Wisconsin Unions Reverse Labor Day Parade Decision, Say GOP Lawmakers Can March

WASHINGTON -- A group of Wisconsin union officials has reversed its decision barring GOP politicians from marching in a local Labor Day parade, saying everyone would be allowed "because we don't want to have community groups and school bands affected." Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), one of the affected politicians, said he will now likely attend the parade in Wausau, which falls within his district.

"We made alternate plans, and he’s walking in a different Labor Day parade in Merrill in the morning," said Duffy's chief of staff, Brandon Moody. "But the short answer is yes, the congressman is going to try to make it, and we’re moving things around so he can attend both."

The Marathon County Central Labor Council, which sponsors the Wausau parade, includes some 30 local unions.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, council president Randy Radtke said that while Republicans would be allowed, they should feel "ashamed" to attend because of their records on workers' rights. He singled out the federal and state lawmakers representing Wausau -- Rep. Duffy, state Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) and state Rep. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) -- as well as the state's Republican governor, Scott Walker.

"We didn't start this fight in Wisconsin, but were responding to anti-worker positions and policies supported by local Republican politicians, including those who have complained about not being invited," said Radtke. "With the track records that Pam Galloway, Sean Duffy, Scott Walker and Jerry Petrowski have all put together this year, they should be ashamed to even show their faces at a Labor Day parade."

Radtke initially said the council had decided not to invite the GOP politicians because they had "openly attacked workers' rights or stood idly by while their political party fought to strip public workers of their right to collectively bargain."

Duffy, who has marched in the Wausau parade in the past, was planning to do so this year. When his staff initially called to register a spot, they were told in "colorful language that no Republicans were being allowed to participate," according to Moody.

The reversal by Radtke comes after Wausau Mayor Jim Tipple -- who identifies as an independent -- put out a statement saying the city would not co-sponsor an event that bans individuals based on party affiliation.

"The City is a co-sponsor of the Labor Day parade event, because we provided the payment for the insurance premium for the event, and we agreed to erect a stage and provide city services at no cost to the Marathon County Central Labor Council," said Tipple. "The banning of a political party from participation at any event co-sponsored by the City is against public policy and not in the best interest of all the citizens of the City of Wausau. And therefore, we encourage the event organizer to invite all interested parties, or reimburse the city for other costs."

In February, the 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin state Senate left the state to deny their GOP colleagues a quorum and prevent them from pushing forward Gov. Walker's controversial budget repair bill, which stripped most collective bargaining rights from public employees. Through a last-minute budgetary maneuver, Republicans were able to pass the measure. All but one GOP state senator voted for it.

Comments

[GOP Lie Detector]

01:14 PM on 10/25/2011

A Republican marching in a Labor Day parade? That is really strange. Maybe they should have a "Sweat-Shop Day" National Holiday for all Republicans to participate in. They could lead the march with 1,000 underpaid exploited Chinese workers they love so much. Then in the back of the march, there would be all the Republicans wearing $10,000 suits lighting Cuban cigars with $100 bills. Smirking all the way.......

[allengoldchain]

12:09 PM on 09/06/2011

They said yes becuase they were too cheap to pay $2000 for the parade. Needed the tax dollars to fund their parade.

[nedfarn25]

08:22 PM on 09/05/2011

like the only people who work are union members--what a joke---unions make up small percentage of work force. i have to ask---you union workers who work hard are productive and show up on time--how does it make you feel that some slug makes the same amount of money as you--or when you strike and have no strike fund--yet union leadership still get paid--there is no difference between union leaders and politicians--it's the power!

[bhaines213]

06:59 PM on 09/04/2011

If the anti-union, anti-labor GOP politicians show up to march in the parade they should be met with boos and signs denouncing them every step of the way.

[saileyboy]

11:19 AM on 09/03/2011

Too bad this a parade up north. I will be at the one in Milwaukee though. Have made it the past few years too. I can't imagine any republican showing up for this or the parade up north.

