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Monday, December 27, 2010
Recent News for ALL State Employees
By Richard Trumka President, AFL-CIO
Before signing the Declaration of Independence, Ben Franklin immortalized one of my favorite quotes: "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."
I don't think that's too melodramatic a statement for union members to consider today. We know we're in a political bulls-eye and that the goal of our opponents is to tie us up with defensive battles—in Washington, D.C., and in the states—because they think that will weaken our offensive for jobs, good living standards and an economy that works for all.
Read More >>>
What Scott Walker Can, Can't & Might Do To Unionized State Employees
By Ron Blascoe
Since the November elections, Governor-elect Scott Walker has been talking to the press about his plans to bash state employees and their unions. His threats include everything from rejecting recently negotiated contracts, cutting wages, increasing furlough days, dramatically increasing employees' health insurance and pension contributions to "decertifying" the unions all together.
Needless to say, all this overblown talk, from a guy who isn't even yet Governor, has a lot of
state employees and their families upset, fearful and angry. So, it may be a good time to step back and look at what Walker can, can't and actually might try to do to state employee unions.
Read More >>>
Contrary to Gov.-Elect Walker's View, Real Facts About State Employees
AFT Wisconsin
In the face of continuing attacks on Wisconsin public employees by Governor-elect Scott Walker, it is imperative that myths and mistruths be countered with facts. The following are research-based facts about state employees and public employees in Wisconsin.
Read More >>>
Solidarity Is Essential - Now More Than Ever
Richard Trumka, President
Saturday, December 25, 2010
AFSCME Council 24 & SEPAC Supports The Badgers
"CLICK HERE" to view the "You Tube" video.
This is a great video -- check it out!
A Shared Message for ALL Public Workers
---AFT Wisconsin
Friday, December 24, 2010
It's Accountability Time!
Scott Walker ran for Governor on a promise to create 250,000 jobs in Wisconsin. So far, he's chased off more than 12,000 jobs. When not sending jobs to other states, he's busy talking about making good jobs less good by cutting pay for thousands of Wisconsin workers.
The campaign is over. Now it is time to hold him accountable.
Join a silent protest outside the Capitol on Inauguration Day.
11:15am - 12:15pm -- Monday, January 3rd, 2011
Signs reading "WE WANT GOOD JOBS NOW" will be available at 10:30am in the basement of The Argus Bar and Grill, 123 East Main St.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Poem Written by a State Employee
All employees were leery - what would be our fate?
Labor contracts were hung, defeated again.
There was no more hope for a last minute bargain.
Months of negotiations have been thrown out the window.
All those promises and concessions are now just hot air flow.
Union bosses and Dems wring their hands in defeat.
as the new "conservative" group prepares to take their seat.
The State Employees Union and AFSCME and WPEC,
All hopes have been dashed by the governor-elect.
"More furloughs, no raises, higher premiums for health care,
you state employees must pay your fair share."
When will the people realize, we're not the ones to blame.
It's the folks down in Madison, regardless the letter by their name.
Republicrats and Demicans, wings of the same bird.
Neither can balance a budget no matter what you've heard.
We work for less pay in exchange for the promise
of being well cared for, that's part of the process.
Yes, our benefits are nice but our pay not so much.
We're not complaining, this isn't some crutch.
Like other employees we just make a living.
Why do the rest of you seem so unforgiving?
Sell the mansion, trim your staff,
combine with the Lieutenant - maybe each just needs half?
The budget problems are real but let's douse this small blaze:
we've already gone two years with no raise.
The economy is down, everyone has suffered,
except elected officials who are quite buffered.
They have no idea - it's really a crime.
Let them cut their pay and give back some this time.
What will they do if we all up and quit?
No, that won't happen - are you full of spit?
But tread very careful our governor to be,
or pitch forks and torches may cause you to flee.
No threats, no coercions, no we won't be mean.
'Cause you're up for re-election in two-thousand fourteen.
Now to end this little rhyme without any fight,
Happy Festivus to all and to all a Good Night.
(All rights reserved – reprint permitted with proper credit given.)
Daniel M. Hoyt
Academic Computing
Microsoft Server Administrator
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Member of Wisconsin Professional Employees Council (WPEC)
(920) 424-3020
Sen. Fred Risser: State employees deserve respect
Contrary to Gov.-elect Scott Walker's propaganda, state employees are not the cause of the state's current fiscal crisis. They are the backbone of Wisconsin government and should be treated fairly and with respect for the valuable service that they provide the state.
Our state employees are entitled to a fair agreement with the state on wages and benefits. The negotiated contracts which had been ratified by the unions and approved by the state's Joint Committee on Employment Relations represented a compromise by both parties in these difficult economic times.
State employees made considerable concessions, in excess of $100 million, in agreeing to no general wage increases and increased contributions for health insurance and retirement benefits. Furloughs that amount to a 3.25 percent pay cut would also continue under the agreements.
State employees should be commended for their efforts rather than be criticized.
— Sen. Fred Risser, Madison
Holding the bag
Governor-elect Scott Walker, like his idol from Indiana (Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels), clearly believes in rhetorical responses and misdirection for his approach to fixing Wisconsin's budget (such as his attack on state workers) rather than longstanding approaches.
In this, he obviously will have Wisconsin's Legislature as an accomplice. Demagogues, such as the Fitzgerald brothers, will grab the headlines, and Wisconsin citizens will be left holding the bag.
John Kies
SEPAC Note:
John Kies is a member of AFSCME Council 24 Local 18 and is presently serving on the State Employees Political Action Committee.
This opinion appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 12/21/2010.
Who is going to do dangerous jobs?
The state correctional officer classification is a public-sector job so obviously it is subject to misconduct in public office laws. No one in the private sector is governed by this standard in his or her career choices.
Correctional officers are also responsible for the security and safety of inmates, staff and the general public. This is a responsibility that entails many violent physical confrontations in all correctional institutions that include breaking up fights, serious inmate-on-inmate assaults and inmate-on-staff assaults, all regardless of their own personal safety Don't forget that these prisons are dangerously overcrowded. There are many other expectations and duties that are placed on the state correctional officers. Who in the private sector are correctional officers being compared to in relation to wages and benefits for the work they do?
Correctional officers' starting pay is $14.89 an hour. Scott Walker is demanding immediate benefit concessions of $300 to $500 a month from these correctional officers. Who is going to do this dangerous state job for the resulting povertylike take-home pay? What would it take for you to do this job?
Sgt. Daniel Meehan
SEPAC Note:
Sergeant Daniel Meehan is President of AFSCME Council 24 Local 18 and an elected representative for SPS on the AFSCME Council 24 Executive Board.
This opinion appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 12/15/2010.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
From progressive to regressive: Wis. GOP Declares War on Workers
by Mike Konopacki and Kathy Wilkes
Wisconsin governor-elect Scott Walker and the new Republican legislature have declared war on working people. They want to abolish public employee unions and turn Wisconsin into a so-called "right-to-work" state, meaning no more "union shops" and no more dues from anyone who objects. This also means no more pressure from anywhere to keep wages at a livable level for anyone, union or not.
It's all under the guise of cutting the State's $3 billion budget deficit and creating 250,000 jobs. Sound familiar? Since the Reagan era, Republicans and corporate Democrats have pushed the big lie that tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, and busting unions would bring jobs and prosperity. Instead we got the Great Recession. And now the people of Wisconsin have voted to cure the disease with more disease and turn our state into an economic dictatorship.
Harsh words? You bet. Reality is worse. One of the first things dictators do is go after organized labor:
- When Hitler outlawed "trade unions, collective bargaining and the right to strike, the German worker in the Third Reich became an industrial serf, bound to his master, the employer, much as medieval peasants had been bound to the lord of the manor," writes William Shirer in his classic, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. This was done "democratically" when Germany's parliament passed the 1934 Charter of Labor that "put the worker in his place and raised the employer to his old position of absolute master."
- Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini abolished free trade unions.
- Communist China—America's banker and manufacturer—only allows government-controlled unions.
Walker won't round up labor leaders and have them jailed as Hitler did; he just wants them neutered. And there's no comparison with Mussolini, who reportedly made the trains run on time. Walker hates trains; he lost us $810 million dollars and 5,500 jobs opposing high-speed rail. And where China requires even antiunion Wal-Mart to be unionized, Walker would never permit such an outrage.
A better comparison is Saddam Hussein, George W. Bush, and L. Paul Bremer. In 1987 the Iraqi dictator declared that workers in his huge state enterprises were civil servants and therefore prohibited from forming unions and bargaining collectively. After Bush invaded Iraq, Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority abolished all of Saddam's laws but one: the ban on labor unions.
For 80 years, Republican plutocrats have chipped away at "New Deal" laws that raised millions of families out of poverty and into the middle class. They've busted union membership down from 35% of the private sector in the 1950s to less than 8% today. Wages stagnated while income inequality soared. From 1980 to 2005, more than four-fifths of the total increase in incomes went to the richest 1% percent, which now owns more wealth than the bottom 90%.
Republicans don't care about creating jobs or cutting deficits. GOP wunderkind Paul Ryan, for example, sat idly by as the remains of his district's auto industry were dismantled, leaving Racine, Kenosha, and Janesville the most economically depressed cities in the state. Instead he plotted to privatize Social Security, despite the Wall Street debacle, and promoted tax cuts for the rich, despite the ballooning deficit.
If Republicans win their war against workers, we face dire consequences. As Shirer observed, "Between the Right and Left, Germany lacked a politically powerful middle class, which in other countries – in France, in England, in the United States – had proved to be the backbone of democracy."
