WISCONSIN: VOTERS RECALL TWO ANTI-UNION INCUMBENTS, BUT UNION SUPPORTERS FALL ONE SEAT SHORT

OF REGAINING SENATE MAJORITY

 

Unions and their supporters succeeded in recalling two anti-union Wisconsin state senators who had voted earlier this year to repeal collective bargaining rights for public workers.

But the nationally-watched recall effort fell one seat short of knocking Republicans out of the majority in the Wisconsin state senate. Four other GOP state senators subject to recall managed to hold onto their seats in the special election held Aug. 9.

This means that anti-union Republican legislators who voted to repeal collective bargaining rights will hang onto their majority by just one seat, with pro-union forces promising to remobilize in 2012 and finish the job.

IBEW Local 1245 had eight members on the ground in Wisconsin right through election night, and their efforts were noticed by local activists.

“I heard they were having fun and really ‘go getters,’ ” said Local 2304 Business Manager Dave Poklinkoski of Madison. “I understand they (were) in the northeast part of the state — not a lot of people, a lot of lakes and rivers and rural roads.”

He said the traditional economy based on timber harvesting had been replaced “by tourism and folks dreaming of retiring to a cabin there.  That dream is pretty much gone — unless its big money from Chicago or Minneapolis buying up the lake frontage.”

The Tea Party is pushing hard for the recall of the Democratic state senator for that area in an election to be held next week,” Poklinkoski said. “They have a shot at it,” he said.

Below are two reports from Local 1245 members who’ve been active in the Wisconsin campaign: one from Lloyd Cargo on election night, and one from Donchele Soper, who sent in a report a couple of days before the election.

Lloyd Cargo IV: I just wanted to give a final update. After a lot of hard work we were lucky enough to watch results with Local 159 Business Manager Mark Hoffmann. Once we realized Fred Clark would not be winning, we heard his speech and were finally able to meet him. Though we lost, we are very satisfied with the work we’ve put into the campaign. Personally, I know I’ve learned a lot, was able to meet some great people and look forward to continuing the fight back home.

Donchele Soper: This is my first campaign that I have worked on and I have to say that this has been a very rewarding experience.  I feel the huge impact we have made here and we couldn’t have done this without the local residents that have opened their arms to us. I am confident that after this election, these communities have strong activists, leaders, and community organizers who have built relationships that will continue on with the fire that has been ignited.  Canvassing, phone banking and holding special events have let these residents know that they are not alone and that they have support of not only their neighbors, but nationally as well.

An event that stands out in my mind that I have been a part of so far has been an event in River Falls that was held by resident Joan Schnieder, we met while canvassing.  Joan opened her home to us and allowed an event to take place at her house this past Monday. Approximately 20-30 mothers in District 10 came together at her home and wrote 500 letters to other mothers encouraging them to vote for candidate Shelly Moore.  The handwritten letters referenced that if candidate Shelia Harsdorf were to win this election, free and reduced breakfast programs were threatened to be cut from children in Polk and Burnett County. While at this event, I was able to talk with most of these mothers and hearing their stories and how this election hugely impacts them, just made me even more passionate than I already was about this campaign.  I’m excited and pumped for GOTV and I feel honored to be a part of this organizing committee and to have met so many wonderful, passionate people and look forward to the big wins!