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Wolf Packs: Wisconsin’s Public-Sector Unions Turn Into Neighborhood Thugs

By: LaborUnionReport (Diary)  |  March 18th, 2011 at 10:30 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

In Wisconsin last week, it was the police and firefighters unions threatening local business* with boycotts should they not support the union efforts to turn back the clock on their so-called collective bargaining rights. Now, like a pack of wolves, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) has jumped into the age-old racket of shaking-down businesses.

WEAC has sent an e-mail to hundreds of businesses belonging to the Fox Valley Chamber of Commerce offering to put a sign in a window for those businesses that support the union goals. That is not sitting well with many members, according Shannon Meyer, president and CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber:

In the email, WEAC asks Chamber members to show their support for the union in its battle to save its ability to collectively bargain.

In exchange for signing a pledge that says they oppose limiting collective bargaining, businesses will receive a poster they can put in their window so union members with “substantially less discretionary money to spend” can support those businesses which support them.

[snip]

“There is veiled threat within the email that’s stating, put this poster in your window and we’ll make sure your business isn’t boycotted, but if you don’t it’s very clear that if you don’t those businesses are going to be boycotted in the future,” Meyer said.

The WEAC union boss is, of course, denying that his actions are a veiled threat to boycott businesses:

WEAC-Fox Valley says the idea wasn’t a threat at all, and that the accusation shows a double standard.

“I go and try to defend my members’ economic interest, and when there’s a perception that some of the businesses’ economic interests are going to get hurt they go wild. I think they’re not viewing it on a level playing field,” Krokosky said.

In days of old, this type of activity was relegated to street gangs and the mafia. Today, it’s just another tactic in the union arsenal of intimidation.

View video clip here.

*h/t Lineholder

_________________

“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

X-posted.

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COMMENTS

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  • sandbun

    Let them boycott those businesses, and conservatives can boycott those with posters.

    • 20jan2013

      just like they win the battle at the ballotbox.

  • wennejunk

    n/t

  • johnt

    I’m not sure, but thugs may be too nice a word for these creatures.
    I would be more sanguine about this if the low lifes hadn’t already trashed public, state government , property, if there hadn’t been repeated acts of violence, shown on this site, against Normal People, if Dem state legislators made a mockery of their oaths and office, if this boycott didn’t have the blessing of the Thing in the WH, busing of goons, the fanatical Richard Trunka, and a media to low to urinate on.
    This may serve as a brief and sanitized litany of how this boycott is different from others. It goes a little further then refusing to buy your strawberry malted at Pop’s ice cream parlor.

  • medicineman

    Just wondering if there is any data or people on the ground in Wisconsin regarding these tactics in the last couple of weeks.

    Part of me wonders if this will negate all the “gains” regarding public sympathy they received over the 3 week standoff…just wondering out loud..

  • beafrank

    “Protection”, “Shakedown”, “Silent Partnership”, “Racketeering”, Same old tactic of street, criminal and racial gangs that were prolific in immigrant communities during the 19th and 20th century America. Same old tactic that Jackson’s Rainbow Colilition and Sharpton’s National Action Network employ to ‘shakedown’ businesses and governments for money and influence. These thuggish and greedy actions are the reason unions are the scourge of our society and should be removed or severely limited in the public sector labor force.

    • sandbun

      of notorious gangsters Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

      Look, I get the anger at the unions and their supporters, especially after the horrendous video of them destroying recall forms. Totally legitimate. And if they start actually damaging stores we should raise hell about that. I also get mocking the union leaders for their wimpy “We’re not boycotting, we’re just only going to other stores” cop-out. Typical lefty nonsense. Grow a pair and admit what you’re doing.

      What I do not get is the demonizing of a legitimate protest. I believe strongly in the free market. That mean I believe in voting with your wallet. I will never complain about people planning to do that, even if I don’t agree with the cause their fighting for. And saying that you won’t shop somewhere where they don’t agree with your politics is nowhere near the same thing as threatening to kill them if they don’t give you money.

      • Finrod

        Which is what they want the public to think. Then they’ll disavow responsibility when union goons commit vandalism against the places they’re ‘boycotting’.

        But they’ll still be responsible.