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Mike Konopacki is a labor cartoonist in Madison. Kathy Wilkes is a Madison writer and editor.
Source: Mike Konopacki & Kathy Wilkes
Source Link: http://www.solidarity.com/hkcartoons/walkerdictator.html
Wisconsin Appeals Court Orders Arbitrator Decision Affirmed in Milwaukee County Case
The District I Court of Appeals has ordered confirmed an arbitrator's award rejecting County Executive Scott Walker's reduction in county employee hours. Milwaukee County circuit courts vacated and refused to confirm the order and Council 48 appealed. The appellate court said the important issue was whether Walker's directive to reduce employee work hours to 35 from 40 was temporary or permanent and the arbitrator determined a permanent reduction was not permitted. Further, the arbitrator found state law required a county board resolution to have the hours reduced. A resolution had been brought forth to the county board, but the county board did not act upon the resolution. As such, there was no such county board authorization in the form of a resolution.
Walker signed an order in May, 2009 declaring a "fiscal crisis due to a projected $14.9 million deficit in the 2009 (county) budget." And it was "imperative that urgent emergency action be taken to reduce expenditures for 2009 within the remainder of the budget year." The order was to remain in place until further order of the county executive. The order, according to the arbitrator, would have affected about 1800 bargaining unit employees and would have saved an estimated $4.5 million if the reduced-hours order was in effect "from June 28 to the beginning of 2010."
As it has been demonstrated in the past action of Scott Walker, he attempted to create greater authority then he legally had vested in his position as county executive.
To date, based on many comments that Scott Walker has publicly stated since election day we expect him to become very creative in his role as Governor and we expect to face many legal challenges within our state's court system to push back on Walker's anticipated rule of totalitarianism.
Read the entire ruling >>>
Doyle also expressed concern over talk about decertifying unions or turning Wisconsin into a right-to-work state
"I do think giving people an opportunity to have some say in their own economic well-being is really important for a state and country," Doyle said. He held his efforts to ensure 98 percent of Wisconsinites has health insurance among his top accomplishments. But he wished he would have been able to set up exchanges for small businesses, something he said will now be able to happen under federal health care reform.Doyle also touted his record on taxes, saying that Wisconsin went from the fourth to the 15th-highest taxed states since he took office. When fees and taxes are considered, Wisconsin drops to 21st, he said."The fact is, although Republicans will just never own up to this, is that for 16 years of their rule, we were fourth in the country—and this is the same measurement, we're comparing apples and apples—as I leave offer we're 15th. That's the fact."While Doyle said he would do whatever he can to help President Obama get re-elected, he and his wife Jessica want to live in Wisconsin."I have never lifted a finger or taken a single step in any way to try to have a job in Washington in the administration," Doyle said.
Watch the program:http://www.wisn.com/upfront/index.html
Tentative Timeline for Legislative Activity in Wisconsin in 2011
Jan. 3, 2011: Inauguration Day at the Capitol for both Gov.-elect Walker and the incoming Legislature.
Early January, 2011: Governor Walker is expected to call Legislature into Special Session on regulatory reform, eliminating the state tax on health savings accounts (HSAs), reforming the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, cutting taxes on small business (per Gov.-elect Walker press releases).
Third week of January, 2011: Governor will deliver his "State of the State" speech to a joint session of the Legislature.
Mid-February, 2011: Governor Walker will unveil his 2011-2013 two year state budget proposal.
Early March, 2011: the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau will publish a document summarizing Gov. Walker's budget proposal.
Late March, 2011: The Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance will likely hold hearings on the budget. In the past, there have been five or six hearings – one in the state Capitol, and four or five in select cities around the state.
April – May and possibly into June: the 16-member Joint Committee on Finance will vote on the budget, usually agency by agency. The committee will vote on the budget via specific budget papers prepared by staff at the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, as well as budget amendments (drafted as motions) offered by committee members.
The Legislative Budget Review Process, in Brief:
After the Joint Finance Committee finishes its deliberations on the budget, the committee's revised budget product will be sent first to the state Senate, which will take the opportunity to review the budget as modified by Joint Finance, and tweak it as the Senate sees fit. The Senate will send the budget as amended to the full state Assembly, which will review work done by the Joint Finance Committee and the Senate, and add its own Assembly flavor to the mix.
After review by both houses of the Legislature, any differences will have to be reconciled by a Conference Committee made up of legislators from both houses and both parties. The final agreed-upon budget product will be sent back to both houses for a final up or down vote, and then will be sent to the Governor, who will sign the budget into law. It is likely that the Governor will exercise his veto authority in some way, as has been the practice for decades.
The budget is "due" on June 30, 2011, which is the end of the 2011 fiscal year and the 2009-2011 budget cycle. A new fiscal year begins July 1, 2011. Gubernatorial veto decisions are issued in August or sooner.
Author: Susan McMurray
AFSCME Lobbyist
NJ's Christie Used '60 Minutes' Platform to Attack Public Workers | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
After reading the BLOG posting you can visit the SEPAC website and view the video in its entirety. The run time for the segment on 60 Minutes is 13:50.
View the video: http://wseu-sepac.org/video_20101219_60minutes_dayofreckoning.htm
Authority: Marty Beil
Executive Director
AFSCME Council 24
Monday, December 20, 2010
Poverty rates up in most Wisconsin counties - WKBT News 8 - La Crosse, WI -
Unions always have and always will advocate for the improvement of economic status for everyone, unionized workers or non-unionized workers.
I wish Walker would read what others are writing and not be so focused on his own writings or the writings of radical right-wing think tanks.
Poverty rates up in most Wisconsin counties - WKBT News 8 - La Crosse, WI -
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Wisconsin's Governor-Elect Launches Sharp Attack on Public Workers - Working In These Times
A "Union" is not some ugly assembled and destructive machine, a "Union" is the collective voice of many. So stay united in what appears to be struggles in the immediate future of working families, but "United" will prevent Scott Walker from dividing us and then winning on his anti-worker agenda. You have all heard or read the saying, "United We Stand - Divided We Fall", this statement has absolute meaning and will require absolute unity from ALL Wisconsin workers.
Wisconsin's Governor-Elect Launches Sharp Attack on Public Workers - Working In These Times
Friday, December 17, 2010
Have you ordered your tickets yet for One Wisconsin Now's alternative inaugural event on January 3rd?
Tickets bought online are available for $10 each, or $5 dollars for students or for those with limited income.
All of the proceeds from tickets sold for "Rock the Pantry" will go directly to charity. Come celebrate with live music, a live DJ and terrific speakers as we "Rock the Pantry" at our OWN inauguration.
Tickets are $10 a piece and can be purchased at:
P.S.: Unlike Governor Doyle, who donated his inaugural proceeds to charity, Scott Walker is sending all his inaugural funds to the Republican Party. We've got to step up to help the charities Walker is leaving out in the cold, that's why we're giving all the proceeds from 'Rock the Pantry' to Wisconsin families in need. Buy your tickets now and help us raise money for this important cause!
One Wisconsin NOW
Scot Ross, Executive Director
Editorial: Legislative Charade
By Neil Heinen, WISC TV
This week's legislative consideration of labor contracts for state workers was a joke. A bad joke. The lame duck session followed a month of threats and name calling and precious little research and - or thought given to good public policy. And then, regardless of your opinion of state labor contracts, two state Senators made it clear what they think of state employees and the citizens they allegedly represent by casting votes not on the merits, but to cause political mischief.
The votes cast by Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker and Senator Jeff Plale were cynical, disrespectful and unworthy of people we look to for representation. Whether they were trying to stick it to the Republicans, or more likely stick it to Governor Doyle and the Democrats, they ended up sticking it to the citizens of Wisconsin, who have yet one more reason to distrust elected officials and look for ways to work around them.
Source: WISC TV
Source Link: http://www.channel3000.com/editorials/26165358/detail.html
Message from Executive Director Marty Beil
Wednesday afternoon and evening were most interesting in terms of legislative action on our contracts. We started out in the Joint Committee on Employment Relations where all Democrats, including Russ Decker, voted for adoption. Jeff Fitzgerald voted NO; and Scott Fitzgerald never showed up. The contracts then went to the Assembly for action. Your lobbyists, bargaining team members, and other leadership worked hard on both sides of the aisle to secure their approval. After a long day, the Assembly adopted on a vote of 48-Aye; 47-Nay, with every single Republican voting No. The contracts then went to the Senate for their action, where the motion to adopt failed on a tie vote of 16-16. All 14 Republicans and 2 Democrats (Decker & Plale) voted No...
Download, view, print and distribute the Weekly Summary in its entirety >>>
Union Leader Outraged at NO Votes on Contracts
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Transcript of Senator Decker's Remarks Before Voting NO on State Employee Contracts
A Must See Video of a True Democrat Who Stood for State Employees
However, many democratic state representatives and state senator's stood tall and did not abandon organized labor and the tens of thousands of state employees they represent and voted YES for approval of the 16 state employee contracts reached with the Doyle Administration.
AFSCME Council 24 will be acknowledging the legislator's who stood up for state employees and argued like hell in their respective legislative houses for approval of the state employee contracts.
One State Representative caught our attention in specific and delivered a 12 minute speech that will tear at your heart and provoke your mind to think about everything he said. That State Representative is Marlin Schneider (D-72) from Wisconsin Rapids.
