Support for the Union Labor News
Editorial Submitted by Bill Franks
I’ve been an Executive Council member, the former Chief Steward and an active member of my Union Local, AFT-W 4848 (Wisconsin Professional Employees Council aka WPEC) for close to 15 years. In the past I served as Chair of our Communications Committee and have written dozens of Articles and submitted numerous Reports to our Members over the years, so let’s put the Union Labor News in the context of the Labor Movement and see why it’s so very important to continue our support for the Union Labor News.
Wisconsin’s importance to the modern day Trade Union Movement cannot be overstated. The nation’s first modern day trade union was formed in 1865 when the Molder’s Union, Local 125 in Milwaukee was established. A tradition of solidarity helped Wisconsin lead the way in public employee unionism. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers was founded in 1936 in Madison. Public workers gained true union rights in the late 1950s, with some public employee unions recognizing they had to use some private industry tactics, such as the strike, to win justice. Wisconsin labor law became a model for the nation.
There were significant central labor bodies in several parts of the State. Kenosha, Merrill, Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Madison were homes to such councils. Of those central labor councils that had newsletters; The Kenosha Labor, The New Deal (Sheboygan) and the Union Labor News (Madison) continue. Milwaukee sadly, announced the discontinuation of the Milwaukee Labor Press, late last month.
Consequently, the Union Labor News, based in Madison, continues its monthly publication for now but is in need. In the wake of the current anti-union earthquake brought about by the forces of corporate and anti-democratic shenanigans, the most obvious is the implementation of Wisconsin Act 10, which was intended to eviscerate all remains of trade unionism in our State. The Union Labor News originally was published in 1913-1914 as the Madison Labor News. The Union Labor News originally debuted in Madison in 1942 and continues to this day.
It would be unfortunate, indeed, if the Union Labor News was allowed to die on our watch. The only reason I write this article is to encourage those who read it, to not let that happen on our watch. I encourage you to subscribe to the Union Labor News. If you are interested in subscribing to support the paper, subscription information is available on the WPEC website.
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