D.C. 48 hires new
Staff Representative
John English accepted the offer to become the new Staff Representative for District Council 48.
English is a familiar face in the Labor Community. He is currently the President of the City of Milwaukee Local 47, and is one of the Contract Administrators for District Council 48 - a position created as part of a collective bargaining agreement between D.C. 48 and the City of Milwaukee. He also serves D.C. 48 as Vice President from Area 2.
English was selected from a field of many highly qualified candidates. He will begin his service August 11, 2003, but specific assignments have not yet been announced.
The search for a new Staff Representative began after long-time Staff Representative, Bob Klaus announced he would retire at the end of July.
Republicans take
21st Assembly seat
Voters in the 21st District which includes Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and two wards on Milwaukee's south side, voted decisively for Republican Mark Honadel over AFSCME D.C. 48 supported candidate Al Foeckler in Tuesday's special election.
The Republican victory marks the first time in 75 years that a Democrat will not be the representative of the 21st District. Republicans currently hold an alarming 59-40 edge over Democrats in the State Assembly.
Honadel received 6,624 votes to Foeckler's 4,216. The result is disappointing for Democrats, but not necessarily unexpected considering recent voting trends in the 21st District. During the 2002 Governor’s race Scott McCallum won 53% of the vote here.
Honadel relentlessly hammered home his support of the Republican proposed property tax freeze which Democrats hope Gov. Doyle will veto. The property tax freeze may have been the deciding factor in the race. Taxation reductions are typically popular with voters before they are actually implemented. Democrats believe a tax freeze will further devastate communities already scrambling to deal with the effects of budget cuts.
Pratt will become
mayor in January
Common Council President and former D.C. 48 Union brother Marvin Pratt will become Milwaukee's Mayor Jan. 1, 2004 when current mayor John Norquist leaves office four months early to take another position.
Pratt will serve as acting mayor from January through April 2004 and is also a candidate for mayor in the April 2004 election. The city charter is written in such a way that when a mayor leaves office within 120 days of the end of a term, there is no special election held. Instead, the Common Council President takes over for the remaining term.
Marvin Pratt
Pratt supporters are hoping that Pratt will receive significant attention and name recognition by becoming the City's first African American mayor. Name recognition is becoming increasingly important as other well known Milwaukeeans have entered the crowded field of mayoral contenders.
Mayor Norquist will move to Chicago to become the president and chief executive officer of the Congress for the New Urbanism. Norquist said he will not endorse any of the current candidates for mayor.
Laidlaw's terminals
will remain open
The MPS School Board voted to extend current bus contracts to Laidlaw Bus Company through the 2003-04 school year.
The decision means that bus drivers at Laidlaw's Mitchell and Glendale terminals will keep their jobs next year.
Laidlaw, a private bus contractor, had previously notified employees that they would close their doors at the end of this school year after submitting bids deemed to high for acceptance.
Durham School Services was also offered the chance to extend their contracts through the next school year, but the company refused to participate in any negotiations with MPS or AFSCME D.C. 48. Durham's bus terminal is now officially closed.
Drivers at Laidlaw ratified a revised contract with the private MPS bus contractor that offers them less than the original agreement, but they have made significant economic gains and enhanced driver rights.
SPEAKING OUT!
The city's maneuvers, the county woes, the new hardships threatened by the state's budget cuts, scandals -- and what about those federal shenanigans? There's always something to stir the itch to speak out to your elected representatives. Our site's contact lists help:
City of Milwaukee Common Council
County-provided list of supervisors
Milwaukee-area state legislators
Wisconsin members of US Congress
Executive Director Richard Abelson sees the face of evil in corporate America
Direct Talk
Report of Local's Contract Settlements
That's Settled
Pete Swinford discuses the latest in organizing activities
Organizer's Corner
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Say NO to bill
urging privitization of
wastewater treatment facilities
Congress is seeking to REQUIRE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO CONSIDER PRIVATIZATION of their wastewater treatment facilities in order TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING. The legislation that would allow this is SECTION 302(13)(B), part of HR 1560, the "Water Quality Financing Act of 2003". Currently this resolution is in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. One of Wisconsin’s US Representatives, THOMAS PETRI, sits on this committee.
PLEASE CALL REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS PETRI, 1-877-331-2000 and tell him to OPPOSE THE PRIVATIZATION PROVISIONS of HR 1560. Tell him to SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE Section 302(13)(B) from the bill.
There is no need for the federal government to force communities to consider privatization as a condition of receiving federal support. Haven't we had enough of the state trying to control local government? Are we going to let the federal government do the same?
Gov. Doyle's tax
freeze veto stands
The Republican led drive to overturn Gov. Doyle's veto of a proposed property tax freeze fell one vote short of getting the mandatory two-thirds majority for an override.
Three Democrats voted with Republicans to overturn the Governors veto. Senators Tim Carpenter and Gary George, both of Milwaukee, and Dave Hansen of Green Bay nearly handed Senate Republicans the override which would have made it extremely difficult for many communities to grow through economic development and pay for basic services.
Senator Jeff Plale's decision to vote against the freeze turned out to be the determining vote needed for the Democrats. Plale earlier indicated he would vote for the tax freeze, but once he looked at the details of the plan he changed his mind.
Most Democrats believe the Republican led "tax freeze" is simply a gimmick to mislead taxpayers. In reality, this issue is much more complex.