[Moxo]

11:07 PM on 09/01/2011

Moxo Bring rotten tomatoes, folks.
posted Aug 31, 2011 at 19:44:45 Reply Link

Brown Trout Yep....pretty childish...make sure to let them know your a "Union Thug"
posted Aug 31, 2011 at 21:11:54
-----------------
Oh that's right, much better to be a Republican in Congress and attack those who voted them into power by helping their employers earn tax credits for shipping jobs overseas.

[Moxo]

11:03 PM on 09/01/2011

Moxo Bring rotten tomatoes, folks.
posted Aug 31, 2011 at 19:44:45 Reply Link

MadJayhawk Violence should not be encouraged. The president called for civility. Are the Democrats exempt?

If someone strikes someone in the parade, no matter if it is a public official or a nearby child, with an object they should be arrested and charged and jailed. Tomatoes thrown with enough velocity could severely injure someone or knock them off a float where they may be run over. Is this what you want? A small child run over by a float or car.
posted Aug 31, 2011 at 23:03:26
--------------------

Wow - if Republicans thought like you they wouldn't be attacking those who need the continuation of unemployment, Food Stamps, school lunches!

[4real]

09:35 AM on 09/01/2011

Where are all the cave-w!mps-c0ward comments on this thread? Why didn't the unions hold their ground?

[shadowgirl52]

09:41 AM on 09/01/2011

I agree. It seems that no one on the left can hold any line on any position.
Are they 4real?

[pmoschetta]

12:19 PM on 09/02/2011

It is better to allow the anti unions to participate, because of basic freedoms than to block their participation.
I think this is a good move by unions......embarrass the anti union politicians, those that are hated in Wisconsin

[xhawk2]

07:28 AM on 09/02/2011

The unions got nervous when they found out THEY would have to pay up.

[pmoschetta]

12:18 PM on 09/02/2011

If you had any logic, xhawk2 you'd understand that this isn't a reflection of unions caving it is instead their hope that the anti union participation will attract more attention than had they not been permitted to march
It is about embarrassment not support

[kriskrinkel]

09:09 AM on 09/01/2011

http://nation.foxnews.com/wisconsin-unions/2011/08/31/wisconsin-school-districts-save-millions-after-collective-bargaining-reform

interesting...

[WI Patriot]

11:57 PM on 09/02/2011

Yep, balanced budgets, no new taxes, responsible governance.

And better yet, public employees are getting a raise (if they want to) and are leaving public unions in droves.

Its funny, the states largest special interest lobby, WEAC is laying off people. Now that's hilarious. Why don't they just raise revenue and tax themselves?

[cjjanis]

08:59 AM on 09/01/2011

Good time to stock up on the rotten tomato's and stale eggs. Remember leave those eggs out for the next few days in the sun.

[WI Patriot]

11:58 PM on 09/02/2011

Yep, the community is readying them for the public union bosses! Good times.

[adarps5]

08:57 AM on 09/01/2011

Republicans marching in a Labor Day parade is like Klansmen marching in a NAACP parade.

[Scott1560]

09:18 AM on 09/01/2011

How so?

[Mac1000]

09:35 AM on 09/01/2011

Really? You have to ask?

[shadowgirl52]

09:42 AM on 09/01/2011

scott, Just got back from Mars I see.

[xhawk2]

07:28 AM on 09/02/2011

You Democrats are the KKK, the party of Robert Byrd.

[saileyboy]

11:14 AM on 09/03/2011

Thats so old. Sort of like saying republicans are the party of Abe Lincoln.

[wanagiakicita]

08:24 AM on 09/01/2011

Good decision, they should be allowed to walk in the parade but I doubt if they have the courage to do so. However, they are filled with narcissim that may be more dominant in their pea brains. I'm sure the Middle Class workers they have attacked so vehemently will just welcome them with open arms! NOT. Should be fun to watch.

