Wisconsin law enforcement and fire union reps send threatening letter to business, business responds

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UPDATE, 3/11/11: "M&I Bank issues response to letter from Wisconsin union group threatening to boycott M&I"

3/10/11, "(Wisconsin) UNIONS THREATEN BUSINESS," WTMJ, by Charlie Sykes

"That's a nice business you got there. Pity if anything were to happen to it if, say, you didn't toe the line and denounce Governor Walker like we're asking nice-like.

March 10, 2011

Mr. Tom Ellis, President

Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

770 N. Water Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202

SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL

Dear Mr. Ellis:

As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget

adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in

Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for

office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest

contributors. [M&I says they did not contribute. ed] As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor

Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this

request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not

respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with

Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters,

and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the

executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer,

at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from

you soon.

James L. Palmer, Executive Director

Wisconsin Professional Police Association

Mahlon Mitchell,President

Professional Professional Fire Fighters

Jim Conway, President

International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311

John Matthews, Execuctive Director

Madison Teachers, Inc.

Keith Patt, Executive Director

Green Bay Education Association

Bob Richardson, President

Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association

Dan Frei, President

Madison Professional Police Officers Association"

(signatures on linked correspondence)

For the record, collective bargaining of law enforcement and fire fighters remains intact and was not included in Gov. Walker's measure (near end of page, transcript of CBS audio). Police and firefighter union treatment isn't a campaign 'reward,' as of 314 fire and police unions in the state only four of them endorsed Walker.

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Above Cops for War sign from You Tube video made 2/24/11,

3/10/11, "This is War," James Taranto, WSJ.com

"The key is the group of government employees on whom we depend to maintain the public order necessary for a republic to function: the police. Many cops are unionized, and although the Wisconsin bill exempts them from the ban on so-called collective bargaining, there are signs, as blogger and legal scholar William Jacobson notes, that some cops have been "taking sides in this political dispute"--and worse, that these guardians of public order are siding with those using lawless tactics to disrupt the legislative process.

In a Feb. 27 post, Jacobson linked to a video of a cop--"presumably off-duty but wearing what looks like a police-issue sweater with insignia" and, on the back, the words COPS FOR LABOR in big letters--"who addressed the crowd of protesters inside the Wisconsin Capitol building on February 24, and threatened disobedience to state government":

Here is the transcription by a supporter of the police protest of the key passage:

". . . This is not a budget issue! This is a CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE! . . . Mr. Walker! . . . We know pretty well now who you work for! [applause] Let me tell you who WE work for! [points to self and police emblem] We work for all of these people! [applause] We are not here, Mr. Walker, to do your bidding! We are here to do their bidding! . . . Mr. Walker, this not your House! This is all of our House! [camera pans 360°]"

In today's post, Jacobson quotes from a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report: "It was clear
Wednesday night, after thousands descended on the Capitol in reaction to the Senate vote . . ., that police were not going to try to stop protesters from entering what was supposed to be a building closed for the night."

In a later update, citing a blog called "Badger 14" (the title a derisive reference to the AWOL Democratic senators), Jacobson adds: "The State Police did make an initial effort to keep protesters out last night. But, once most protesters had left the building, several dozen protesters were allowed to sleep in [the] antechamber of the Assembly overnight,

• rather than being removed per court order.""...

via Weasel Zippers, and RushLimbaugh.com