A video recording of his 12 minute speech to the Assembly in the 2010 December Extraordinary Session of Wednesday, December 15th is available through "WisconsinEye", the unfettered and unedited media that records government activity and events. We are unable to obtain a stand alone recording of the speech, but if you follow the below instructions you will be able to link to it through your favorite web browser and windows media player.
1. Cut-n-paste or click on this link:
2. Once at the page that the link takes you to, click on "Watch" under the heading of;
12.15.10 Wisconsin State Assembly Extraordinary Floor Session (Part 2/2)
Please Note:
a. After clicking on "Watch" a popup window will warn you about the terms of viewing the video, click on "Agree".
b. After clicking on "Agree" another popup window will appear asking you if you will ALLOW the website to open another program on your computer.
c. The program it will attempt to open is "Windows Media". If you will allow the website to open the program then simply click on "Allow", windows media will open and the video will begin.
d. Run your mouse over to lower left corner of the window media player and you will then activate the "seek" slider at the bottom. If you press your left side of your mouse and hold it down you will be able to advance the "seek" slider bar to the 43:40 mark. It is at this point that Rep. Marlin Schneider begans his speech.
e. Advancing the "seek" slider bar will allow you to not have to watch the first forty-three minutes of the Assembly 2010 December Extraordinary Session.
Please put the effort into loading this video into your windows media player and then watch the 12 minute speech that State Representative Marlin Schneider delivers. Listen carefully to all of the points that he makes. He makes every effort to restrain his anger about the current state of political affairs and the attempts to rest our state's economic downturn on the backs of state employees, but he most definitely delivers his points.
Here are some links to more information about State Representative Marlin Schneider:
SEPAC BIO Page: http://wseu-sepac.capwiz.com/bio/id/9113
Wisconsin Legislative Webpage: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Assembly&district=72
Authority: Marty Beil, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 24 · AFL-CIO
Steven Williams, PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24 · AFL-CIO
(608) 836-0024 Central Office (608) 487-2424 Cellular
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Comments on Senate Labor Contract Vote
I always try to measure my remarks about other Democrats. But there is no hiding my sincere disapointment at the vote last night. The Democratic Party should always stand for working families, for our brothers and sisters in organized labor. Let us work to elect strong, progressive voices who won't fold because of petty disagreements but always ensure Wisconsin a better place to work, live and raise a family. -- Mike Tate
State unions fume over betrayal, prepare for future negotiations
This news story appears in the Wisconsin State Journal and it is written after conducting an interview with AFSCME Council 24 Executive Director, Marty Beil.
Read the news article in its entirety >>>
Summary of Legislative Action on State Employee Contracts
On Wednesday, December 15, both houses of the outgoing 2009-2010 state Legislature met in an extraordinary session to take up 16 state employee contracts. While the state Assembly voted to approve the contracts on a narrow vote of 48-47, later that night the state Senate deadlocked 16-16, ending hopes for legislative approval this year.
It takes a majority vote in both houses of the Legislature for a bill to become law.
How the Assembly Voted:
The 48 "yes" votes were cast by most Democrats and Independent legislator Jeff Wood. The 47 "no" votes were cast by every Assembly Republican and Democratic state Representative Peggy Krusick of Milwaukee. A total of 95 votes were cast.
Although there are 99 state Assembly seats, one of the four who didn't vote was state Rep. Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls), who failed to show up for the vote. The other three who did not cast votes are three legislators who have resigned to take other jobs. Those individuals are Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing), Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) and Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin).
Our thanks goes to current Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) and incoming Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) who did an outstanding job rallying fellow lawmakers in the Assembly to pass the bill. Many other Democratic members stepped up to the plate Wednesday to get the job done. State Rep. Marlin Schneider gave an outstanding speech in support of public employees. His speech can be heard on Wisconsin Eye at www.wiseye.org. State Rep. Joe Parisi started the debate by introducing three Council 24 members, recognizing their service and sacrifice.
How the Senate Voted:
All Senate Republicans present voted against our contracts. They were joined by defeated lawmakers Russ Decker (D-Weston) and Jeff Plale (D-Milwaukee) in casting "no" votes. Sixteen Democrats present voted "yes" on our contracts. The 16-16 vote meant failure to pass the contracts.
Democrats had elected Mark Miller as leader for the 2011-2012 legislative session. Sen. Miller and all other Senate Democrats worked very hard to get the votes but came up short because all Republicans, Plale and Decker failed to support contracts that most had supported in the past. Decker betrayed his caucus as well as the thousands of public employees who were counting on legislators to approve the long-overdue contracts.
Download, view, print and distribute this summary in a printer-friendly version >>>
Author: Susan McMurray, AFSCME Wisconsin Lobbyist
State Employee Contracts Now in Walker's Court
There could be other avenues to still bring state employee contracts before this legislature, but after many phone calls by your union's leadership it does not appear that there is much hope for a successful conclusion to the 2009-2011 contract ratification by the legislature.
When either the employees or the employer (legislature in this matter) fail to ratify a contract then both parties need to return to the bargaining table. To that end, it does now appear that the state employee unions will be returning to the bargaining table, but the employer will now be represented by the Walker Administration and these continued negotiations will not take place until after January 3rd, 2011.
The Wisconsin State Employees Union met with all of their respective bargaining teams today (12/16) and have briefed them on the next step and have sent the bargaining teams home for the holidays.
Wisconsin Senate Adjourns Extraordinary Session
At this moment there continue to be high level discussions regarding alternative's for the state employee contracts. As new information is learned it will be posted here at the SEPAC BLOG and the SEPAC website.
Use the Poll at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to Say Yes to Your Contract
Democrats who run the state Assembly are taking steps to hold possible votes on no-pay-raise labor contracts as early as Wednesday in a rare lame-duck session just before they lose power to Republicans.
SEPAC Note: The Assembly did vote YES on your contracts. Use this poll to let the Senate know that it needs to make a motion for reconsideration and vote on these contracts before January 3rd, 2011.
Vote at the Poll being conducted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel >>>
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
State Employee Contract Status
On Wednesday, 12/15 JCOER followed by the Assembly approved the state employee contracts. The Senate failed to concur with the action of the Assembly voting in a deadlock tie of 16-16 and one not voting on ALL state employee contracts.
After the votes were tallied the Senate adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, 12/16. Because the vote was a tie anyone voting can make a motion to bring the contracts back for reconsideration.
Visit the SEPAC website for additional information and to view the legislative roll call reporting sheets on each of the WSEU contracts.
Senate Dems Dump Sen. Decker as Majority Leader
Unfortunately, Sen. Decker and Sen. Plale continue to vote with the Republicans and as such all state employee contracts are failing passage at this time.
Contracts in the Senate - Failing to Achieve Concurrence
Contracts in the Senate - Update
Senator's Decker and Plale are voting NO on concurrence of the legislative bills.
This does not mean the end at this point, stand by for further updates.
Contracts in the Senate
Assembly Votes on WSEU Contracts Will be Posted Soon
In the meantime, it was pretty much a party line vote with Democratic Representative Peggy Krusick (D-7) joining the Republicans and voting NO and Democratic Representative Mark Radcliffe (D-92) not attending the Assembly Extraordinary Session and as such did not vote.
Clarification of Senate Action on Contracts
Immediately after the action the Senate Dems went into caucus. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-29) voted NO on passage.
NO vote has been taken on any of the additional state employee contracts at this time.
Contract Update in the Senate
Just a Thought During the Senate Debate
The best is Senator Bob Jauch (D-25) who points out that Senator Scott Fitgerald (R-13) who claimed to have voted for every state employee contract in his 16 years of legislative service, contracts that did have some wage and benefit increases and yet now he will vote NO for the first time for state employee contracts that have more than $100 million in concessions.
Excellent point Senator Jauch.
Contracts in the Senate - Update
He is now saying that the top state employee, Gov.-elect Walker has painted an unwarranted target on the backs of state employees.
Contracts in the Senate - Update
Contracts in the Senate - Update
Contracts in the Senate
Wisconsin Senate Now In Session
Assembly Approves WSEU Contracts
Authority: Marty Beil, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 24, AFL-CIO
Scott Walker Needs to Stop His Misleading Information
His remarks continued his tactic of fear and intimidation and misleading information. This man is not a team builder or an advocate of team work, but rather a Totalitarian (meaning; the control of a single political person, faction, or class, recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible, in part) and I describe him as a "Totalitarian" and he is currently only the "Governor-elect", imagine when he has sole possession of the title as "Governor".
He is greatly placing fear into the minds of the citizens of Wisconsin that state employees are taking money away from them and that those who need medicaid assistance may lose benefits if state employee contracts are approved. He even attempts to place fear into the minds of state employees that they will face layoffs because of approval of the contracts. He never addresses the great concessions in these current state employee contracts and the fact, and let me repeat, "fact" that the state employees are receiving no wage increases and will be paying more for their health insurance and pension.
He also fails to state to the public that any costs, as minimal as they may be, were budgeted into the 2009-2011 state budget that began on July 1, 2009. Approval of these contracts need no additional appropriations are fully funded from monies already budgeted.
Gov.-elect Walker; "Stop with the Lies", start your journey as Governor on January 3rd, 2011 with some integrity and use facts, it may go a long way in winning a working relationship with state employees, the same people who will help you implement your reforms and deliver your promised services to the great people of Wisconsin.
Follow this link to watch the press conference that was recorded by "WisconsinEye".
This BLOG entry is the sole writing of Steven Williams, PEL Coordinator, AFSCME Council 24 and are not the expressed opinion of AFSCME Council 24, Wisconsin State Employees Union, its leadership or members.