[intellectualTradition]

08:22 AM on 09/01/2011

the unions cannot stop breaking their own feet. all they are good for is grafting public dollars and peddling influence

[yonasolo]

08:07 AM on 09/01/2011

According to US dept of Labor,Bureau of Labor statistics release of January 2011:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm.
The number of 2011 US Union members are 14,7 millions a decline of 600,000 from 2010.
Forced Union dues of each member are at list $ 1,000.00 a year which make them a "tax exempt"
yearly clean income of 14,700 000 000.oo. ( AT LIST 14.7 BILLIONS OF OUR DOLLARS EVERY YEAR ).
No IRS audits and no public accounts of whereabouts of those billions every year beside permanently sustaining financially elected Democrats.
It is known that Obama get $ 400 millions and a HUGE donation to Democratic party before 2008 elections.
So your paychecks were striped with or without your consent by at list $ 1000.00 a year and your Unions used this money with or without your agreement to obtain : forced union dues,better wages and exaggerate benefits from majority Democratic elected officials .
In any other country this is called BRIBE and the perpetrators are jailed .
Three years of Democratic majority in the House and Senate and 2 years of Obama presidency HAVE TOTALLY BROUGHT THE COUNTRY AT THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY.
A great Democrat said : "Ask not what your country can do for you.Ask what you can do for your country" REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU PARADE.

[WI Patriot]

12:00 AM on 09/03/2011

Some idiots like being slaves to a public union boss. If that's their pursuit of happiness, who are we to argue?

[saileyboy]

11:21 AM on 09/03/2011

Wisconsin Legislators Paying ALEC Membership Fees with Tax Dollars
Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse): $100 – 2/1/2011
Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin): $100 – 2/1/2011
Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls): $100 – 2/1/2011
Van Wanggard (R-Racine): $100 – 2/1/2011
Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee): $100- 2/1/2011
Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau): $100 – 1/1/2011
Pam Galloway (R-Wausau): $100 – 1/1/2011
Glenn Grotham (R-West Bend): $100 – 1/1/2011
Frank Lasee (R): $200 – 1/1/2011
Alberta Darling (R-River Hills): $200 – 1/1/2009
Mike Ellis (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2009
Neal Kedzie (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2007
Mike Ellis (R-Neenah): $100 – 1/1/2007
Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau): $200 – 1/1/2007[201]

Now those are slaves to big corporations - yet we paid for their membership.

[Scott1560]

07:54 AM on 09/01/2011

The entire controversy is absurd!
Since when did Labor Day become the exclusive property of "unionized" workers? It is a day for all who work. Imagine a small rural area banning union workers from a parade simply because they don't like unions, the only contact they have is when truck drivers arrive to haul produce away. Here's a few words that NewsBusters included in their take:
“Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country,” said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. “All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man’s prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day…is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.”

[cegrubbs]

08:56 AM on 09/01/2011

Labor Day was initiated by the American Federation of Labor as part of the struggle for the 40 hour week. It belongs to the organized Labor and the parades have always been organized by the unions.

a people who do not know their history are bound to serfdom to the corporate elite.

[Scott1560]

09:12 AM on 09/01/2011

The historical foundations of anything have little to do with the reality of what they are. Christmas is just one example of many.
I've never held a union job, but did have the 40 hour weeks.
Labor Day is an official American holiday that is not exclusive to unionized labor. Not all Labor Day parades are organized by unions. I've lived too long in rural areas to know that bit of reality. Apparently, you failed to read Mr. Gompers words that were included in my post.
And, by the way, as it is in this case, unions are co-sponsors, not exclusive sponsors. Just as long as any funding is public, the property they parade on is public, then it is non-exclusive to unions. To have it that way, go have a parade on private property and pay for it with union funds.

[shadowgirl52]

09:46 AM on 09/01/2011

The trouble is the regresives don't work for the people. They don't consider themselves part of the American Labor force so why should they be honored in a parade for people that do work for a liveing.