd that the cuts were not only necessary, but they also represented the start of a much-needed nationwide move to slash public-sector union benefits.

“We are going to bring fiscal sanity back to this great nation,” he said.

What Mr. Phillips did not mention was that his Virginia-based nonprofit group, whose budget surged to $40 million in 2010 from $7 million three years ago, was created and financed in part by the secretive billionaire brothers Charles G. and David H. Koch.

State records also show that Koch Industries, their energy and consumer products conglomerate based in

This Week In Education: AM News: Budget & Bargaining Proposals Roil States #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

This Week In Education: AM News: Budget & Bargaining Proposals Roil States

AM News: Budget & Bargaining Proposals Roil States

by Alexander Russo

Wisconsin Governor Refuses Unions' Offer: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker again rejected a proposed compromise Monday to end a political stalemate over collective bargaining rights that led to 14 Senate Democrats skipping town and motivated tens of thousands of people to march on the Capitol in protest for more than a week... City teachers receive career 'paths' under new contract BaltSun: Baltimore City teachers were notified last week of their new career "paths" and salaries by the school system, one of the first developments of the landmark Baltimore Teachers Union contract... Indiana panel OKs labor bill as unions protest AP: Union supporters shouted "lie" and "shame" at members of a Republican-led Indiana House committee who voted in favor of so-called right-to-work legislation, after impassioned arguments that it was aimed at weakening unions and would drive down wages... Democrats split over governor's proposed education cuts Denver Post: Shaffer told reporters Monday that he wants his committee leaders to scrub about half of Hickenlooper's proposed cuts to education by suggesting cuts elsewhere. Shaffer asked for proposals by March 7... In Memphis, old strife heats up over schools, race AP: A bold bid by the struggling, majority-black Memphis City Schools system to force a merger with the majority-white, successful suburban district has fanned relatively routine fears over funding and student performance into accusations of full-blown racism....Schools using GPS devices to track students NPR: A school district in Anaheim, California is the latest to distribute GPS devices to habitually truant students. But what role does a private company in Texas have in monitoring the students?.. Family of Fairfax teen suicide victim wants changes in school disciplinary policies WP: The family of a Fairfax teenager who took his life as he struggled with the fallout of a high school suspension called for changes in the county's disciplinary policies, in a letter sent Monday to school and county officials. Image via Newseum.

Madison Area AFL CIO Votes to Prepare For General Strike | MichaelMoore.com #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Madison Area AFL CIO Votes to Prepare For General Strike | MichaelMoore.com

Madison Area AFL CIO Votes to Prepare For General Strike

By Mike Elk

This evening in a press release from IBEW Local 2304 President Dave Pokilinski, I received word that the 45,000 member Southern Central Federation of Labor, the local chapter of the AFL-CIO for the Madison and Southern Central Wisconsin area, has voted to make preparations for a general strike.

The press release reads as follows:

Around 10:50PM Wisconsin Time on February 21st the South Central Federation of Labor endorsed the following motions:
Motion 1: The SCFL endorses a general strike, possibly for the day Walker signs his “budget repair bill,” and requests the Education Committee immediately begin educating affiliates and members on the organization and function of a general strike.
Motion 2: The SCFL goes on record as opposing all provisions contained in Walker’s “budget repair bill,” including but not limited to, curtailed bargaining rights and reduced wages, benefits, pensions, funding for public education, changes to medical assistance programs, and politicization of state government agencies.

It’s important to note that this is just a threat and not actually going out on a general strike. Under the Taft-Hartley Act a general strike in support of other workers is illegal; therefore the key word is the phrase “begin educating affiliates and

The Answer Sheet - Ravitch: Why should teachers have unions? #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

The Answer Sheet - Ravitch: Why should teachers have unions?

Ravitch: Why should teachers have unions?

This was written by education historian Diane Ravitch for her Bridging Differences blog, which she co-authors with Deborah Meier on the Education Week website. Ravitch and Meier exchange letters about what matters most in education. Ravitch, a research professor at New York University, is the author of the bestselling “The Death and Life of the Great American School System,” an important critique of the flaws in the modern school reform movement. Dear Deborah, As I write, thousands of teachers are staging a protest in the state capitol in Wisconsin against proposed legislation by Gov. Scott Walker that would destroy their collective bargaining rights. Others stand with them, including members of the Green Bay Packers and other public sector workers, even those not affected by the legislation, namely, firefighters and police. Gov. Walker demanded that the teachers pay more for their health benefits and their pension benefits, and they have agreed