      • johnt

        This is no time for modesty or restraint.
        I’d rather not repeat myself, or worse, have to extend my earlier comments above. Absorb this, there is nothing peaceful about this whole affair, it is all of a piece. To bring in Rev. King and Parks is more then a category mistake, it is arrant moral posing, it grandiose but gaseous bombast, it is, to coin a word, unbright!
        Collect yourself, take an aspirin, come back with your devastating rejoinder. You can’t do worse, you can only do better.
        I will return Saturday morning to review your wisdom.

        • sandbun

          and other groups that, you know, violently murder people, but it’s my comparison that you find just way out of line with reality?

          I get concern over the thuggish behavior during some of the rallies, but honestly how often do boycotts get violent? And these people boycott everything. They boycott sponsors of Fox, they boycott Arizona, I’m doubting this boycott will be any more effective. So let them boycott away if it’ll make them feel better, it’s part of their right to vote with their wallet.

          • johnt

            You ought not to assume that your comparison is singular in attracting my attention, I thought I detected a whiff of moralizing and reacted to that. I did lay it on too thick, sorry.
            To gain a better handle on the nature of this perhaps you should scroll up, if you haven’t already done so, and read the “Sodexo Slaps SEIU, etc post. It fits in with what I am trying to get across. I take it you are familiar with the SEIU, e.g. rampaging on a executives front lawn and doorstep, all 500 of them while the 14 yr old son home alone , cowers. More, but the point is, Wisconsin, attacks on conservative protesters, etc, are all connected. Sodexo’s suit and their problem is linked to this rising wave of aggression which I refer to in my 11:08 post as well. You should wonder why it is a French company is doing this and an American company won’t, or can’t !
            The message is, and it’s right before you in many facets, It is not about peaceful or traditional boycotts. We should only be so lucky.
            It’s going to be a very interesting 2012.
            Regards, and again sorry.

          • sandbun

            I guess part of the reason I react so strongly to the language being used is that I just love the idea of boycotts. I really do. I don’t participate in many, but they just appeal to me on a very basic level. The idea of people/customers convincing a business to act in a certain way rather than creating more govt regulations – the all to common way of doing it – it’s just awesome. So even when I don’t like the cause or have concerns about some of the people doing it or don’t think that it’ll make any difference, I like that they’re taking that route, and I’m always tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt until something actually happens in connection with the boycott.

          • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

            I’m pretty sure we could get a boycott going.

            Why? No reason really, it’s just that someone, somewhere (perhaps in this thread or on the left) is in disagreement with you and, as a result, which to cause you economic harm.

            So, seeing how you like boycotts, would you mind posting your business or where you work here, please?

          • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport
          • sandbun

            My job is to make you want to purchase my service or the service of my company. You are not required to do business with me because it will cause my business economic harm if you don’t. That’s the whole point of the free market system – economic harm comes to those who don’t please their customers. If you hate the idea that businesses may suffer if their actions don’t meet their customers demands you hate the free market.

          • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

            A boycott of the nature the unions are using (particularly the PD & FD unions) has nothing to do with meeting customers’ demands or the services the vendor provides, and everything to do political intimidation.

            Yes, they have every “right” to do it, but let’s be clear: It is economic thuggery.

          • lineholder

            and anyone who can’t discern the difference between the kind of boycott being presented by unions and a standard free market boycott that increases awareness of customer demands is either blind or naive.

            You’ve handled this better than I would have.

          • jimmyg

            LUR
            Your previous posts about the UAW have been met with comments that GM Chrysler and Ford should be, or are being boycotted becuase of the fact that they are union companies. That is fair and there is nothing wrong with it. It has “nothing to do with the product or customer demands or the service the vendor provides”. It is simply a reasoned response to a politically conscious choice to avoid union companies. How do you square those calls for a boycott and its legitimacy, and the Wisconsin boycott wherein you question its legitimacy by calling it “thuggery”.

          • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

            To the best of my knowledge, there has been no “organized” boycott of any of the Big Three.

            When individuals choose not to buy a service or product due to choice (be it political or for whatever reason), that is one thing. However, when an organized group does it, I become leery [I'm not a huge fan of mob mentality over individual choice.] If an individual chooses to stop doing business with a person or firm, fine. However, if the collective (or the leaders of the collective) puts a bulls eye on a person or firm, I view it with a more jaundiced eye.

