Council 93 Deploys Aid to Wisconsin Battleground 07/29/2011

With just twelve days to go before the historic Wisconsin Senate recall elections, AFSCME members from around the country are pouring into the state to take part in the final push for victory. 

A delegation from Council 93 has joined more than 100 other AFSCME volunteers from states outside of Wisconsin to bolster door-to-door education campaigns, voter-turnout drives, phone banks and other efforts aimed at defeating six Republican state senators who rubber-stamped Governor Scott Walker's union-busting legislation. The eyes of the entire nation have been on Wisconsin since Walker moved to bust public employee unions.  But instead of having its desired affect, Walker's moves against unions have reenergized the labor movement and generated more public support for collective bargaining rights.

In addition to the six Republicans facing recalls, two Democratic Senators have been targeted by Walker’s right-wing supporters.  Assuming the  Democratic seats are retained, a defeat of three of the six Republicans will be enough for Democrats to gain control of the senate and start turning the tide against Walker. 

Last week, Democrats won the first round of the recall fight aimed at reversing Governor Scott Walker’s anti-union agenda when Democratic Senator David Hansen defeated a challenge by Republican David VanderLeest by a healthy 66-33 percent margin.  While VanderLeest was considered to be a relatively week candidate who has been plagued by a string of legal and financial troubles, Democratic supporters are strongly encouraged by the win as polling indicated the election was held in a “right-leaning” district.   

Currently, more than 11,500 volunteers are supporting the historic efforts in Wisconsin.  Council 93 volunteers include Greg Callahan, Carol Markland, Rudy Renaud. For up-to-the-minute coverage of the recall fights check in regularly with We Are Wisconsin.