Legislative Action on State Employee Contracts
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
State Employee Contracts
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Scheduled Legislative Activity for December 15th
- 10 am: Senate Democratic Caucus
- 11 am: JCOER (recessed from Tuesday) Could be delayed, Rm 412E
- 1 pm: Senate Republican Caucus
- Indeterminate: Assembly Democratic Caucus
AFSCME Council 24 executive director Marty Beil warned today Walker will face "labor unrest" if Gov.-elect pushes for decert
He said Walker has shown more hostility toward state employees than any of the eight governors he's worked with and said Walker didn't bother to respond to a letter he sent congratulating him on his win and asking to meet with him. He wouldn't speculate on how negotiations would go with Walker if the 2009-11 contracts carry over to his administration or what the union's approach would be, declaring of the agreements reached with the Doyle administration "a deal is a deal." Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie declined to directly address Beil's criticism, writing in an e-mail, "Governor-elect Walker remains committed to finding ways to reduce spending while still providing core government services." Beil also had a warning for Dem lawmakers, promising retribution if they decide to go Christmas shopping rather than coming in to approve the contracts. Beil didn't specify what kind of consequences they could face. "We're just saying do your job," Beil said.
Source: WisPolitics.com
Sen. Plale and Sen. Decker - Selling Out Public Sector Unions?
Read more >>>
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Senate Dems Will Try Again on Wednesday
We have learned that once again they will attempt to call for an Extraordinary Session on Wednesday @ 10:00am. We hope that this time the Senate Majority Leader, Russ Decker (D-29), will be in attendance to lead them through the process.
The Assembly did call for an Extraordinary Session on Tuesday. However, it takes both houses of the Legislature to convene an Extraordinary Session.
The Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) is scheduled to convene at 11:00am on Wednesday, but unless the Senate calls for an Extraordinary Session they will not be able to act on the state employee contracts, once again.
State Employee Contracts Stalled
Senate Dems attempted to act without Sen. Decker, but Sen. Jeff Plale (D-7) declined to join other Dems in acting without Sen. Decker. The Senate was unable to call the Extraordinary Session today.
Governor Doyle could get action on the contracts, but for the moment appears hesitant to call a Special Session of the Legislature. This is the reason both houses are attempting to call an Extraordinary Session.
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
WisPolitics: Beil warns Walker faces labor strife
AFSCME Council 24 Executive Director Marty Beil sends strong communication to approve state employee contracts...
WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Beil warns Walker faces labor strife
JCOER Moves Into Recess
No action was taken on the pending state employee contracts because the full legislature has yet to come into an Extraordinary Session.
It appears that the Assembly has moved action for an Extraordinary Session, but the Senate has not yet taken any action on the call for an Extraordinary Session. Both houses are required to take action in order to hold an Extraordinary Session.
The Senate is working on their call at this hour according to Senator Fred Risser who has asked the JCOER to recess until about 4:30pm.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Doyle says state union contracts should proceed
Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday that he is proceeding with labor pacts with state unions in his final weeks in office because they had been under negotiation for months and that stopping the process would be illegal...
Read the full article >>>
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
AFSCME Lobbyists Outline WSEU Contracts
Monday, November 29, 2010 - Posted 11/30/2010
To: Interested Legislators
From: Susan McMurray and John Grabel, AFSCME Government Relations
Re: Summary of Key Items in the 2009-2011 State Employee Contracts
We've been asked to provide some information about the tentative agreement reached between the state Office of Employment Relations (OSER) and the Wisconsin State Employees Union (WSEU-AFSCME Council 24).
On Wednesday, November 24, 2010, the State and AFSCME Council 24 reached a tentative agreement (TA) on contracts for 2009-2011, after months of difficult negotiations.
The contracts between the State and workers cover five state bargaining units represented by AFSCME: professional social services (PSS), blue collar (BC), administrative support (AS), technical (Tech) and Security and Public Safety (SPS).
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- These contracts contain zero pay increases and no market adjustments.
- The contracts have a 6.9% employee share health care premium increase.
- The contracts require an increase in the employee pension contribution (between .2% - .8%).
State employees had 16 furlough days in 2009-2011 biennium, which was a 3.25% pay reduction. This contract underscores the furlough arrangement.
- These contracts cover the period of the last budget (July 2009 - June 2011), not the budget to be created by Governor-elect Walker and the next legislature.
- The incoming governor will have the opportunity to negotiate contracts for the period coinciding with the budget he will propose.
- These contracts are accounted for in the current budget passed by this legislature and governor.
OSER representatives soon will brief legislative leaders on the proposed contracts, providing leaders with information from the employer perspective.
Thank you for your attention and consideration. Feel free to contact Susan at 608-279-9697 or John at 608-279-9093 for more information.
WisPolitics: Special session on state worker contracts moving ahead
WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Special session on state worker contracts moving ahead
Gov.-elect Walker urges lawmakers to stop work on union contracts
"The contracts currently under consideration by the unions were already budgeted for in the '09 biennial budget, with money already held in the state compensation reserves," the statement read. "They contain no pay increases or other changes that would adversely impact the current state budget."
State Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, said Republicans are attempting to make something nefarious out of the workers' contracts.
"But these workers have been dutifully performing their jobs every day for 18 months, without a contract, based on money that has already been budgeted," he said.
Learn more about what is being said on both sides by clicking on the title link.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sen. Fitzgerald and Rep. Fitzgerald Support Walkers Call for Dems to Not Hold Special Legislative Session on State Employee Union Contracts
Now, both Minority Leaders of the Wisconsin Senate and Wisconsin Assembly support Walker's call and are implying that the state employee contracts are being done behind closed doors.
Read all of their respective communications:
Employer-sponsored health insurance declining in Wisconsin
While all of our members have negotiated for health insurance coverage there is an alarming trend occuring all across America that needs to be stopped and that is the declining number of employees being covered by an employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
Read the research paper of the Economic Policy Institute >>>
Read the report of the Center On Wisconsin Strategy >>>
"Please Delay Action on These Contracts" the words of Scott Walker...
He went further on in his letter to imply threats for more aggressive spending cuts if the public employee union contracts are approved.
Read his entire letter >>>
Friday, November 26, 2010
No Secret; State Employees Part of Wisconsin GOP Agenda
But now that they have seized power starting on January 3rd, 2011 all I have read, watched and heard is the continuous bantering that workers, more specifically state employees and major Unions will not like what the republicans will do when they assume their control.
Of the top ten agenda items of the incoming republican control is an item;
Cutting state employee benefits
"Do you know that state workers don't pay anything toward their retirement?" asked Walker in a campaign ad. "Now people outside of government –– they contribute to their retirement. So I think it's only fair that state workers do too."
Public workers are a favorite target of Republicans, and nothing offers a better excuse for cutting into civil servants' benefits than a budget deficit. Making the change for the state's 33,000 non-unionized workers may be relatively easy –– a GOP-led attempt to do so in 2005 was stopped only by Doyle's veto.
But negotiating benefit reductions with the unions that represent the other 25,000 state employees will be a much tougher task. Walker's attempt to get a head start on this failed when Doyle denied his request to leave negotiation of already-overdue union contracts for the new administration. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin State Employees Union is gearing up for a fight.
Read the article in full >>>
If I had the wealth of Warren Buffett I would very much like to pay the wages and benefits of every state employee to walk away from their job for two weeks and just let the elected officials and citizens feel the impact of having no delivery of state services. If I truly had the money I would ADD every public sector employee from the city and county levels of government as well.
Then and probably ONLY then would these republican elected leaders and their supporters realize that state employees are not "THE ENEMY OF THE STATE".
For those public servants that are "non-represented" in state service, I pity you, you will be the guinea pigs because Walker and his kowtowing republican leadership will use you as such. For the "represented" state employees at least you will have a collective voice of one that is referred to as "The Union".
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24 AFL-CIO
An Important Read from AFSCME International President McEntee
Earlier this year Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky single-handedly held up unemployment insurance payments to families struggling to get by. When a colleague tried to get him to stop his games, Republican Bunning replied: "Tough shit."
Unfortunately for millions of families this holiday season, more than a handful of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives agree with Bunning. Incoming House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) says that the middle class should get assistance only when the rich get a tax cut. Tea Party leader Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) says she is only willing to compromise on taxes if unemployment insurance isn't part of the deal.
Read the full article >>>
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Special Announcement from AFSCME Council 24
We are pleased to bring you the following announcement regarding bargaining and your contract.
Bargaining Teams met Wednesday afternoon, 11/24. They reviewed the entire package of negotiated language and other issues that would constitute the 2009-2011 collective bargaining agreement. After a thorough review, questions, and discussion all five bargaining teams tentatively agreed to the contract changes.
The Tentative Agreement will now to go the Bargaining Unit Conference delegates who will assemble in Madison on Tuesday, November 30th. Delegates will receive a complete report regarding contract changes and they will decide whether they support the bargaining teams' tentative agreement.
This Conference will then be followed by a mail ballot for all members to make their decision. Ballots will be due back at Council 24 by 12:00 noon on Friday, December 10, 2010. Bargaining team members will be available during this period o time to answer members' questions regarding elements of the tentative agreement. Team members can be reached at their e-mail addresses as indicated below. You can also call Council 24 at 608.836.0024 and leave a message (indicating your bargaining unit) for someone to contact you.
This contract was extremely difficult to negotiate given the revenue and economic recession that we all find ourselves in. Your bargaining teams have done the best job that they could with what was available to them. Given these difficult circumstances, they have negotiated an acceptable contract.
