Right to Collective Bargaining “Not Negotiable,” Declares Wisconsin Worker

by Clyde Weiss  |  June 03, 2012

D.J Dixon, Jr., vice president and political officer of Local 60 (AFSCME Council 40). (Photo by Greg Dixon)

As the days count down to the June 5 vote to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, one AFSCME leader in the Badger state looked back on the solidarity movement that brought his state to this historic moment.

D.J Dixon, Jr., a property assessment technician for the city of Madison, has been working hard to defeat Governor Walker after he repealed collective bargaining rights for more than 200,000 public service workers last year. As vice president and political officer of Local 60 (AFSCME Council 40), as well as chair of the union’s PEOPLE Committee for the second Wisconsin Congressional District, Dixon understands the critical importance of winning this election for the state’s workers.

“I will not stand for being a second-class citizen in my own country,” he says. “I deserve every right that every other American has, and my right to organizing and bargaining on behalf of the members for better wages, hours and working conditions is not negotiable.”

He began his political activism within AFSCME about six years ago when he became a Volunteer Member Organizer (VMO). He got involved in local races, and helped bring in 125 new members to his local about two years ago. “Fundamentally I just truly believe – not just believe, but I know it for a fact – that the only way people in my economic class are going to be able to maintain or have a hope of a better future, are to self-organize and participate in whatever activities your union can help you to do.”

That philosophy was put to the test big time in the winter of 2011 when the state Legislature, acting on Walker’s plan to divide and conquer unions to undermine their solidarity, passed a measure revoking the right of certain public employee unions to collectively bargain for their members.

Tens of thousands demonstrated against the measure, filling the Capitol and surrounding streets. “It wasn’t only union members who you saw there,” recalled Dixon. “It was friends, neighbors, small business owners, students and people in the community who all realized this was a fundamental assault on basic human rights. Watch a video of the demonstrations.

“I’ll tell you, there were moments when the hair on the back of my neck stood up” watching the outpouring of support. “The solidarity feeling was intense. One of my favorite memories was being up on the square in the snow, cold as hell but not cold at all, and we could hear the bagpipes coming up state as the fire fighters joined us. I’m getting goose bumps right now thinking about it.” Watch a video of them here.

Dixon also recalled that, while Walker unsuccessfully tried to shut the Capitol to demonstrators, the city’s union cabdrivers showed their solidarity by circling the building for while honking to the tune of ‘this is what democracy looks like.’ Says Dixon, “It was like bells ringing.” Watch a video of the cab drivers’ demonstration here.

Today, solidarity is being demonstrated throughout the state as thousands volunteer to go door-knocking and make phone calls to get the vote out to recall Governor Walker. “We’ve channeled our energies into our constitution, and into our democracy,” Dixon said.

Within AFSCME, he added, “we’ve worked very hard to build an organization that is statewide during this election. The three AFSCME councils in Wisconsin (Council 24, Council 40, and Council 48) are working together like they have never worked together before.”

Yes, Dixon admits, he is tired. Yet he is also energized. “If you come off a good door, you feel like you just made another new friend.” And as for phone banking, he says it’s “a matter of perseverance more than anything. After you’ve made your 40th phone call, and there’s another 20 you’ve gotta do, you just keep pushing.”

Like his fellow AFSCME members throughout Wisconsin, Dixon will keep pushing until the polls close. He knows how important this recall is to the future of the state, and for workers everywhere.