‘Right to Work’ passes WI Senate as thousands protest for third straight day
Madison, WI – Thousand rallied, Feb. 25, on the steps of the Wisconsin Capitol. Hours later, hundreds chanted “Kill the bill” in the capitol rotunda while hanging banners and homemade signs. Later, dozens were ejected from the senate hearing room for shouting down Republican politicians trying to fast track the anti-worker law.
Right to Work passed the senate later in the evening, 17-15, with one Republican turning back. The bill is now in the State Assembly, with a hearing to be scheduled early next week.
In a firey speech, Phil Gruber, Midwest territory general vice president for the Machinists Union, called for more action.
“It’s time we take action in this country,” he said. “The only way we’re going to stop the right-to-work laws is to stand still. I think it’s about time that we stop the production in this country.”
Will Guenthner, a UW-Milwaukee student who was ejected from the senate hearing room, said he felt like his fellow students were getting robbed by the recent cuts to the UW school system and saw the workers getting robbed by this bill. “Robbed. That's the word that keeps coming to mind. Walker's entire career as governor has felt like one huge heist. So today, as a student, I stood in support of working people , because we are no different and the robbery will only continue.”
The AFL-CIO has announced another large march this Saturday, Feb. 28, at the state capitol at noon.
A group of rank-and-file workers are calling themselves Defeat Right to Work in Wisconsin and have created a Facebook site. Check out @DefeatRTW to follow the protest movement.