Bargaining Teams' E-Mail Contact List:
- Administrative Support - firstname.lastname@example.com;
- Blue Collar - firstname.lastname@example.com;
- Professional Social Services - firstname.lastname@example.com;
- Security & Public Safety - email@example.com;
- Technical Team - email@example.com.
Authority: Marty Beil, Executive Director
AFSCME Council 24
AFSCME Local 171 Informational Picket
WHERE: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 1500 University Ave., Madison, WI
Brothers and Sisters;
Our jobs at the university face the threat of privatization. With the election of Scott Walker and Chancellor Martin's efforts to "restructure" UW Madison, our jobs are at the greatest risk in decades.
The current attack on our livelihoods is taking place at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, a research facility on campus where management will contract out food service operations unless we stop them. The workers at these restaurants will be making $8.50 an hour without benefits and no union.
If we let management contract out these jobs, they will be encouraged to do the same in all new facilities that open on campus. Local 171 will represent a smaller and smaller part of the workforce and our power to bargain good contracts and fight for decent working conditions will be that much harder.
Please join your coworkers and our labor allies at the informational picket on December 2nd.
This is the grand opening, and will be attended by politicians, rich donors to the University, and University administrators. We need to show these people we need to fight for what is ours. Privatization at UW Madison is a serious threat to family supporting union jobs in Madison. The threat is real and is growing. WE NEED YOU TO JOIN THE FIGHT!
In Solidarity.
AFSCME Local 171
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Breaking News for AFSCME Council 24 Membership
A special bargaining unit conference has been called for Tuesday, November 30th at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Delegates will be reviewing details of the tentative agreement reached on the 2009-2011 contract.
Local Union Presidents will be contacted with information on delegates of record for this contract period.
Authority: Marty Beil, Executive Director
So What Do You Think?
We want to hear what you think of the New incoming Administration and Legislature.
Just click on the below "comment" link and give us your feedback.
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
WPR Interview of Director Beil
No downloading required, it will automatically start playing. You can control the audio by use of any of the feature buttons.
Posted by Steven williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Monday, November 22, 2010
Time to Go to The Library
One of the newest additions to the SEPAC Library is the AFSCME Polling Data of its membership.
AFSCME International conducted a nationwide survey of 1,231 members (806 Active and 421 Retired) between November 1-4, 2010 regarding the 2010 midterm election. The poll focused on member support of endorsed candidates, communications they received from their union and views of their union.
Checkout the SEPAC Library to read the poll data and accompanying introductory and overview memorandums.
Point your browser to; http://www.wseu-sepac.org/library.htm
Public Sector Workers: Stand Proud!
Scott Walker has not even been sworn into the Office of Governor and yet he is boldly going where no Governor-elect has ever gone before and that is on the edge of interfering with the sworn duties of the incumbent Governor and his Administration.
ALL represented state employees are in the process of nearly reaching or have actually reached a tentative agreement with Governor Jim Doyle's Administration as to the terms of the already expired state employee contracts. The Doyle Administration will then bring these contracts before the "incumbent" legislature for ratification as well as the various state unions will do by bringing the contracts before their membership for ratification. If both sides ratify the tentatively reached agreements (contracts) then Governor Jim Doyle will execute his responsibility and sign into law the ratified contracts.
It is very important to note that the present negotiations, assuming they yield ratified contracts will start all over again in the first six months of 2011 because the contracts will expire on June 30th, 2011. At that time Scott Walker will now have his opportunity to bring his terms forward for negotiations and the negotiating will begin. Given the constant public barrage of insults and claimed attacks on ALL public sector workers it is a given that state employees will not see "Forward" progress on negotiations anytime soon in the next four-years unless state employees would be willing to bend over, grab their ankles and I am sure that you know the remaining verbage of that saying.
Scott Walker says he will lobby the public to engage the legislators to not support a "special" legislative session to address ALL of the expired state employee contracts, but let it be known that will be his vehicle to appeal to support from our very neighbors, friends and even family members of his call that state employees want more when everyone is doing with less. In other words, he will promote less than the truth, he will spin his words and actions and he will send the fight to our communities pitting private sector against public sector. He assumes and knows that the media will run with his communications to the legislators and the media will actually be his vehicle to get his message of spin and fear to our communities.
No other group of public sector workers know better how Scott Walker operates than the AFSCME members (Council 48) of Milwaukee County who have had to face Scott Walkers lies, inaction and just plain fear that he puts into his constituents minds in order to achieve his agenda for the past many years.
State Employees need to "Stand Proud" of the services that you provide everyday to the residents and visitors of Wisconsin, you need to convey to your neighbors, friends and all of your family members just what services you do deliver and the impact it has for Wisconsin.
If Scott Walker would somehow have an epiphany and earns your respect then when you have contact with him provide the respect that we customarily do in America of looking the person in the eye, providing a cordial greeting and shake their hand, but do not ever allow yourself to kneel and touch your forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, that is known as "kowtowing". We DO NOT do that here in America.
DO NOT allow Scott Walker to create an environment in Wisconsin of conquer and divide (private sector vs. public sector). Stand Proud, soundoff and pushback to Scott Walkers world of hatred.
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
This posting is a personal reflection of the writer and is not done with the authorization of the leadership of AFSCME Council 24 or the Wisconsin State Employees Union.
Dems Need to Finish Contract Negotiations
This shows how little of a grasp on reality Walker has.First of all, these contracts are for 2009-10.
He was not governor during these years (Thank goodness) nor was he part of the state legislature. What right does he have to demand to rule over previous work done? It's not like he can go back and make the unions pay retroactively towards their pension or make them go back in time because he doesn't understand that furloughs are not the solution to budgetary woes.
And just by making this demand and trying to bully the state unions even before the election, he was interfering with the labor laws and setting up state tax payers for a big hit.
Fortunately, not everyone is falling down for His Majesty and is going on to actually do the people's work. The Democratic leaders in both the Assembly and the Senate have said that they are going to make a concerted effort to get the contracts done in special sessions before the end of the year.
They certainly better, for their sakes, the sakes of the workers and the sakes of the tax payers.
If they don't get the contracts done, they are going to lose a lot of supporters that they will need if they want to stay in office, much less regain power.
Secondly, the state workers have done the work for two years without a contract. They deserve to have that recognized and a clean slate for when Walker does take office.
Thirdly, if they don't get the contracts settled, any concessions that they might have made are going to be lost for years. Given his past history, when Walker gets to Madison, he'll start being a bonehead, putting his presidential aspirations before the people of the state, and offer up empty political rhetoric but make no efforts in saving tax payers money by settling a contract.
The reason he won't is twofold. One, he knows that he wouldn't be able to inflict the draconian measures he wants to, so it is easier to talk tough instead of just doing what needs to be done. Secondly, when he starts to fail at governing, and he will fail, just like he did in Milwaukee, he'll want the unions to use as a scapegoat.
In summary, if the Democrats know what is good for them and for the state, they will get this done before the end of the year. That are get used to always being in the minority.
This BLOG entry was written by; Chris Liebenthal
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Director Beil to Talk About State Employees Future with Joy Cardin on WPR
After seven, Joy Cardin talks to the head of Wisconsin's state employee union about what the future holds for state workers under a new Governor and state legislature. Guest: Marty Beil, Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24.
You can join the conversations each weekday morning by using the toll-free call-in number 1-800-642-1234 (Madison Listeners please use 263-1890). You can also e-mail WPR at email@example.com.
Democrats Push To Pass State Worker Contracts - Milwaukee News Story - WISN Milwaukee
State employee contracts expired on July 1st, 2009. The WSEU is nearing a tentative agreement, but has not yet reached that point as of this posting.
Democrats Push To Pass State Worker Contracts - Milwaukee News Story - WISN Milwaukee
Gov.-elect Walker Intends to Pit the Public Against State Employees
State employees, the people who provide, highway safety, safe roads and bridges, forest fire protection, clean lakes and rivers, safe hutning and fishing, secure state prisons, control and monitoring of criminals after prison release, investigate employer wage and benefit violations, protection of kids at child care centers, unemployment benefits, a proud and efficient system of higher education and the list goes on...
Now, and I wish to emphasize, "Governor-elect", not Governor Walker wants to lobbying public citizens of Wisconsin to oppose state employee contracts by engaging their legislators.
Negotiations on the 2011-2013 state employee contracts is anticipated to begin sometime in early 2011. At that time, then Governor Scott Walker will have his ability to negotiate with state employees. Until that time, step aside Gov.-elect Walker and allow the present administration to complete its responsibility of finalizing its negotiations with the state employees and their expired state employee contracts.
Read the full story here >>>
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Friday, November 19, 2010
WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Walker criticizes proposed special session on state employee contracts
Based on the communicated word of Gov.-elect Walker, both in verbal and written form, it is very reasonable to assume that if these already overdue contracts are not settled under the Doyle Administration, who by the way has that obligation to get them settled, then state employees could conceivably not see any settled negotiations with the Walker Administration over the next four-years thus having state employees work with a contract that could be up to or even more than six-years expired.
Gov.-elect Walker you have already been found in a recent ruling by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission of not bargaining in good faith at the County level, that ruling was for agreeing to one thing and then deliberately doing something else, but now you wish to find ways to fail to negotiate with employees that you will have working for you who have protections under the law for the employer to collectively bargain with the employees and you wish to ignore that requirement?
One has to wonder with what poor positions you are already taking with regards to creating jobs, keeping good manufacturer's in Wisconsin and sending back hundreds of millions of dollars to the Feds as merely the Gov.-elect, what misleading endeavors will you manufacture when you hold the constitutional title of Governor?
