News

Labor Notes Conference - April 17-19, 2020 in Chicago   POSTPONED

The Labor Notes Conference will be very big this year and early bird registration closes Feb. 28th. If you would like to be on a list for local organizers who will be helping to coordinate transport, hotel rooms, etc., please click on this survey:  https://forms.gle/qxn2jAcnJ8wcTddB9 .

Wisconsin Grassroots Festival – March 21, 2020 in Mazomanie

This event is to inform, engage, and inspire with thought-provoking speakers and breakout sessions. Come meet activists and organizations from around the state, and enjoy music, food and fun.  For more information, including how to register, go to:  https://allevents.in/mazomanie/12th-annual-wisconsin-grassroots-festival/1000092495593811

Wisconsin Labor History Society Conference – March 28, 2020 in Milwaukee   CANCELLED

This conference will look at Wisconsin’s past and how to regain our State’s progressive traditions.  Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, will be the keynote speaker.   For more information, go to  http://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org/   Registration may be made online at www.wlhs2020.eventbrite.com.   

Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants 2020 Conference – May 15, 2020  CANCELLED

The WICOA conference is scheduled for Friday, May 15 at the American Family Campus.  In addition to the presentations on the Wisconsin Retirement System, Jay Heck of Common Cause in Wisconsin will be speaking on What’s Ahead for ending Partisan Gerrymandering in Wisconsin.  This conference isn’t just for retirees.  It is scheduled on a Friday, but it’s worth taking the time off to attend.  For a copy of the agenda and a link to registration, go to https://www.wicoa.org/2020conference.php. 

Act 10 weakened, but has not killed, our state worker unions.

Session 1.  Wednesday, January 29, 2020.  Notes.  

Session 2.  Wednesday, February 26, 2020.  Flyer.  

The UW School for Workers is holding a workshop on internal organizing on April 13 - 15, 2020.  Topics include:

     Strategies for membership engagement

     Identifying and activating new activists

     Creating internal structures to increase capacity

     Developing collective strength.  

For more information.  If interest in attending, contact president@wpec.org.

Labor Day 2019: Celebrate with these Great Union-made Events!

See flyer

WIARA POWER LUNCH

Save the date, the WIARA Power Lunch is October 14, 2019  in Milwaukee!

More details as they become available. 

Madison Area

The South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL)  will celebrate Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019  at the Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street, Noon to 5:30.    

Solidarity Roll Call at 2:00 pm.  

Volunteer Opportunities

Flyer

Special Labor Day Collection (Homeless Students)

Several AFT-Wisconsin retirees attended the 2019 Wi Association for Retired Americans Annual Conference at the Labor Temple in Madison.  Officers were elected.  A change to the bylaws was proposed and tabled.  For more information, see the newsletter.

May 1 – May Day.  State Capitol in Madison, 11:00 a.m.  Urge the state legislature to restore driver licenses and state ID cards for immigrant families and low-income people in Wisconsin. 

For more information:  https://vdlf.org/mayday2019/

May 5 - May 11 Public Employee Recognition Week.

May 10 -- WCOA Conference.  American Family Center, Building A, 6000 American Family Parkway, Madison.  9:00 a.m. – 3:30 pm.  $25 which includes lunch.  Registration deadline is May 3. 

Robert Conlin, Secretary, Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) and David Villa, Executive Director of SWIB, will give updates on the State of Wisconsin Retirement System. 

Timothy Smeeding, professor of public affairs and economics at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, UW-Madison, will share his recent work about the extreme inequality of income, consumption, wealth and poverty and the effect they are having on our children and grandchildren.

Helen Marks Dicks, State Issues Advocacy Director for AARP Wisconsin, will talk about some key issues before the State Legislature that will affect seniors – particularly a tax credit for family members or friends who are providing caregiving services to a loved one. 

Douglas Poland, attorney with the law firm of Rathje Woodward, will provide an update on an issue of importance to all Wisconsin residents – our right to vote for the candidates of our choice rather than candidates picking their voters.

More information and registration form at:  https://www.wicoa.org/images/2019/2019registerrprint.pdf

May 15 – Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans.  Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street, Madison, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  $20 includes lunch, materials and transport to the Capitol.  Political Update, Lunch and Lobby with Fellow Activists. 

For information about registration, contact gdmitche@wisc.edu or kroysterice@gmail.com. 

May 16 – Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Annual Meeting.  Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison (just south of South Towne).  6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. 

For flyer and how to RSVP:  https://mailchi.mp/60080de6ee9d/3-weeks-from-today?e=952e2acf03

May 22 – SCFL Bean Feed.  Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street, Madison.  $6.  Hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad and a beverage.  Meet local elected officials. 

See flyer at:  https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a49d3d_82748bc5d0ec46dfaae9b0d0c7d5f291.pdf

June 17 – Civil Service Anniversary Celebration.  Save the Date.  More information as it becomes available.