March 16, 2012

Last week we recognized the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the massive protests across Wisconsin against Scott Walker’s wayward collective bargaining agreement. 2011 was the year of labor. During this past year we saw Wisconsinites bring — what we called during the Civil Rights Movement — the “street heat” to Madison to protest Governor Scott Walker and his efforts to ram through legislation that cut state employee benefits and stripped unions of their collective bargaining rights.

The rallies in Madison against the governor’s attack on collective bargaining began during those brisk days early in March. Hundreds of thousands attended those rallies from throughout the state. Soon, state federations from across the country sent their members to help mobilize people — knocking on doors and spreading the word — to let them know of the damage being done to the hard working people of Wisconsin.