AFSCME Council 32 Stands With Transit Workers

AFSCME Council 32, representing thousands of public and private sector employees across Wisconsin, proudly stands with Milwaukee County Transit workers in their fight for dignity and fair treatment.

Council 32’s Executive Board voted on Wednesday to support ATU Local 998’s work stoppage. The Board commends ATU members for their courage in the face of efforts to undermine their workplace rights and undercut public safety by the transit system’s unwise attempt to expand the use of part-time drivers.

AFSCME members understand that devaluing the work of full-time professionals reduces the quality of public services that Wisconsin citizens expect and deserve.

Council 32’s Executive Board fully supports ATU Local 998’s principled stand and urges all Wisconsin workers to stand with our brothers and sisters for as long as it takes to win this important fight.

July 2 at ATU 998 rally at Milwaukee County Courthouse [Photo: WI BOPM]

July 2 at ATU 998 rally at Milwaukee County Courthouse [Photo: WI BOPM]

Milwaukee, July 8: Coalition For Justice Mass Meeting

Calling All Concerned Community Members:

Please join us Wednesday July 8, 2015 at All Peoples Church as we get set to convene our first mass meeting of the summer. There have been many issues arising in our city that demand attention, and we want to ensure that we are united in our approach to making Milwaukee a better place tomorrow than it is today.

This meeting will focus on some of the gaps we have in our organization. we are looking to fill some roles with individuals who are dedicated to the fight for justice and want to be core planners for our approach to the work. We will also be discussing our plans for the rest of the summer.

Please join us, and bring a friend. We have an opportunity to change this city! Lets be the change.

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at TheCoalitionForJustice@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing your there. Bring your thoughts.

Logistics:
What: Mass Meeting
Where: All Peoples Church (2600 N. 2nd. St)
When: Wednesday July 8, 2015
Time: 6:00-8:30pm
About: Justice!

COJ_Milwaukee_7-8-15

Madison, July 6: Four Month Funeral for Tony Robinson and All Killed by Police

YGB Action: Funeral Procession on the 4 Month Anniversary of Tony Robinson’s Death

Join us Monday July 6th at 5:00 pm at the parking lot on the corner of First St and E. Washington Ave. Young Gifted and Black will be holding a funeral procession for Tony Robinson and others who have been killed by the police on the 4 month Anniversary of Tony’s death. Shut it Down NYC is holding a solidarity action on this day in collaboration with YGB.

The recent killing of 9 people in Charleston and the spreading of fires burning Black churches is directly related to police killings of Black people. Ultimate disregard for Black life is shown every 24 hours when a police officer kills another Black person without consequence. Just as Matt Kenny was not charged with murder and was given his job back, so is the response across the country when similar murders happen by law enforcement. This institutional validation of the killing of Black people only supports white supremacist civilians to carry out terrorism against Black people.

Matt Kenny would have lost his job the first time he killed someone in 2007 if it were up to community members and Tony Robinson would still be alive. Rather than being charged with murder for killing an unarmed teenager, rather than being fired, Matt Kenny is now training other officers. We can not let him train other police officers to kill more unarmed young Black men. He must be fired and charged.

Join us as we drive in a funeral procession to key spots to show the injustce that has been done and the need for community control of the police. We believe that the only way that we can have any justice in the broken system of policing is one in which police are from the communities that they serve, and community members have direct control over hiring, firing, and setting priorities, policies and practices.

Justice for Tony Demands:

1) Dual track UN investigation into 1) the killing of Tony Robinson and others killed by police violence and 2) the gross racial disparities in Madison and Dane County.

2) Community Control over the Police: The community must have direct control over hiring and firing of police, and in setting priorities, policies and practices of the police in their community. The police must be from the communities that they serve

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Milwaukee, July 3: Protest at Abele’s House to Support Transit Workers!

ATU 998 workers and their supporters will rally and march outside County Executive Chris Abele’s luxury condo in the Moderne. Meet at the corner of 4th and McKinley at 4pm.

As County Executive, Chris Abele has attempted to destroy Milwaukee’s public services, while giving away our limited resources to the rich. We will rally outside Abele’s house which sits on the Park East corridor, Milwaukee County land he is planning to sell for $1, at a discount of $2.7 million per parcel.

