Walker Continues Lying and Posturing in Circus-Stunt Press Conference

Via the AFLCIO --Despite his posturing to the contrary, it is Scott Walker who is unwilling to engage in good-faith negotiation with Democrats who are standing up for the 74% of Wisconsinites that oppose his budget repair bill.

The recent Reuters headline – “Wisconsin’s Walker vows no compromise on unions” – demonstrates clearly he has no interest in compromising, just creating the illusion of compromise as his polling numbers sink to record-low levels.

"Walker again today reiterated the lie that all he is asking for is modest contributions from labor on health care and pension contributions. We have already accepted every sacrifice on wages and benefits Walker insisted upon and yet he won’t take ‘yes’ for an answer." said Marty Beil, Executive Director Wisconsin State Employees Union AFSCME Council 24.

"When are corporations going to make their shared sacrifice to fix Wisconsin’s budget?" asked Stephanie Bloomingdale, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. "In fact, Scott Walker’s plan calls for huge give backs to the corporate special interests that bankrolled his campaign. Walker’s power grab has nothing to do with the budget and everything to do with stripping workers of our bargaining rights."

Given that Walker’s refusal to negotiate in good faith was embarrassingly revealed in a phone call with someone he believed was his billionaire political benefactor David Koch, it is beyond comprehension that he would suggest Democrats are taking direction from out-of-state phone calls. Indeed, it was an out-of-state phone call from ‘Koch’ that directed Walker to take his ‘baseball bat’ to Wisconsin’s working families and launch an all-out assault on the middle class.

It’s time for Scott Walker stop the lies, end the showboating, and come to the table to negotiate a deal that gets Wisconsin moving forward again.

Employee Free Choice Act Now

What’s the worth of an American’s work?

If you believe that America ought to resemble feudalistic serfdom—not very much.

But since the later part of the ninetieth century when workers began organizing with fellow workers during the industrial revolution, the social and economic value of work, its worth, has been acclaimed as a valuable commodity.

Yet many through history, including the contemporary GOP, persist in believing that America's labor is not worth all that much and have endlessly fought, often violently, against the attempts of Americans to organize to sell their labor product at a reasonable price.

As the late Sidney Lens, the great labor activist and historian, pointed out: Thousands of corpses and cracked skulls litter the battle to organize and sell American labor.

The pro-labor view, held in today's Democratic Party and organized labor, is that labor is sacred and ought to command a price sufficient to raise a family.

The right to organize to sell the American labor product was enshrined in the Wagner Act of 1935, singed into law by FDR.

Wrote FDR in his statement signing the Wagner Act:

This Act defines, as a part of our substantive law, the right of self-organization of employees in industry for the purpose of collective bargaining, and provides methods by which the Government can safeguard that legal right.

In the spirit of the Wagner Act, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) now under consideration in Congress continues the legacy of the American labor movement, FDR and the belief that one's work is sacred.

Look for the Republicans to do their worst to stop it.

As the AFL-CIO points out, the Employee Free Choice Act would help workers join "together in a union to bargain for health care, pensions, fair wages and better working conditions is the best opportunity working people have to get ahead" in the face of corporate intimidation and a broken regulatory system.

It's really simple, the Employee Free Choice Act guarantees "that if a majority of workers wants a union, they can have one, allowing them to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation."

Now will come GOP and corporate lies to halt this needed labor reform.

As former Rep. Newt Gingrich says, “This bill is a mortal threat to American freedom and we will never forgive somebody who votes for cloture or for passage.”

Right, Newt. Read more corporate and rightwing fear mongering here.

AFL-CIO to Hit McCain in Wisconsin, Swing States

John McCain's hostile voting record against veterans will be the topic of a major media buy by the AFL-CIO.

The ad blasts McCain for his close political commitments to George W. Bush on veterans issues.

From the AFL-CIO's Union Veterans Council:

The AFL-CIO also is launching a TV ad today featuring Jim Wasser, a Vietnam-era veteran and retired Electrical Workers (IBEW) member.

In the ad, Wasser speaks about McCain, whose military service is honorable but whose Senate voting record hasn’t supported veterans and their families. The ad will run in communities around the country hard-hit by the nation’s economic crisis.

In the ad, Wasser praises McCain’s military service and discusses his concerns about McCain’s political agenda.

"Every vet respects John McCain’s war record. It’s his record in the Senate that I have a problem with," said Wasser.

Wasser says McCain supports continuing to spend billions in Iraq, yet he repeatedly voted against increased funding for veterans health care.

"People should let McCain know that his agenda is not what we need. Not now," said Wasser.

According to the Washington Post, "The ads will run on stations in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin for the next three weeks."

Watch the video: