For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
AFSCME’s McEntee: “This Struggle Is Far From Over”
Statement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee on the recall election in Wisconsin
Washington, DC —“With the help of his Wall Street backers and corporate barons, Gov. Scott Walker has survived the recall election. But with John Lehman’s defeat of Van Wanggaard in the Racine recall, a pro-worker majority now controls the Wisconsin state Senate. We have dealt a major blow against Walker’s “divide and conquer” strategy and his ability to do more damage to the workers and middle class of Wisconsin.
“We must not forget that Scott Walker and his allies destroyed the right of Wisconsin’s public employees to collective bargaining. They ended more than a half century of labor-management cooperation in state government. Our members in Wisconsin have never wavered in their commitment to reclaim those rights. They pulled together and worked their hearts out. We are proud to stand with them. We will not give up until they eventually regain their fundamental rights.
“This was an uphill battle from the very start. Only two governors in history have been recalled. Our efforts were made even more difficult by the vast amount of funding – largely from out-of-state sources – that enabled Walker to outspend the opposition by at least 8 to 1. Even with this loss, Wisconsin’s voters have sent a clear message that attacks on workers’ rights will not go unchallenged. Wisconsin’s working families may not win every fight. But, this struggle is far from over. Remember that collective bargaining rights were taken from workers in Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio and Puerto Rico – yet they all ultimately won them back. Make no mistake, the battle in Wisconsin will not end until workers in the Badger State win back their stolen right to a voice on the job.”
