Solidarity: The Alaska-Wisconsin Connection
By Ryan Marquis (Kenai, AK)
Ryan Marquis (at right below) serves on the Kenai City Council and as a local Vice-President of the Alaska Public Employees Association. Ryan and several of his fellow APEA activists were on the ground in Wisconsin last month to help organize against the attacks on collective bargaining rights in that state.
In February 2011, the Wisconsin State Senate introduced a bill at the request of Governor Scott Walker. The bill was crafted to destroy the public employee unions within the state and, prior to the 2010 mid-terms, this would have sounded crazy. Wisconsin is recognized as the birthplace of American labor unions, including public employee unions, beginning with the creation of AFSCME, which was founded in Madison. Strong support for unions, and the middle-class they fight to preserve, runs within the hearts of many Wisconsinites—those who are members of unions as well as those who aren’t.
Post-2010 mid-terms, crazy has come home to roost.
I had been intently following the situation as it evolved in Wisconsin. When I got a phone call asking me if I could go to Madison for a week to help Wisconsin workers, I was humbled and excited. I figured going to the pro-labor, progressive, mecca that is Madison to organize union members would be like shooting fish in a barrel. I arrived on a day where thousands of bikers were circling the capitol, supporting Wisconsin workers as part of the “Thunda Around The Rotunda” rally. Sidewalks were scrawled in chalk, with phrases including “Union Yes,” “Kill The Bill,” and “Solidarity!” Hundreds of businesses had pro-labor signs in their windows. While I found heartwarming comfort in the support for public employees, including from members of the private sector, I soon learned that (while I probably had a better understanding of what was happening in Wisconsin than most people outside of that great state) I had no idea just how severe the situation really was.
That long rich labor history I mentioned is part of the challenge that faces the public employee unions in Wisconsin. So many of them told me that they didn’t even realize that what the Governor and legislature did was even possible. Workers rights and collective bargaining had been such a solid part of their working lives, they never thought twice about it ceasing to exist.
Several Alaskans, and many from elsewhere around the country, recently mobilized in Madison to help various local unions understand how they can stand up in the face of the actions by the Wisconsin legislature and the governor. More importantly, we were there to show our solidarity and make sure they knew that they weren’t alone in their fight. When talking to the union members, I often reminded them that all eyes were on Wisconsin, and just as important as those of us watching what was being done to public employees was how the public employees were going to react to the situation. Knowing Wisconsin’s rich labor history, it was obvious to me and others that if something like this could happen there, it could happen anywhere. Wisconsin has set an example of the good and effectiveness that labor unions provide for all workers, and yet they’re now forced into the situation of setting an example of how the middle-class—union and non-union—will respond. The people I talked to found strength in being reminded of the importance of their situation.
We spent a solid week of 16+ hour days building a foundation for the current and future battles that will be fought in Wisconsin. We helped put activists into closer contact with other activists, and helped open up lines of internal communication between members and external communications between locals. A solid network is in place, and will continue to be built upon, to ensure that Governor Walker doesn’t decide whether or not public employees have a voice in the workplace—they will decide.
I benefited from my trip as well. I got to experience first-hand the power of solidarity, a great sense of accomplishment for my efforts, and a preview of the future battles that workers will have to face in the future. I was able to interject myself into an important moment in history and in some degree, help to shape that history. The biggest personal benefit I took home was a solid re-affirmation that the stand I’ve taken is the stand that history will look back upon favorably—the stand that will ultimately prevail.
While standing at the gate in Minneapolis, awaiting my return flight back to Alaska, I was approached by a young man who noticed my “Stand with Wisconsin” shirt. He came up to me and complimented the shirt and asked me if I was from Wisconsin. I explained that I was from Alaska, and returning home after a week of supporting the rights of Wisconsin workers. I told him how I, along with other people from around the country, mobilized in Madison to help fellow union members get organized and prepared to continue their battle. He himself, not a member of a union, knew the importance of the labor movement in this country and was overwhelmingly sincere in his gratitude for our work. He shook my hand and thanked me for what I did, and said that he was inspired by the act of solidarity. Our conversation was interrupted as I was called upon to board the plane. I spent the 5-1/2 hour flight thinking about Wisconsin and particularly the support of people like the man I met in the airport; those that supported labor not because they were in a union themselves, but because they realize the good that the labor movement has done for every worker in the country. When I landed in Anchorage and was walking through checkpoint into the public area of the airport, I noticed a welcoming party for a returning soldier. It’s a common sight to see loved ones and supporters welcoming home our troops, and is something that always sets off a patriotic vibration in my heart. I lingered with the welcoming party to see who was coming home, and to experience the always-heartwarming sight of loved ones being re-united with our nation’s heroes. The cheering grew loud as the group recognized their man returning home. My jaw dropped when I realized that the person that had been serving our country for the past who-knows-how-long, facing who-knows-what-kind-of-horrors, was the same man who a plane-ride earlier at that gate in Minneapolis, was thanking me for my service.
Solidarity Forever.
thanks for this Ryan. Sorry I didn’t get to meet you when you were in town!