WisPolitics.com: WisPolitics: Walker criticizes proposed special session on state employee contracts
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
Director Beil Comments
It seems to us the incoming administration's vehicle for change is threat and intimidation. As we said last week, we won't be threatened, we won't be intimidated. We have nothing to gain by kowtowing to their demands.
Posted via U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
State Employee Unions Pushing for Special Legislative Session
There are lots of "what if's", but we feel it is imperative that we pursue these options to secure our collective bargaining agreements. Be prepared – we may need membership contact with certain legislators to persuade them about the need for a special session.
Check the SEPAC BLOG often for updates.
Posted via U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Senate Dems Name JFC Members
Posted via U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Candle Light Vigil to SAVE WISCONSIN JOBS
Date: Tuesday, November 23rd
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Talgo 27th St Parking Lot (between Townsend and Hopkins)
Feel free to download and distribute the flier to get the word out.
If you can't make it to the vigil then call Scott Walker's transition office at 608-261-9200. Tell him that you are a constituent and you want the train in Wisconsin because of the thousands of jobs that it will create.
Posted by SEPCA on behalf of; Peter Drummond
"Take Back America" Project Organizer
414-344-6868 office
414-333-1606 cell
414-344-1274 fax
3427 W St Paul Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
Looking for Union Democratic Women
Emerge Wisconsin is a political leadership training program for Democratic women whose mission is to identify, educate and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue a career in politics at the local and state level in Wisconsin.
"Click on this link" to download the application for the 2011 class of Emerge Wisconsin.
Applications are due December 1, 2010. AFSCME Council 24 is a supporter of Emerge Wisconsin as well as the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.
For more information about Emerge Wisconsin, please go to: www.emergewi.org
Gov.-elect Scott Walker Has NO Team Concept
Well it continued very recently in an interview with the Washington Post at the Republican National Governor's Association meeting in San Diego. Three midwest Governor's were singled out for their response to their state's budget deficit's and this is what Gov.-elect Walker had to say, related to state employees;
"I've taken on wage and benefit reforms," he said here on Wednesday. "We're going to have to do that [in Madison]."
The possible changes will affect everything from health-care coverage for state employees to pension contributions. Most Wisconsin state employees, Walker said, contribute nothing to their retirement plans. "We have to tackle legacy costs," he said. "Otherwise we end up like GM."
No part of his comment makes any reference to working with affected state employees in this regard. In Michigan, Gov.-elect Rick Snyder (R) responded to the same question as Walker;
Asked where he will have to try to cut, Snyder quickly pointed to public employee compensation. "I view that as one of the toughest things I need to do as the next governor," he said Thursday morning over coffee at the Republican Governors Association meeting.
"You're talking about people and their livelihoods and their families. So it's a very serious topic. I want to do it working with them.
State employees recognize that there is nothing about state government that is excluded from review for cuts, but it sure would be nice if Gov.-elect Walker would have similar thoughts like Gov.-elect Snyder. The thought that comes to my mind is compassion.
A reasonable request to Gov.-elect Scott Walker, start considering that you may accomplish more by approaching an issue with and open-mind and an offering to make everyone part of the solution or you can push forward with "your" agenda in your "I" attitude and see what little you may accomplish. The continuous "I" approach in most countries around the world normally is synonymous with "Dictatorship".
The last point that I feel needs to be made is that wage and benfit costs related to state employees ARE NOT "Legacy" costs, they are costs negotiated over decades with Republican and Democratic Administrations. As a former legislator that has voted on past state employee contracts, you know full well it took "two sides" to agree to all terms of the contract. So lets be honest in your labelling of state employee wage and benefit costs.
"Click Here" to read the article in its entirety >>>
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24
My comments are my own and are not those of AFSCME Council 24 or any of its affiliated local unions.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
40 Year Legislative Veteran Is Concerned for Wisconsin
Rep. Marlin Schneider says in part; "We will now have a Republican governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer and Republican control of both houses of the Legislature The Supreme Court is technically nonpartisan, but Republicans hold a clear majority of it as well," Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, writes.
"And the concentration of power is not merely within one party, but within familial hands as well. Not only is the new lieutenant governor married to a member of Assembly, but the new Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the Assembly—the top leadership positions in each house, wielding tremendous power—are brothers Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald. One family now has control over committee assignments, campaign budgets, and budget conference committees."
The entire written opinion of Rep. Marlin Schneider is published at WisOpinion.com and can be viewed by "clicking here".
Scott Walker Not Happy with Dems Call to Approve State Employee Contracts
"We obviously have a monumental budget deficit to deal with, and the idea that anyone would want to try to pile on and make that more difficult for the next governor and Legislature is just horrible news for taxpayers," he said.
Walker said it's a good sign that the negotiated contracts don't include pay raises. Still, he said that needs to be accompanied with "significant changes" in the benefit packages for state employees.
We have also learned that Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan also intends for the present Assembly to finish up their responsibility of approving state employee contracts that the Administration sends to them after more than a year of ongoing negotiations.
What is outrageous in Walker's above quotes is that he accuses that passage of state employee contracts would amount to "piling on" to the state budget deficit, but in a second breath he acknowledges that the nearly completed negotiations contain NO wage increases. He fails to mention that the nearly completed negotiations require state employees to contribute EVEN MORE toward their pensions and health care benefits.
I have to ask, how will Wisconsin survive such arrogance for the next four years?
Posted by Steven Williams
PEL Coordinator
AFSCME Council 24


text:
Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.
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text:
Cheers to the freaking weekend! Yes, I'll drink to that.
What's up people? How far na? I have so many things in my head to write but time, work and laziness won't let me be. Anyway, I'll try to fix all this weekend hopefully (as I have no plans).
Last weekend, I saw a stage play at TerraKulture titled 'Single in Gidi'. It was a stage adaptation of discussions and a lot more happening on the Single in Gidi blog curated by Miss Gidi. There were topics ranging from dating, relationship and love and and I tell you it was an amazing play! It was directed by Kenneth Uphopho, produced by Lydia Sobogun and featured the likes of Omoye Uzamere, Meg Otanwa, Leelee Byoma, Timi Charles Fadipe, Austine Onuoha and Tosin Oguntayo.
I also saw the beautiful Titilope Sonuga from Gidi Up, Wale Adetula of the Naked Convos and there was musician and songwriter, Bez Idakula and his pretty wife. (Bez even gave us special rendition of some of his songs, amazing stuff). The stage play covered topics rangng from aso-ebi, to the hidden truth behind jogging on the Lekkki Bridge, to weddings and single-married relationships. You should go see it this Sunday (it's the final viewing) by 3pm and 6pm. Tickets are available at the venue.
This week, I learnt/ re-discovered some new stuff which I'll share with you
- Sleepwalking is a real thing – Came back home after work on Friday last week and I had to prepare a power point presentation for Saturday morning. Slept off early and forgot where I kept my laptop. Next morning, I was looking for the laptop and you won't believe where I found it later.
- Eargasms are a real thing – Basic headphones/headsets/earbuds are shit. Believe me when I say so. These new ones I got recently are the real deal. I feel the background beats and it's so beautiful. Always so beautiful
- Dancing is a stress remover – This week has been real hectic at the office. Hectic that I have considered resigning and just relaxing (I'm not). But to ease off the stress, I have taken consolation in dancing. I just come home and dance. (Quick tip: I think it's better when you're naked)
- Don't check movie ratings before watching – No seriously stop it! People who comment on the internet about movies are real rude movie buffs that can make you even hate the movie before watching. So just watch whatever you want to watch and then give your views later, in the future or whenever you decide to.
- Sleep early – Yes, I started this week to sleep early and its fun. Really it is, I sleep early and wake up say 2, watch movies till 4 and then enjoy the best part of the morning sleep. Awesome stuff
Until then,
Peace, love and everything you wish for!


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ZhaoLiang ART
Event Introduction:
Meridian: UCCA Spring Festival at UCCA will kick off with the Beijing premiere of Zhao Liang's "Martial Art in Dance: WUshu." "WUShu," choreographed and produced by independent dance studio ZhaoLiang ART, is Director Zhao Liang's latest production since his "Soul & Desire Trilogy," and was the only dance piece commissioned by 19th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. By exploring the relationship between Tai Chi and Cha Quan with weapons like broadswords, spears, rods, and swords, the physical contact leads to their fusion, creating a balance between martial arts and dance, rigidity and placidity, separation and reunion, creation and destruction.
The words for martial art and dance are phonetically analogous in Chinese, having distinct manifestations, but growing from a common root. Martial artists know when to attack and when to defend, and to emphasize the connection between the self and the external world. Dancers are versed in the relationship between motion and stillness, placing themselves in the space separating human confusion and spiritual inquiries to the universe. "Martial Art in Dance: WUShu" seeks to combine martial arts and dance, dissolving the boundary between them by returning to the core of physical movement.
"Martial Art in Dance: WUShu" both honors and reinterprets traditional Chinese culture, endeavoring "change its form but keep its essence." The movement from chaos to order, the flights and falls of the mind, and the intake and outtake of breath, are all reflected in this performance.
120 RMB/Adult
100 RMB/UCCA Member
*Enjoy UCCA Member ticket prices with the purchase of a yearly membership card (RMB 300);
*Collect your ticket from reception 30 minutes before the event begins;
*Please no late entry;
*Seating is limited, and tickets must be collected individually;
*Please keep mobile devices on silent.
Ticketing QR Code
Scan the QR code below to sign up for UCCA membership and enjoy exclusive member benefits.
