Press Releases

Washington, DC –U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II led the CBC in writing to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and asking him to give Wisconsin’s public workers a seat at the negotiating table.

Congresswoman Moore said, “The Congressional Black Caucus is often referred to as the conscience of the Congress.  Today, we’re locking arms and standing in solidarity with Wisconsin’s public servants.  The assault on workers has gone on long enough, and it must stop.” 

Earlier this week, the members of the CBC, including Congresswoman Moore, spoke on the House Floor in support of Wisconsin’s public workers.  A clip of Congresswoman Moore’s speech can be viewed here .

The full text of the CBC’s letter follows:

Dear Governor Walker:

The Congressional Black Caucus stands in solidarity with Wisconsin’s public workers in opposition to your legislation that cuts their employee benefits and strips unions of their collective bargaining rights. Your proposal is blatantly un-American by severely limiting workers’ say on hiring, firing, assignments, and overall worker protections.  This union-busting legislation should also not be considered as it jeopardizes the viability of the people during these tough economic times. 

While we respect your efforts to protect the state budget, your proposed anti-union legislation is both misguided and shortsighted.  Wisconsin was the first state to give public sector workers the right to organize and unions continue to play an indispensable role in ensuring the health, safety, and security of the American workers and children. Unions have been critical in the effort to end child labor, establish a fair work day, create financial security, provide unemployment insurance, and establish just wages.  It is their inalienable right to defend and protect themselves through collective bargaining. Your legislative proposal will hurt workers in the state, lead to stalled economic growth, and higher unemployment rates. 

Wisconsin’s working people share your dedication to balancing the budget and have demonstrated their commitment to fiscal responsibility by yielding to demands presented by your administration.  Much of their acquiescence was even against their own self-interests and the needs of their families.  This includes:

• Paying half the retirement system’s cost—5.8% of pay
• Paying 12.5% of health care cost, doubling and tripling their current contribution levels

Clearly, they have made sacrifices to realign state budgets.  However, these sacrifices must be distributed equally amongst the population as a whole—not solely on the backs of the state’s public servants.  Union workers are not aiming to drain Wisconsin’s coffers for their own benefit; however, they are merely asking for a voice in your administration concerning the needs of their families and communities. 

Your constituents and Americans all across the country have made it clear that unionization is a cherished right worth protecting.  Unions have not only empowered this nation, but helped create and maintain the American middle class. 

Responsibility to protect this most basic right must outweigh any commitment to state budget constraints.  We urge you to work with your public servants and give them what they rightfully deserve—a seat at the table. 

A signed copy can be viewed  here  on Congresswoman Moore’s website.