Wisconsin Teamsters have been the vanguard in the battle against corporate-sponsored politicians who attack their constituents.
Rally Girl has been in touch with our Wisconsin locals and offers the following report:
Monster rallies are planned for Madison tomorrow, March 12. They will include tractor trailers, tractorcades and, of course, Teamsters. Members from Local 344 in Milwaukee will be out in full force.
Pat Tappa, secretary-treasurer of Local 344, had this to say:
We are organizing caravans of members to go to the rally tomorrow morning. We’ve ordered shirts and the International supplied us with signs and stickers. We’re doing what we can to help our brothers and sisters.
We are also working hard on the recall efforts. We intend to procure today official notices. We’re going to try to pass them out to as many people as we can tomorrow. We’re anticipating 100,000 to attend the rally, so we’re hoping we can get a lot of signatures.
Because of the events that took place, there is very little we can do to stop the majority opposing their will on the rest of us. I take my hat off to Dale Schultz, one of the only Republican senators with common sense. The best thing we can do right now is push this recall effort. I strongly recommend everyone seek out a petition and sign it. There are also petitions addressing the future possible recall of Gov. Walker. He’s ineligible for recall at this current time under state law, but the moment he becomes eligible, we’ll be ready.
Tappa encourages Teamsters and union supporters throughout Wisconsin to spend their Saturday at the rally in Madison. For those unable to attend but who want to show their support, Tappa suggests sending donations to Ian’s Pizza in Madison, which has been supplying protestors with pizza around the clock. Ian’s Pizza can be contacted here.
Wayne Schultz, secretary-treasurer of Local 695 in Madison, said Wisconsin Teamsters are committed to the fight and will not give up on their public-sector brothers and sisters.
We’ve had two Teamster semis up on the square for the full three weeks and we’ve had Teamsters from our local and across the state at the Statehouse every day. We’re preparing and we’ll be up there in strength at tomorrow’s rally. Teamsters are coming from all over the state for the event tomorrow and it’s not just Teamsters—everyone is getting involved.Dave Reardon, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 662 in Wausau, was profiled in the Wausau Daily Herald for his local’s involvement. Reardon told the Herald,
The bottom line is really about participation. We need to get people active and involved, whether it be attending rallies or writing to their representatives. It’s a shame that the state has come to this, considering Wisconsin’s history with organized labor.
It would not surprise me if we had a couple thousand people from our local [at the rally].Local 662 represents public works employees, nurses, emergency medical technicians, bus drivers and other workers. For Reardon, attending the rally is about showing solidarity and maintaining momentum on the recall effort.
“Are we discouraged? Temporarily, but we’re encouraged about the big picture,” Reardon said.