            The tactics the unions are using in Wisconsin are ‘thuggish’ in the sense that they are asking for a ‘loyalty oath’ of sorts. [Put a sign in the window and our members will know you're not one of 'them..']

            BTW: Although I would not by a GM or Chrysler due to the gov’t handouts, I am a Ford owner [150k on an F-150 and still going strong] In addition, there are other businesses that I purposely do not give my business to (on the right or the left), due to various reasons–yet I wouldn’t condemn you for making the choice to do business with them,. It is your choice.

          • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

            Citgo gas would be one of those companies that I flat out refuse to purchase gas from. Why? Not because of its bad gas (though my Harley can’t run on it), but because it’s owned by Hugo Chavez.

          • jimmyg

            I appreciate your point of view on this subject.

          • jimmyg

            I appreciate your point of view on this subject.

  • crisericson

    Oh, guess where else they have “thugs”?

    The Republican Party should be aware that “Governor” Peter Shumlin of Vermont,
    a Democrat, allegedly is a “fraud”.

    Thousands of votes were allegedly stolen from candidate Cris Ericson,
    which you can see by the difference in the unofficial election results
    collected, and then the official results released to the news media.

    Once the unofficial results were tabulated, it was clear that no candidate
    had received a majority of the vote.

    Under Vermont law, when that happens, the full state legislative body
    must vote on a ballot with the names of the three candidates who
    received the most votes.

    By changing the vote count, instead of Cris Ericson’s name being
    on that ballot, Dennis Steele’s name was listed.

    Dennis Steele was the candidate who made the television news in
    Vermont for giving Vice President Joe Biden “the finger”.

    If Cris Ericson’s name had been listed, then some of the state legislators
    may have voted for her, and that may have changed the outcome,
    giving the most votes for Governor to the Republican candidate, Brian Dubie.

    Cris Ericson would not have won, but by allegedly stealing votes from
    her, and not putting her name on the ballot the full state legislative
    body was required to vote on because no candidate received a
    majority of the vote, the correct outcome is unknown.

    Unless the stolen votes are recovered by finding out who may have
    hacked into the system, who may have been paid off, and who may
    be guilty of alleged voter fraud,
    it is not appropriate or legally correct allegedly, for Peter Shumlin to
    act as Governor of Vermont.

    The person or persons who allegedly committed this voter fraud
    should be discovered and then the full state legislature should
    be required to vote again for Governor because no candidate
    received a majority of the vote, and the vote that was taken
    by the state legislative body was allegedly based on voter fraud.

    Just look at the difference in the two vote counts from unofficial,
    when someone realized no candidate had a majority of the vote,
    to the official results which give an allegedly weaker candidate the third place.

    Also, please note that “Governor” Peter Shumlin took a sudden and
    unexplained vacation outside of the mainland USA recently.

    Could that trip have been, allegedly, to pay off the hacker who changed the votes?

    Unofficial election results:

    http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/2010GEUnofficialFedStateResults11.05.xls

    BEFORE THE “FIX”

    “Official” election results released to the News Media:

    http://vermont-elections.org/elections1/2010GEOfficialFedStateResults11.09.xls

    AFTER THE “FIX”

    The Vermont state Republican Party and the National Republican Party, RNC,
    and the Republican parties of each and every state should take note.
    Stand up and speak out!

  • http://www.inthisdimension.com inthisdimension

    Maybe the unions next want the adults to sew yellow six-pointed stars on their clothing?

  • akonopk1

    It looks like the Anti-”Thug” law is gonna get booted.
    http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/118242109.html

    I certainly don’t agree with the Dems leaving the state. But circumventing the law also doesn’t get much accomplished. Case and point.

    • usadying

      How does the judge have jurisdiction over a STATE legislature?

      • flannery
    • melbedewy

      Can someone tell me what exactly was gained by not waiting 24 hours?
      Idiots.

  • http://pocketchangeproductions.net/ anotherindyfilmguy

    Everyone “protected by the union label” is left alone, the rest get vandalized and worse?

  • mkozikowski

    I was in Sicily and noticed that every door had a very nicely designed plaque affixed to it. There were many designs but not all unique.