I had the pleasure of participating in the BLITZ week that Ryan and other activists from Alaska came to help with. Many of the people we spoke with were grateful and astounded that folks from as far away as Alaska had come here to help us. It was a humbling and inspiring experience. Thank you Alaska! Solidarity forever!
Dems and Progressives need to disabuse themselves of the notion that being called liberal or Socialist is a bad thing. Liberals have ideas-rethugs don’t. Libs can’t give their ideas traction because once the names start flying about,libs head for cover. Be manly men and women and stand up for what you know is right. Someone calls you a Commie or Socialist,wear it with pride. That is all rethuglicans add to conversations is name calling. I don’t like seeing all taxpayer dollars being given to the wealthy because the poor are deadbeats and don’t pay taxes. This is our Nation. Let’s take it back from the bullies.
Very well done indeed. It should give us all pause. It is breathtaking. At its roots the new republican AlEC orchestrated assault on democracy is founded on the idea that the priviledged few are destined and ordained to rule over the squalid masses.
We are those squalid masses. It is therefore up to us to inform our peers of what is going on because the default means of information distribution have been subverted. The issue the MSM is touting is the size of the deficit. But the reality of the situation is the starvation of the tax revenue stream. If we tax the rich, if we tax the corporations, if we close out all the loopholes that allow people to make billions of dollars and pay no tax at all, we will erase the deficit in less than ten years. Not reduce it, erase it.
The politicians who are pushing the legislative agenda that disenfranchises as many people as possible are nothing but paid shills for their well healed benefactors and perhaps worst of all cheap as well. It is going to be a big fight.
Hilarious book review of “The Lies of Sarah Palin”
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/05/18/the-lies-of-sarah-palin/
Thank you Ryan for a WONDERFUL, heartwarming report. Excellent read!
Thank you so much for coming to WI! And thank you for sharing your story.
Isn’t it wonderful how grateful people are when you stand up for justice for all? Everytime I have ever participated in something like that and I am not a member of the group who’s rights are threatened, I find that I am warmly thanked by many. It’s always a moving experience.
Thank you, Ryan, both for your work and for sharing this “pay it forward” story.
And, to our exceptional military families, my gratitude for your service.
Wow! That last sentence was not only ironic, but a tear-jerker. Thank you for sharing!!
Glad to know I wasn’t the only one.
I get choked up when I try to articulate what I feel about the whole Wisconsin/labor/rights situation.
It’s very hard to express just how much it means to us ALL what the fight is about in Wisconsin and how much it means to the rest of the country. It feels as if a revolution is taking place; without bullets but definitely a fight to defend what is our right as individuals, as citizens of this country. And Wisconsin is the front line of defense.
Wisconsinites, stand tall, stand proud. You – just stand proud; You’re doing fine.
Here’s another “revolution” — short commercial made by others like us. Smart and creative.
worth watching. short. makes one’s (progressive’s) heart smile.
http://youtu.be/MbykzqJ6ens
Thank you for taking the time to write about your experience and help in the fight to keep collective bargaining in Wisconsin. The history of the unions and collective bargaining in our country needs to be expounded upon and your article has helped to do this. The unions fight for fair wages, unfair practices of child labor, safety in the work place has been a benefit to all workers, union and those not in a union through our labor laws.
And, yes, “Thank you and our returning soldier” for your services to our country.
What a wonderful story in every way. Thank you.
Thanks, Ryan, and all the union workers, organizers and supporters in Wisconsin and around the country who have been uniting to protect such a vital part of our country’s history AND its future.
I continue to hope that the solidarity inspired by this frightening spate of anti-union legislation proposed and passed around the nation results in a backlash against the corporate greed that has overtaken this country. Let’s hope that next year’s elections will return our nation to a government that respects and protects the very people who make us thrive. A government that defends the worker against the CEO who values nothing beyond his profit margin and whose goal is to maximize his/her bank account regardless of the cost to the employees.
We can hope…
It is inspiring, leenie17, and we must remain vigilant. Apart from vigilance, we need to organize. I realize that getting moderates and progressives together can sometimes be akin to herding cats, but the stakes are too high for us to fail.
Thank you, Ryan, for an excellent post.
😉 zyxomma, when all else fails, we could try “cowboys herding cats”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8
Yes. We. Can.
We managed to elect the first African-American President last time around, instead of an old, white, male, conservative (supposed) war hero. Who’da thunk?
Put the right incentive in front of them – like a nice big can of yummy tuna – and you can get the most stubborn cats to come a-runnin’.
Who knows…the cr@p that the Republicans have been pulling on the American people for the past 2 years just might turn out to be a nice big can of yummy tuna!
Yes, I’ve heard the same thing in reference to “herding cats”- it was explained to me that progressives/moderates are well adjusted types who are leading fulfilling lives, and the GOP use “fear” to gather the uncontented whereas they band together. = I think “we” were deathly afraid when McCain picked Palin which truly helped President Obama’s ’08 landslide victory. And with the stakes being high, “we” will do the same in this next cycle. Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we can-again!”
Nice article, Ryan. Keep up the good work!