Wisconsin's working people rise up again to fight right to work

It's freezing outside the Wisconsin Statehouse, but this Teamster
retiree weathered the cold to make a point.

Wisconsin workers continue the fight against right to work today as shivering protesters are packed outside the Statehouse while others make their voices heard inside. 

Senators are debating a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor as union members sing songs of solidarity outside. Sen. Chris Larson, a Milwaukee Democrat, told the Republican majority that workers who waited nine hours yesterday to testify before a Senate committee were denied the opportunity.

Former Teamster and Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, wonders why they're in such a hurry to pass a bill today that was only introduced on Friday. 

Brother Rob Moss, Business Agent for Teamsters Local 695 in LaCrosse, sent us the photo below: 

A strong union presence inside the Statehouse.

Brother Tom Bennett, President of Teamsters Local 200 in Milwaukee, is also keeping us posted. He sent us this photo featuring the flag of the Teamsters Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.  

Note the yellow Teamsters BLET flag.

"These halls have echoed democracy for decades, now these halls are silenced with the dollars of Republican donors," Bennett said.

Here's Local 200 Business Agent Randy Monroe, Rep. Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee),
President Tom Bennett and Agent Wes Gable at the Statehouse rally today.

Earlier, Brother Bennett shared with us his experience testifying against the right-to-work bill, SB44.

After long hours of waiting to testify against SB44, I got to go on about 5:30 on Tuesday night.  

Democratic senators Chris Larson and Bob Wirch did an outstanding job today related to being on task to dispel the misgivings of right-to-work supporters such as The Heritage Foundation, ALEC and Wisconsin's own Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. Both Larson and Wirch are senators within Teamsters Local 200 jurisdiction. 

As I testified, I made reference to a comment by Republican Senator Scott Fitzgerald, who introduced SB44. I testified with the following statement: "This morning I heard Senator Fitzgerald use the world "simple." Last night I went to bed a simple man and I woke up a simple man. I find nothing simple about this bill, and my membership takes this act as no simple measure. It is strictly an attack on organized labor."