Labor Pains

“It should come as no surprise that organizers choose not to invite elected officials who have openly attacked worker’s rights . . .”

Randy Radtke, Labor union official 

Wausau, Wisconsin

Remember the ruckus that had Wisconsin politicians up in arms earlier this year over state employees’ rights? Democratic lawmakers had fled the state trying to block the Republican governor from passing a law that would strip collective bargaining rights from state employees. The tactic didn’t work, and the governor and Republican-controlled legislature passed the law. Remember? There’s one group that remembers: labor unions in the town of Wausau, Wisconsin (population 37,796). And they’re using this year’s Labor Day parade to make sure Republican lawmakers remember, too. 

Thirty labor unions in and around Wausau get together each year to organize the town’s Labor Day parade. This year, still sore from the Republican legislature’s vote against state workers, the unions yanked the welcome mat out from under Republican lawmakers. The leader of the labor union group said that politicians from the Republican Party can’t expect an invitation to the upcoming Labor Day parade celebrating workers after their attack on workers’ rights. Republicans say they’d like to put differences aside and have some fun. 

That’s the thing about parades—like parties, you get to participate only if invited. And in this small town in Wisconsin, whether you get invited is all about the Party you belong to. 

Read the article ® Republicans barred from Wisconsin town's Labor Day parade