Zhao Liang (Choreographer)
Zhao Liang is a contemporary dancer and Artistic Director of Zhaoliang ART. He incorporates a wide range of styles in his work, and his bold and original choreography has led to German media calling him the "Shepard from the Orient." His most recent work includes Boundless Relationships, The True Nature, and A Bizarre Story. His "Soul & Desire Trilogy"—Dreams of Zen, The Tea Spell, and Escaping from the Temple—set box office records, and was positively received by audiences both at home and abroad.
thruoutin (Composer)
American-born electronic producer and multi-instrumentalist thruoutin has been based in China since 2009. His work varies from project to project, but often revolves around the combining of different genres, with a focus on organic and digital sounds. He has brought his music to Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and various cities in both the US and China. In addition to self-releases, thruoutin has also been featured on such labels as Jingweir (Beijing), Huashan (Shanghai), 87Fei87 (Beijing), LABAREDA (Lisbon), Senzu Collective (North Hollywood), Aud-Art (Pittsburgh), and Ran Music (Beijing).
Liu Hengzhi (Lighting Designer)
Liu Hengzhi graduated with a major in stage lighting design from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. From 2010 to 2014 Liu worked for Beijing Dance Theater and Beijing Damu Cultural Development Company. During that period he helped produce dance productions including The Book of Mountains and Seas, Lotus, Hamlet, Wild Grass, Color of Love, Harvest, Middle, director Lin Taohua's The Master Builder, Five Acts of Life: Lao She's Short Stories, The Lobbyist, Go Home, as well as director Li Liuyi's theatrical staging of The Golden Cangue and Antigone. Liu has worked on productions in over ten countries, including the US, Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Israel, Mexico, Columbia, and Ecuador, and participated in a number of international and local art festivals.
Wudi (Scenic Designer)
Wudi graduated from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts with a Bachelor's in Stage Design. He has worked as the cinematographer for CCTV-5's television program The World of Sports, and Artistic Director of China CCYS, and is currently the Scenic Designer for the Central Nationalities Song and Dance Ensemble, and Artistic Director for the Beijing Shidu Kongjian Design Company. He has also provided artistic direction for a number of large-scale stage, film, and television productions. Wudi is the recipient of a first place prize at the University Theater Festival, and Chu Tian Wen Hua Scenic Design Prize.
Wang Jia (Stylist)
Wang Jia is the founder of Jia Studio Beauty School, President of Jimi Fashion Design School, and contributing stylist for China's International Fashion Week. Wang has been named several times as one of China's top ten makeup artists and stylists, and was Head Stylist for Cosmo's Annual Makeup Gala, a live concert by Dadawa, the international tour for The Voice of China, the Sixth Beijing College Student Film Festival, and theater productions such as The Tea Spell, The Moon Opera, and Painted Skin.
Li Yu (Performer: Cudgel)
Li Yu graduated from the Dance Department at the People's Liberation Army Arts College in 2007, and subsequently joined the Air Force Cultural Troupe. He performed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony, 2008 Beijing Olympics Gymnastics Award Ceremony, 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party Gala, African tour for the All-Chinese Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, CCTV-5 Sports Personality of the Year Ceremony, singer Tan Weiwei's performance of Flowery Night on TV show Star of China, Zhou Bichang's music video for her song Two Traps, and Zhang Yimou's 2047 Apologue. Li also represented the Air Force during a performance in North Korea. His solo piece, Box, won first prize for modern dance at the 10th Lotus Awards. Li performed in We Stand on the Banks of the Yellow River, which won first prize at the 8th Lotus Awards. He also danced in the production A Feather, which won first prize at the 8th Overseas Taoli Cup and CCTV's National Dance Competition. He received silver medals for solo performances during the 9th Military Cultural Performances, the solo performance Fan~Memory at the 7th Lotus Awards, and the solo performance Far Away Thoughts at the 9th National Dance Competition, and the group performance Go to the Flames of War at the 8th Lotus Awards. Li has also performed in Song of Red Plums, Qi Feng Tian Fu, Escaping From the Temple, Slow Motion, How Strange You Are to Me, etc.
Gong Xingxing (Performer: Sword)
Gong Xingxing was born in Xinjiang, graduated from the secondary school at the People's Liberation Army Arts College, and completed her Bachelor's in Modern Dance in the Choreography Department at Beijing Dance Academy. She has been a member of the Beijing Modern Dance Troupe, and the principal dancer at both TAO Dance Theater and Beijing Dance LDTX. Gong has been invited to perform in numerous countries, including Belgium, Canada, Israel, Tunisia, Albania, India, and the US. Her major choreographed works include Exit, The Man in the Case, Outside Social Convention, Quicksand, A Space, and The Path I Walk. In 2013 Gong participated and won the main prize for the "Second International Ballet and Choreography Competition" at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (CHNCPA), and won the top prize from Beijing Xiaoxing Ballet Art Development Foundation at the "Third International Ballet and Choreography Competition."
Zhang Kun (Performer: Broadsword)
Zhang Kun is one of China's top athletes, having won multiple medals at the Hunan Martial Arts Competition, and named champion of free boxing, staff technique, and broadsword technique at the 2013 Hunan Youth Martial Arts Competition. He was awarded one gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal at the National Middle School Martial Arts Championship. In 2016 Zhang participated in the National Martial Arts Competition, winning silver medal for his broadsword technique, and the bronze for Xingyi Boxing.
Zhang Zhenguo (Performer: Spear)
After graduating from the People's Liberation Army Arts College in 2017, Zhang Zhenguo joined the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, of which he is still a member. While in school, he performed in a number of countries, including Mexico and New Zealand. In 2014 he was one of the dancers in Forward, Forward at the Military Cultural Performances, which went on to win the top prize. In 2015 Zhang performed in Moulting for "Young Artists Platform of Dance," which premiered at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. In 2016 he participated in an intensive training camp with the Netherlands Dance Theater, and performed in Two Bodies with the China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble. In that same year, Zhang was awarded first prize at the "Red Star Cup" Dance Competition at the People's Liberation Army Arts College, and performed in Seven Feet by the China National Arts Fund. In 2017, Zhang was involved in a special performance of "Young Artists Platform of Dance."
Liao Yuanwu (Performer: Sword)
Liao Yuanwu is one of China's top martial arts athletes, a national first-level martial arts referee, a graduate of Beijing Sport University, and a retired member of the Jiangxi Martial Arts Group. He placed fourth in the category of men's swordsmanship in the 2006 National Wushu Routine Competition, and first in the category of Xiangxing Boxing at the National Traditional Sports Championship, as well as being named swordsmanship champion and podao champion during the 2010 Beijing Sport University Wushu Routine Competition. In 2010 he represented the Chinese Martial Arts team in an Italian performance tour, and went to represent China in Kuala Lumpur in 2011 and Cologne in 2012.
Li Nan (Performer: Broadsword)
Li Nan is an independent dancer currently residing in Beijing, and graduate of the Choreography Department at Beijing Dance Academy. He has performed in many productions at home and abroad, including Tino Sehgal's This Variation and Hohei's "Tras La Velo." From 2013 to 2016 Li collaborated with Gu Jiani to establish GONSPACE, which explores the possibilities for performance in nontraditional spaces, including galleries and museums. Li has performed in One's Side and One Left, One Right at the Guangdong Dance Festival, Melborne Arts Festival, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the University of Michigan. In 2016, his performance, Bolt, premiered at the Shanghai International Arts Festival. He performed in Zhao Liang's 2011 Soul & Desire Trilogy: Dreams of Zen, The Tea Spell, and Escaping from the Temple, as well as the 2017 performance, WUshu. A long-time collaborator of Zhao Liang, Li has appeared in a great number of his works, prompting Zhao to tell him, "We're attached at the hip."
Cao Peizhong (Performer: Tai Chi)
Cao Peizhong is a graduate from the dance department at Minzu University of China. Having worked in the Beijing Modern Dance Troupe before becoming an independent choreographer and dancer, his works include Wandering in Unfettered Freedom, Born in July, Walking Up to the 21st Floor, Bliss, Under the Skin, Accidentally, Water Asks, Tower of Babel, Solo, and Life is Filled With Light. Cao has performed as part of a group in a number of countries, and has been invited to perform in the Festival d'Avignon, Madrid Arts Festival, Rome International Arts Festival, Venice Biennale, and Canberra Arts Festival. He performed in Zhao Liang's The Tea Spell in 2011, and Escaping from the Temple in 2015 at the Shanghai International Arts Festival. Cao's solo work is focused on integrating Eastern aesthetics with modern and contemporary forms, and he has been invited a number of times to collaborate with various major national art schools. He choreographed for dance productions Xi Yi, which received the Denny Award in Beijing for International Excellence in Theatrical Arts, and Theory of Evolution, children's play The Magic Aster, the musical production of Jane Eyre, Magic of Jiyu, large-scale production The Many Colors of Guizhou, Dali, Happiness of Nirvana, and Birthday Song.
