Auxiliary Member Jessica Cole’s Day in
Wisconsin
My
husband, Anthony Dimond, is the Wisconsin State Legislative Board Chairman for
the BLET. As his wife, I am called on to help him with this job
occasionally, and I enjoy this side of our married life very much. It’s
always wonderful to feel like one has helped to make a positive difference, and
when I can help him with things that impact the safety of rail workers, I feel
that I have done something that matters.
These past two weeks in Wisconsin have had a different, angry, outraged sort of
feeling though. Governor Scott Walker’s infamous Budget Repair Bill not
only seeks to cut the pay and benefits for State Employees, but also seeks to
take away their collective bargaining rights for most categories of
employees. It is, plainly, a Union Busting measure, although proponents
of the bill would argue that this measure is necessary to save time and money.
As if the bill isn’t bad enough, the manner in which it has been introduced,
and the outrageous methods being used to try to push it through the legislature
have created a social storm in the state, the likes of which have not been seen
since the Vietnam War protests of the 60s. Walker introduced the bill
only three days before it was to be voted on, leaving virtually no time for
debate or committee review. What’s worse is that the Assembly then called
a vote scheduled for 5:00 pm several minutes early, so as to leave the
opposition unprepared to vote! Conveniently, the Democratic opposition’s
microphones were turned off, so that they could not be heard or recognized.
These events created a virtual storm of passion within the working class.
What started as a Budget Bill became a Union Busting Bill, and what started as
a Budget Issue became a Civil Rights Issue due to the conduct of some of the
Republicans in the State Legislature. The challenge to the working class
was raised. That their right to collectively bargain was threatened was
bad enough, but when their right to speak and to be heard was stomped on, the
masses responded to the call magnificently.
I have been to Madison twice with Tony to help with the protests and with
serving free food to demonstrators. What stands out in my mind from my
experiences is the common decency with which all of the thousands of protestors
I encountered conducted themselves. They were polite, mannerly, clean,
orderly, and friendly. Their faces were good working class faces, full of
character and common sense. Angry and worried faces, but faces full of
decency and solidarity for their fellow man.
Many an urban legend has circulated on Facebook about how filthy the Capitol in
Madison became, and about how lawmakers and Capitol staff had to wear bullet
proof vests for fear of their own safety amidst the angry masses. Having
seen it with my own eyes and having stood in the midst of it, I can tell you,
nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone I encountered was
peaceful, orderly, and downright polite. The support shown by various
unions, and even non-union people who resent what Walker’s bill seeks to do,
was, and is, magnificent.
In closing, I have to apologize to all of my fellow citizens for being too
oblivious for too long to the evil that has descended upon our beautiful State
of Wisconsin. I knew I didn’t agree with Walker when I didn’t vote for
him last fall. I knew I liked Walker even less when he began trying to
run the office by telling our outgoing Governor Jim Doyle what to do before
Walker was even inaugurated. Doyle may have been on the way out, but he
was still Governor up until Inauguration Day!
I knew Walker would do scary things with the State Budget, but I never expected
such an assault on State employees’ collective bargaining rights, and I
certainly never expected the ensuing circus of shutting off opposition’s
microphones and calling votes early! Suddenly, I am not merely quietly
irritated and frustrated and half in the dark about what’s going on! I am
suddenly so mad at the injustice against free speech and American values that I
can hardly imagine what these people can be thinking?! And I believe MANY
of the protestors in Madison feel the same way. The bill is bad enough,
but the assault on the basic American values of free speech and democracy is
totally unacceptable. I will not stand for someone not to be heard,
including someone with whom I disagree completely. Let all voices be
heard!
I close with a quote from the 1995 movie The American President that captures
my feelings precisely. “America isn’t easy. America is advanced
citizenship. You’ve got to want it bad, because it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s
gonna say, “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words
make your blood boil who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of
his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”
Jessica Cole
BLET Auxiliary Member-at-Large
Baraboo,
Wisconsin