Thousands gather in Wisconsin to protest right-to-work proposal

Thousands of workers from across Wisconsin rallied in front of the State Capitol building in Madison on Saturday to protest a state-wide right-to-work bill that may soon be implemented.

If adopted, the law would ban private-sector workers from being required to pay dues or join a union. The bill proposal was approved on Wednesday by the Republican-led state Senate, and has been supported by potential Republican presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker. If adopted, Wisconsin would become the 25th state to use a “right-to-work” law.

The protest rally drew about 5,000 participants, despite the freezing 16 degree temperature. Members of the Wisconsin American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) spoke to the flag-waving, chanting marchers. “We are not going anywhere. We need to stay all day and all week,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, secretary treasurer of the organization. “Let’s pack the gallery. Let’s pack the Capitol,” added AFL-CIO president Phil Neuenfeldt.

Gov. Walker has built much of his support on backing anti-union measures. He survived a recall election in 2012 after pushing for a law to limit the powers of public-sector unions shortly after becoming governor in 2011. His office has strongly indicated that he will sign the right-to-work proposal if it reaches him.

While state senators approved the current bill, a public hearing is scheduled for the state Assembly on Monday. Another protest is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday morning. The Assembly is expected to vote on the bill within a week.

Eric Upchurch II of the Young, Gifted and Black coalition spoke out inside the capitol during the protest. “We are in solidarity. There are so many forms of state violence and ‘right-to-work’ is one of them,” he said. “We have to see the commonality of our struggles. We can and will stand together and fight.”

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