Aiys Song (Special Guest Cellist)
Founder of SONGZHAOART, Song Dynasty Design Studio, and the CANON series music brand, Aiys Song is a cellist, experimental musician, and visual art designer. He is active in theater, ballet, film, television, and the Chinese contemporary art world. Song has participated in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Melbourne Festival, the Asia Society, the Coil Festival, the Israel International Arts Festival, the German DAAD Art Music Foundation, the German Siemens Music Foundation, the Audi Hero Music Festival, the Beijing International Music Festival, the CCOM Music Festival, the Hennessy Music Festival, and more. He is a cofounder of Silent Club, Song Dynasty Design Studio, Attic Beijing, Kubi & Aiys, and the "Yun—A Silent Place" Music Festival. His virtuosic cello skills have been praised by renowned musicians and conductors Mstislav Rostropovich and Issac Stern. He directed and organized In Bloom—Performance of Music and Chinese Traditional Art for the WRFS Regional Competition in 2016, and two performances for Xi'an International University's 25th anniversary performance, Silk: Contemporary Eastern Art of Music in 2017.
Type of Event: Performance
Time: 20:20-21:00
Location: UCCA Nave
Event Introduction:
Mami and Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen are a young Japanese performance duo, incorporating Japanese calligraphy, graffiti, traditional shamisen melodies, and contemporary music all into a single performance, celebrating and reimagining their possibilities.
Language: n/a
*Seating is limited; ticket-holders for WUShu, and those who have reserved a space online enjoy priority seating;
*Collect your ticket from reception 30 minutes before the event begins;
*Please no late entry;
*Please keep mobile devices on silent.
Mami (Calligrapher)
Mami (b. 1990) began learning calligraphy at the age of nine, going on to major in it in at Daito University. After graduating, she began to develop her unique style, a fusion of the visual linguistic art of Shodo, Japanese calligraphy, and graffiti. She now participates in more than 80 events a year in hopes of introducing the world of Shodo to others, as well as creating paintings and other visual art.
Sakata Atsushi aka Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen (Shamisen Musician)
Sakata Atsushi aka Tokyo Ghetto Shamisen is a contemporary Japanese musician whose free-spirited style offsets the traditional Japanese shamisen he plays. A student of the renowned musician, Takahashi Chikuzan, he transforms typical shamisen melodies into contemporary music whose distinctly rhythmic quality resonates deeply with listeners. Sakata integrates experiences from his daily life into his work, and often takes inspiration from, and performs in, natural settings. He frequently collaborates with creative figures from other fields, creating cross-disciplinary work that appears on nontraditional stages.


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This is something I've been a little hesitant to post. As you'll see if you poke into the links provided below, Paddy was, and presumably still is, very much against this having been made available, and various requests were made not to circulate it further.
That being said, it's a recording of enormous interest, and, like it or not, it is circulating. It's very difficult to get cats back into bags, and at time of writing, the unreleased song in the set "Joshua and the Fried Bread" was and is on a long standing music blog. The other tracks are on various torrent sites and MP3 download places, and so I feel it's doing no particular harm to create a properly documented version here.
The history of the discovery is very well told as it happened at the Sproutnet forum. In summary, Dr Barry McGurk, had met Paddy and Martin at the Witton Gilbert garage and learned they were musicians. He invited them to record with him at his home in Esh – he had a Bang and Olufsen 1800 Reel to Reel Recorder – and they visited to play some songs on which he played keyboards and probably drums. Paddy would later visit solo and recorded "hours" of unreleased material, but that tape was lent or lost. Opinions differ as to the date of the recording, with McGurk suggesting 1978, but Martin's recollection was that he was 14 and the date would have been 1976, in which case these are the earliest recordings available – outside the very inner circle at least – of Paddy's music by about a year. They're fascinating too: as one poster in the Sproutnet thread points out, he sounds much more like the 2000 Paddy here than the angry young man of "Swoon".
Anyway, in 2009, Dr McGurk transferred and posted the recordings on his personal website, not really considering them as being of interest to anyone other than his friends. But of course that was never going to be the case, and towards the end of the August, "James L" discovered them, and great excitement ensued. The good Doctor was contacted, wooed and cajoled, but he was also in touch with Paddy who was evidently unhappy with the material being available and essentially embargoed further circulation. As previously noted, artists are not necessarily the best custodians of their own legacy.
All the same, the music had been ripped from the site, and it gradually circulated. No one is certain whether this is the full extent of the material McGurk had, but because it includes two takes of one song I rather suspect it is a transfer of the whole thing. We have the wonderful "Walk On" – Wendy has said this is one of the songs that made her fall in love with the band, and in this early, lilting, version in particular you can see why – in two takes. "Talking Tornado" is a great little song, later a B Side. And most significantly because previously unknown "Joshua and the Fried Bread", a reggae inflected but slightly melancholic song about, well, goodness knows! Probably you could bracket it with "Green Isaac" or "Billy" as a little glance into the fully formed world of someone you will never quite know or understand, but who fascinates. With an incredibly dodgy guitar solo.
Not the greatest song ever, certainly, and it's not really a surprise it never surfaced in the way "Tin Can Pot" or "Dandy of the Danube" did. But even given that, the collection bears witness to a surprising maturity. The arrangements are clever and subtle and work well. Oh, for more of it!
At the time of the release of "Crimson/Red" Paddy discovered a little box of early Prefab Sprout recordings, which were apparently passed on to someone for baking and transfer. There was feverish talk in Icebreaker of creating a box set using them. It will come to nothing. Such a shame.
Joshua and the Fried Bread
Oh brother, what a fool I've been.
Oh brother, if only I could sing.
Three wild horses and a peppermint
are all you need to make an ampitheatre.
It's so strange, but I believed it all along.
I turned into a lightning conductor.
Now mother, what belongs to me?
Now mother, as far as I can see.
And a hall of mirrors, and a sleeping cow,
forked-tongued beauty and an isotope.
But I must laugh, ha ha,
at the handful of oysters in their shell.
I left them crying in the bath.
Oh Billy Smart, where do you fit in?
Oh Joshua, on the first day you came.
I could tell you were a polar bear,
but in a court of law I couldn't swear.
Upon my word, I jumped the goods train on my own,
long ago. There's nothing left for them to disown


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Today's MessagePosted: Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Due Today: Awards and Grants Information for Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony
Today, September 5, is the deadline for submitting your awards and grants information for the annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony program. Faculty and staff members who received significants awards and grants from September 1, 2017, through August 31, 2018, are invited to submit their information online for potential print in the program that is distributed at the ceremony. Awards and grants meeting the following criteria will be reviewed.
Criteria for Awards
- Yes: Recognized by academic, professional, or service organizations at the international, national, or state levels.
- Yes: Awards; senior officer elections to statewide, national, international organizations; juried competitions; Fulbright Scholarships; etc.
- No: Buffalo State College, WNY, or local organizations or chapters.
- No: Books, chapters, editorials, journal publications, etc.
Criteria for Grants Received
- Yes: $50,000 and above.
- No: Less than $50,000.
- Yes: Received as an individual or received as a group.
Additionally, new faculty and staff members who received SUNY awards such as the Chancellor's Award for Excellence or Distinguished Professorships while serving at other SUNY institutions at any time during their careers may submit that information. Also, the names of newly hired faculty and staff—initially hired September 1, 2017, through August 31, 2018—will be included in the program.
The ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 4, at 12:15 p.m.. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall with a reception immediately following. The campus community is invited to attend. Please e-mail Patricia Alessandra, commencement director for academics, with any questions about submitting award or grant information. Current SUNY awards and new hires for 2018 are automatically included in the program and do not need to be submitted.


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An interview with the creative team behind The Important Man
'The Important Man' is a University of Hertfordshire Arts Production in collaboration with Cap-a-Pie. Cap-a-Pie pride themselves on being a theatre company that inspires thinking and learning.
Set in the First World War, the show will give you an insight into part of the war you probably haven't heard of.
If the people you cared about the most in the world were in danger, what would you do?
In WW1 there was a massive increase in people going to see fortune tellers - everyone wanted to know what was going to happen to their fathers, brothers, lovers and sons. Following a fortune teller and his clients, this story focuses on the people who are left behind, preparing to go and their search for news of their loved ones.
Have a read of interviews with the creative team below to see the influences and reasons for creating this fascinating piece of work.
Interview with Professor Owen Davies, University of Hertfordshire on creating 'The Important Man'
What excited you most about The Important Man and what were the challenges?
The world of fortune-tellers and prophets during the First World War is full of potential for drama and comedy, and I hoped that the depiction of this unusual facet of everyday life on the Home Front in the form of a play, would better bring home to people the complex relationship between anxiety and faith in a time of war. The play also explores interesting ideas around the boundaries between science and the supernatural, at a time when spiritualism was popular, and electricity was still a novel force for many people.
Interview with Laura Lindow – Director of 'The Important Man'
What excited you most about the show an what were the challenges?
Are you joking?! Fortune tellers? World War 1? What is Not exciting about that?!
The role that 'faith' and 'belief' had to play in the everyday world during the Great War is just fascinating, lending a sense of reason to life and to the unfortunately inevitable death of so many. At a time when the scientific world was negotiating its own role, innovations like electricity and photography were as unfathomable and inexplicable as the world of the occult. So why wouldn't fortune tellers be viewed as reliable sources of information? As we found out more, it threw up bigger very current questions for me about where we place our faith and why.
Interview with Brad McCormick on creating 'The Important Man'
We were incredibly lucky to work with Professor Owen Davies from University of Hertfordshire, who is an expert in magic and fortune-telling. Owen was present throughout this process, from initial conversations about the kind of material we were interested in to him watching sections of the show and giving feedback, advice and ideas related to the historical content. He was also incredibly helpful for simply checking facts to maintain the accuracy and authenticity of the piece. And having someone so knowledgeable in the rehearsal room means it's a very efficient way of working.
You can see The Important Man, THU 16 OCT at Harrogate Library. £10. Call our box office on 01423 502116 or book online here.