Hundreds of ATU Local 998 members and supporters rally to demand contract justice July 2 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse [Photo: WI BOPM]

Hundreds of ATU Local 998 members and supporters rally to demand contract justice July 2 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse [Photo: WI BOPM]

Milwaukee Solidarity Ride Program During ATU Local 998 Work Stoppage

Complete this form to sign up for a ride to work, school, or a medical appointment on 7/2/2015 and 7/3/2015. Rides are being coordinated by All People’s Church and drivers are faith and community leaders standing in solidarity with the brave striking transit workers in Milwaukee. This is an intake form – YOUR RIDE IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOU GET A CONFIRMATION CALL.

Please make sure to answer all phone calls, even from numbers you don’t recognize. Please note we will prioritize those with the greatest need and the fewest resources when assigning rides. CLICK HERE:. http://tinyurl.com/pbnnng8

ATU Local 998 & Labor-Community Gears Up For Day 2 of Work Stoppage

Thursday, July 2: 6:30 a.m. rally at MCTS Administration Offices, 17th and Fond du Lac, Milwaukee

AND

5 p.m. Thursday, July 2, Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N 9th Street, Milwaukee 53233

Rally with Milwaukee transit workers who are standing up for:

– Full time jobs with benefits

The company wants to create over three hundred part time jobs when this community needs full time family supporting jobs

– Bathroom Breaks

Bus drivers need a safe and decent place to use the bathroom at all layovers

– No cuts to the pension

The pension is adequately funded. There is no need for adjustments

– No increased out of pocket medical costs

Transit workers already contribute a substantial amount to their healthcare

ATU Local 998 members and supporters at the 32nd and Fond du Lac picket site July 1 in Milwaukee [Photo: WI BOPM]

ATU Local 998 members and supporters at the 1900 W Fiebrantz picket site July 1 in Milwaukee [Photo: WI BOPM]

AFSCME Local 526 Stands with Milwaukee Transit Workers!

AFSCME Local 526 Stands with Milwaukee Transit Workers!

On Wednesday June 21st at 3am, Milwaukee County Transit Workers represented by ATU Local 998 will begin a work stoppage, as they fight for a fair contract. AFSCME Local 526, representing Milwaukee Public Museum employees, stands in solidarity with the transit workers as they lead this important fight. We call on other locals, trade unionists, students, activists, transit riders, and workers of all types to stand with our brothers and sisters on the picket lines at transit hubs.

Organized labor has successfully transformed working conditions over the past century through bold actions like those of ATU 998. While Wisconsin’s so-called “right to work” law would attempt to un-do that progress, Local 998 is waging an important battle and showing Wisconsin labor how to fight back against “right to work.” The transit workers rejected a contract that sought to undermine the union by creating hundreds of part-time positions which would have to opt-in to pay union dues, under Wisconsin’s “right to work” law. The company’s attempt to implement part time positions chips away at the good full time jobs the transit workers have maintained through union power over the decades.

The fight of ATU 998 is a fight for all Wisconsin workers. On behalf of AFSCME Local 526, we extend our solidarity and support.

Signed,
AFSCME Local 526 Executive Board

ATU Local 998 Members & Supporters Staying Strong on Picket Lines

Members of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA), the WI Bail Out the People Movement and many other labor-community supporters were out early this morning joining ATU Local 998 members who are engaging in a 72 hour work stoppage that began at 3 a.m. today, July 1. See posts below for information on how to assist the ATU 998 sisters and brothers and their families and our communities.

WI BOPM PHOTOS: http://tinyurl.com/q8y94zv

@ATUComm Call Abele & tell him MCTS workers deserve better. Demand he settle & end stoppage 414 278-4211 pic.twitter.com/mYaeuKDrJ7

https://www.facebook.com/defeatrighttowork

Ms. Angela Walker of Wisconsin Jobs Now and Ms. Babette Grunow of WI Bail Out The People Movement at All Peoples Church in Milwaukee July 1 building solidarity for the ATU Local 998 sisters and brothers engaging in a work stoppage [Photo: WI BOPM]

Ms. Angela Walker of Wisconsin Jobs Now and Ms. Babette Grunow of WI Bail Out The People Movement at All Peoples Church in Milwaukee July 1 building solidarity for the ATU Local 998 sisters and brothers engaging in a work stoppage [Photo: WI BOPM]

Call Abele: Stop Gutting Transit, Stop Attacking Workers!

County Executive Chris “Boss” Abele is leading the charge to gut the Milwaukee County Transit System and break the union, eliminating the decent, full-time jobs. His attack is an extension of Walker’s “right to work.”

Call or email Chris Abele and tell him to stop attacking public transit. No cuts to transit, no attacks on workers, fair contract and bathroom breaks for drivers!

414-278-4211
CountyExec@milwaukeecountywi.gov