    I found out later that these plaques were a “sign in the window” stating that this house and it’s inhabitants are protected by The Family that owns the design.
    You know, FAMILY.

    If you didn’t have one of these plaques, any one, it didn’t matter, you could be guaranteed that your house would be vandalized and your family would be harassed. All of a sudden, you got a plaque.

    I don’t see any difference here.

    This type of activity should not compel one to submit to this harassment, it should harden one’s reserve to oppose it. Stand stronger than the threat. Vote to protect your individual rights, and work to have these thugs (teachers, police, firemen etc. ) punished for their IDOL threats. There is no Unalienable Right to collective bargaining. These hoodlums are not losing any rights when this is taken away. The Crime Bosses posing as Union Leaders should be held directly responsible for any and all loss to business, home or property as a result of this shameful activity.

    Alas, to think that this once GREAT country could fall so far is such a short time saddens me greatly.

  • flannery

    Federal law makes the Unions vunerable to a RICO charge. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act which was designed to get the Mafia leadership will apply to the Unions an their threats.

  • Tbone

    Or, are they not that clever?

    • lineholder

      Don’t give them ideas (LOL)

  • jraiffie

    Boycot …Buycot…what’s the difference

    I watched the video..what a hack! …”we chose to go in a positive direction…” Basically, that email and other letters I’ve seen is extortion, no matter how you put it…Union Thugocracy at work.
    Unions and its members can choose to buycot businesses with posters supporting their “right to collective bargaining” (where is this right listed in the Bill of Rights???) OR…they can boycot those who don’t.

    Same crap, same thugs, different day,

    When will State Republicans Legislators wake up and pass legislation to outlaw such? Or, we can just do as a Dem and make it another role of Federal Govt to prevent such.

    Ugh!

  • Wayne

    so does the civility of its populous. The problem, is that things will have to get much worse before the general public gets the message. And, unfortunately, that will be too late.

    It is inevitable.

    In the private sector, we didn’t see people protesting in the streets (well, we did see the emergence of the tea party, but that’s an entirely different subject) because of a loss of jobs and benefits, instead, we rolled up our sleeves and faced reality. As individual free citizens living in a free market we were tasked with determining the problem and implement a practical solution to it. We gathered in homes and restaurants, discussed the problem with respectful civility. We contemplated a plan and put it into action. We’re seeing the benefit of that, but I am not encouraged. Not in the least. It’s like facing a tidal wave, if you have adequate warning you can head for high ground. If not, you will be swept away. There will aways be those that make a stand and try to protect their homes and possessions. But without a practical assessment of the overall chances of success, facing a tidal wave with sand bags, will have predictable results.

    My two cents…

  • http://www.deanticks.com digitaldean

    Boycotts, violence, intimidation and threats… straight out of the Dale Carnegie playbook.
    Milw. Journal-Sentinel reporting union picketers were blocking path of a local grocery store chain where some of it’s ownership supported Gov. Walker. Some were arrested by police for disorderly conduct.

    Between this, the death threats to Gov. Walker and his family, the 18 GOP WI State Sens and their families are the same old bullying tactics of the past. Spread nails in the driveway of state senator & smash his windshield? No problem. Threaten to kill all the GOP Sens and their families? Perfect. Picket out in front of officials private residences? Great idea!

    Rank hypocrisy abounds in this state on the leftist side. They want “compromise”, “civility” and “open minds”. Unfortunately, they must be exempting all WEAC, AFCSME, and SEIU members from this.
    My kids school was shut down thanks to the lying teachers in my district so they could hold their 60′s style protest in Madison. Been called a
    corporate shill, a stooge and other non-printable stuff for my stances.

    All I can do is patronize the businesses that are being boycotted, tell the management that I will continue to patronize them and do my best to get out the vote to get David Prosser elected to the Supreme Court of WI.

    The Dems are doing the usual legislation through the courts routine here. The Dane Cty. leftist that put the restraining order in on 3-18-11 is just the tip of the iceberg. If Kloppenberg gets in on SCOWI then any hope of Walker making reforms will SEVERELY hampered.

    All true conservatives need to go out and vote for Prosser in April’s judicial election. The tide needs to be kept up against the unions. Voting for Prosser will do just that.

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