Republican activist have created the illusion of overwhelming support for this tax freeze. They have been collecting signatures at a rapid rate showing overwhelming support for the freeze. However, as Senator Plale put it, "the devil is in the details". If you ask most taxpayers if they would like to pay more taxes, the answer will be a resounding NO. If you ask these same people if they want critical services to schools, parks, and libraries to be cut, the answer will also be NO.
Perhaps the question pollsters should be asking voters is, "Do you trust the same Madison politicians who have nearly bankrupt our State, to now dictate to local governments how they should manage their budgets?"
Witkowski wins
seat on Council
Terry Witkowski earned more votes than Nancy Plichta for a second time in the Tuesday, July 22, 2003 special election to earn a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council.
Witkowski will replace Ald. Jeff Pawlinski's vacant seat in Milwaukee's 13th District on the city's southeast side. Pawlinski resigned in May after pleading guilty to federal charges of misusing campaign funds.
Witkowski earned 2,465 votes to Plichta's 1,878. During the June 24, 2003 primary election Witkowski earned 885 votes to Plichta's 615. The remarkable twist to that election was that Witkowski ran as a write-in candidate in an already crowded field of 13 candidates on the ballot.
Council 48 hires
Law Offices of Mark A. Sweet, LLC
Mark Sweet
The AFSCME District Council 48 Executive Board interviewed five highly qualified law firms May 5, before making the decision to hire the Law Offices of Mark A. Sweet LLC, to represent D.C. 48 in matters concerning litigation.
Legal representation will play a crucial role in determining the future success of our union.
Mark Sweet’s education, experience and history of employee advocacy make him a perfect fit for District Council 48.
Attorney Profiles
AFSCME Profile.
After 28 years of service, former D.C. 48 Executive Board member and Local 594 President, Lee Henderson retired from her job as an Economic Support Specialist for Milwaukee County in June.
Lee Henderson
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Though she's decided to retire, she will not give up her political activism that she has come to love through years of fighting to bring justice to Milwaukee's political process. Lee Henderson Profile
Staff Profile
AFSCME District Council 48 Staff Representative Malou Noth has earned a reputation as a no nonsense negotiator who likes to get straight to the point. But what is underneath her no nonsense exterior is what really sets her apart- and that's her big heart, passion for the Union and for the people she represents.Noth truly has a style all her own. Malou Noth profile
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Labor will challenge
Walker’s attempt to
reduce hours or jobs
County Executive Scott Walker was warned by Labor leaders last week that any attempt to fill a $4 million hole in the budget on the backs of Milwaukee County workers will be met with a court challenge.
Walker said he intends to fill a $4 million hole in the budget by cutting the workweek to 35-hours for all county employees for five weeks or by laying off 400 workers in September.
AFSCME District Council 48 Executive Director Richard Abelson suggested that Walker first ask hundreds of private vendors to take a cut before any county worker is affected. Another option suggested by Abelson would be to ask workers if anyone would be interested in taking voluntary furlough to help combat the budget shortfall.
Labor leaders say Walker’s plan is in violation of union contract which says layoffs must be done by seniority. They are hopeful that Walker and the Union can work together to find viable alternative options to overcome budget challenges.
Toni Clark elected
to Milwaukee
County Board
In a special election Tuesday, July 15, voters in Milwaukee’s 2nd District elected Toni Clark to become their representative on the Milwaukee County Board.
Clark, the AFSCME PEOPLE endorsed candidate, defeated Dale Radke by earning 319 votes to Radke’s 286. Clark and Radke were the two candidates receiving the most votes in the June 17 primary.
Clark is a strong supporter of labor and has been involved in the issues of her district for years. She is a graduate of Marshall High School and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and is an elementary school teacher at MPS. She will take a leave of absence from her teaching duties while serving the County.
Former 2nd District Supervisor Joe Davis endorsed Clark for the vacancy after he was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council last April. Clark served as co-chairman of Davis’ campaign and successfully managed the campaign of 10th District Alderman Willie Wade.
District Council 48
thanks supervisors
who voted
against
privitization
The following letter of appreciation was sent to each Milwaukee County Supervisor who had the courage to vote against privatizing the food service at the Milwaukee County House of Corrections. Those supervisors are: Mark Borkowski, Elizabeth Coggs-Jones, Joe Davis Sr., Willie Johnson Jr., Lori Lutzka, Michael Mayo Sr., Roger Quindel, John Weishan, James White and Anthony Zielinski.
Dear Supervisor:
Milwaukee County Government has faced a host of problems and challenges over the past year. The trend is to seek quick and simple solutions to these problems. AFSCME District Council 48 applauds you in your choice against the quick and simple solution which the majority of your colleagues made in privatizing the food service operation at the Milwaukee County House of Corrections.
The membership of our Union understands the economic reality we face. There are no quick and simple solutions to the fiscal problems confronting all levels of government. We do know one thing for certain – privatizing public jobs is not the answer. In the long run, it will be by growing our local economy, and by preserving good jobs, good schools, and good neighborhoods, that we will succeed in providing real economic stability to Milwaukee County.
I want to personally thank you for having the courage and conviction to vote to maintain the House of Corrections food service operation. You understand that the economy of Milwaukee County cannot be grown by contributing to the loss of family sustaining jobs and by believing the empty promises of privateers. Unfortunately, the majority of your colleagues chose the "easy" route and voted to join the mad rush to the economic bottom.
On behalf of the thousands of AFSCME members in Milwaukee County, thank you for voting your conscience. You vote represents good public policy rather than merely pandering to popular politics.
Very truly yours,
Richard W. Abelson
Executive Director
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