Scott Walker and Tea Party Finance Backers, Koch Industries, Has Operations Near You « Larry Miller's Blog #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Scott Walker and Tea Party Finance Backers, Koch Industries, Has Operations Near You « Larry Miller's Blog

Scott Walker and Tea Party Finance Backers, Koch Industries, Has Operations Near You

by millerlf

Following is a “fact” sheet on the Koch Industries web site. They have significant investments in Wisconsin. To read more abut them go to their web site at:

http://www.kochind.com/factsSheets/default.aspx

Wisconsin Facts

Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America according to Forbes magazine. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; forest and consumer products; and ranching. Koch companies have a presence in nearly 60 countries and employ about 70,000 people. Since 2003, Koch companies have completed more than $32 billion in acquisitions and investments, and nearly $11 billion in capital expenditures.

Companies in Wisconsin

School Tech Connect: Those Business-Savvy Republicans #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

School Tech Connect: Those Business-Savvy Republicans

Those Business-Savvy Republicans

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

I guess some people have found Scott Walker's no-bid, straight-to-Koch power plant sell-off inside the union-busting "budget repair" bill. The man was bought into office to hand over public assets to psychopathic billionaires. This is Mobutu-scale corruption. Nice going, Wisconsin Republican voters.

This Election is About Integrity

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

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Notes from the Field « City School Stories #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Notes from the Field « City School Stories

Wisconsin Attack On Educators And Other Public Workers Inspires A Tale of Two Teachers

Submitted by Bobbie Cratchit*, February 22, 2011

I remember when I first decided that I would become a teacher. For me it was not a lifelong dream, more a position of circumstance that brought me to the profession. I needed a job in walking distance of my small junior college where I had begun freshman year as a social service major. The Pre-Kindergarten School down the street was hiring a part-time before/after school caretaker. It fit my needs and I took the job. It was there that while working with the children I discovered a love for reading to children and helping them develop skills in math and life.

When I informed my parents of my decision to transfer to a four-year education program, my mother stated “Teaching is a noble profession. You will not make much money and it is very hard work. “My parents supported me, as they always have, and I began my career as a teacher four years later.

It was not an easy road. I worked full-time and attended classes at night for four years. I received my degree one year past my expected graduation due to transferring my major. Five years as an undergrad and one mor

Monday, February 21, 2011

Open Class Struggle in Wisconsin | Dailycensored.com #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Open Class Struggle in Wisconsin | Dailycensored.com

Open Class Struggle in Wisconsin

Written by John ReimannPoliticsFeb 21, 2011

0digg

While less than 10% of the private sector work force is in unions in the United States, these unions still represent a potentially massive force in US society, capable of mobilizing millions of workers and youth. This is in the process of being proven in Wisconsin, where the class struggle has broken out into the open.

One-Sided Class Warfare

For the last few decades, it has been almost entirely a one-sided class war. The employers and their political representatives (Republican and Democrat alike) have been conducting a policy of “death by a thousand cuts”. In the work place, workers have seen cuts in benefits, pensions and wages as well as speed-up (often masked by what is called “multi-tasking”). In education, high school students have seen increased class size and elimination of many extra curricular activities while teachers have seen wage cuts and increased work loads. Workers in the public sector have seen lay offs and cuts in benefits and pay while the

Solidity Forever! Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Comin' #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

A Challenging Week in the Indiana House of Representatives (facebook) by Terri Jo Austin #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

A Challenging Week in the Indiana House of Representatives (face book)

A Challenging Week in the Indiana House of Representatives

by Terri Jo Austin on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7:58pm

As I write this, we are about to begin one of the most difficult weeks in my time at the Indiana General Assembly.

In the days ahead, the people of this state will be facing an unprecedented attack from a radical agenda advanced by House Republicans. As a result, we will see hundreds of millions of dollars drained away from our public schools in favor of for-profit schools and private schools. Working men and women will be deprived of their rights to earn a decent living and to have a voice in the decisions that will impact them in the workplace. It is nothing less than an anti-child and anti-worker agenda that is a huge step backward for most Hoosiers.

Here is what is happening to our children.

As you know, our public schools already have had to deal with $600 million in spending cuts ordered by the governor over the past two years. Thanks to legislation that will divert your tax dollars toward private schools through charter schools and vouchers our schools will see even more cuts. As more public money goes toward for-profit schools, the funding available for public schools gets smaller and smaller. How can we justify these steps when we haven’t even paid for full-day kindergarten for all children yet?

This week we will be voting on a new state budget (House Bill 1001) that cuts support for most schools across Indiana. Madison County schools will lose over $15 million dollars. That will mean larger classes and fewer programs and materials for children who will never have a chance to attend a private school. Is that a fair trade in return for unchecked growth in charter schools and voucher programs? I don't think so.

But funding cuts are only one place where public schools are under attack. Another proposal enables many private schools to avoid following the same rules and regulations as those imposed on public schools.

Schools are not the only area of attack from this radical agenda. This House majority also has done nothing to help Hoosiers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are trying to support their families while they look for work.

We have done nothing to help close to 300,000 unemployed Hoosiers find jobs. The only thing we have told them so far is that the House Republicans want to cut their unemployment benefits by 25 percent.

Today, a House committee passed a "right to work" bill that was described as a job creation measure by its proponents. In fact, all this legislation will do is force salaries down at a time when Hoosiers already are only making 85 cents for every $1 earned by the average American.

Unfortunately, this has become one of the most partisan sessions I have ever experienced. More than 71% of roll call votes have been along party lines. Time after time, amendments offered by House Democrats have been rejected, dismissed or denied an opportunity to be heard in committees and on the floor. The people of Indiana elected us not just to represent a particular party or philosophy, but to represent the needs and interests of our constituents and our communities. I will do everything in my power to see the most extreme parts of this agenda defeated, but I need your help. Call the toll-free Statehouse telephone number of 1-800-382-9842 and tell the members of the Indiana General Assembly that we need to protect our children and our workers. Insist that we make all children a priority, not just some.

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Stand With Wisconsin Workers#wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Stand With Wisconsin Workers

Stand With Wisconsin Workers

by Paul B

School Tech Connect: A Unique Opportunity

A Unique Opportunity

brazenly lifted from here

One of the most vexing periods of my life was very recently, in 2009, when it seemed like the public option was still a possibility. The president had been so forceful on the issue-- it was definitely a central theme of his candidacy and there was so much hope for progress.

But then they started to let the clock run out, and Rahm Emanuel basically dealt it away in favor of the bullshit "trigger" idea (Rahmreflexively supports laws with the word "trigger" in the title, no matter how terrible they are.) It's hard to find a public statement from Rahm that supports the idea of the public option; he was never behind it and he helped it die.

At the time, I believe I wrote, "If the president makes me buy health insurance from the same crooks who have been refusing to sell it to me, that will be the beginning of the end of the Democratic party."

Anyway, I bet we could have had a public option but the president decided to roll with Rahm. I would rather vote for a horse's ass than for Rahm Emanuel, and with Gery Chico's standing in the polls, I might just get the chance.

Pittsburgh Council Members in Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Pittsburgh Council Members in Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Pittsburgh Council Members in Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers

by Tula Connell, Feb 21, 2011


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More shows of solidarity with Wisconsin workers. Tomorrow, Feb. 22, Pittsburgh Councilmember Natalia Rudiak will preview a proclamation co-sponsored by all nine City Councilmembers expressing support and respect for public workers prior to the Pittsburgh City Council’s regular weekly meeting.

Council Member Rudiak and other councilmembers will be joined by a variety of public workers including fire fighters, drivers, snow plow drivers, school crossing guards drivers, snow plow drivers and school crossing guards.

Says Jack Shea, President of the Allegheny County Labor Council:

The right-wing assault on public workers grossly misrepresents facts and tries

Donors to Education Seek Ways to End Teacher Tenure - Chronicle of Philanthropy- #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Donors to Education Seek Ways to End Teacher Tenure - Conference Notebook - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Donors to Education Seek Ways to End Teacher Tenure

October 18, 2010, 1:02 pm

By Caroline Preston

Amelia Island, Fla.

For many donors who want to improve the education system, the question isn’t whether teacher tenure needs to be abolished but how to do so.

In a session at the Philanthropy Roundtable’s annual conference entitled “How to End Teacher Tenure,” nonprofit leaders discussed how philanthropic dollars could be spent to help get rid of teacher tenure, which protects teachers from arbitrary dismissal.

Critics of tenure for public schoolteachers argue that it has made removing bad teachers far too difficult, if not impossible.

Timothy Daly, president of the New Teacher Project, a nonprofit in Brooklyn, N.Y., that recruits and trains teachers to work in needy schools, said that making teachers more accountable won’t happen until there are good data to evaluate teacher performance. Collecting such data have been a focus of his organization and others.

“If we want to change the culture and make it more performance-oriented, the key point is that we have to generate information about performance that means something,” he said. ”Until we have real information on teacher performance that we can employ in this conversation, we’re just arguing with one another and chasing our tail.”

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