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Dec. 14, 2009
Gov. Doyle signs labor history in schools measure
Governor Jim Doyle made it official Thursday, Dec. 10: He signed into law AB 172, the
Labor History in the Schools bill, culminating 12 years of efforts by key legislators,
workers, unions and others to pass legislation to assure the teaching of labor history and
collective bargaining.
More than 50 persons crowded into the governor’s conference room as he used four
pens to sign the historic bill that will make the teaching of labor history and collective
bargaining part of the state’s standards for public schools in Wisconsin.
“Once again Wisconsin leads the way in progressive labor legislation,” commented Steve
Cupery, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society. “As far as we can tell,
Wisconsin is the first state to have enacted such a law. We expect others will follow our
example.”
The staff of Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), said that the senator’s office has been
getting inquiries from around the nation about the bill. Sen. Hansen and Rep. Andy
Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) co-authored the bill. It passed both houses of the
legislature, with most Democrats in support, along with a few Republican members.
Much of the work in developing the current bill was done in the Assembly’s Committee
on Labor, chaired by Rep. (and former school board member) Christine Sinicki (D-
Milwaukee).
In signing the bill, Gov. Doyle cited the importance of elections to achieving legislative
goals. He recalled the lengthy effort to pass the bill, with it often passing one house of
the legislature, and being stranded in the other.
He said for the first time in the last dozen years both houses of the Legislature, and the
governor’s office, were in control of Democrats, nearly all of whom support legislation
calling for teaching of labor history and collective bargaining in the schools.
"I'm happy to sign this bill so that Wisconsin students understand how important the
labor movement was in creating some of the most basic workplace rights that Wisconsin
families enjoy today," Governor Doyle said.
The Wisconsin Labor History Society has made the teaching of labor history in the
schools one of its key objectives since its founding in 1981. As early as 1985, the WLHS
worked with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Bert Grover to involve labor
history in state instruction plans.
The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools
began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when the first bill was
introduced. (See Legislative History Below)
To implement the new law, WLHS will assist in providing access for teachers, school
districts, parents and students to materials that provide information about union history
and collective bargaining.
WLHS has established a curriculum committee, chaired by Jim Lorence, emeritus
professor of history at UW-Marathon County, to work on providing additional materials to
assist teachers and students to fulfill the purpose of the new law.
“We look forward to working with DPI on developing their materials for our public
schools,” Cupery said.
The annual conference of the WLHS which will be held April 17, 2010, in Milwaukee will
focus on providing both community and teacher support for implementing the new law.
Also instrumental in attending hearings, offering testimony, making legislative contacts
and doing other activities in support of the bill through the 12 years were:
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, David Newby, president; Phil Neuenfeldt, secretary-treasurer;
Joanne Ricca, legislative representative;
Members of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, with leadership from Ken Germanson,
president emeritus
Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
Many of the state’s unions and members.
Legislative History:
12 years of effort finally pays off!
The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools
began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when Sen. Russ Decker
(D-Wausau) and then Rep. John Lehman (D-Racine) introduced SB182 requiring that
Wisconsin schools teach labor history. The bill passed the Senate then with a bipartisan
vote of 25-7, but languished in the Assembly and died there. At the same time, Rep.
Lehman and then Sen. Kim Plache (D-Racine) also introduced a slightly different bill (AB
337) that failed in the Assembly.
The following session (1999-2000), Plache and Lehman introduced a similar bill (AB 130)
which failed to pass the Assembly.
Lehman and Plache again sponsored a similar bill in the 2001-2002 session (AB 131), but it
failed to get through the Republican-controlled Assembly. Lehman and former State Sen.
Kevin Shibilski (D-Stevens Point) introduced a similar measure (SB 235) that passed the
State Senate with bipartisan support, 21-12, but it too died in the Assembly.
Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) offered a new slant on the idea for the 2003-2004
Legislative Session, introducing AB 564 along with Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Plover). Besides
calling for teaching labor history in the schools, the bill proposed establishing a labor
history license plate, with funds being raised to develop a labor tool kit for the schools.
Despite a well-attended hearing, the bill stalled in the Assembly.
In the 2007-2008 session, Sen. Hansen and Zepnick introduced SB 108 that passed in the
Senate, but again died in the Assembly.
In the current session, the successful bill (AB 172) was passed by the Assembly Labor
Committee, chaired by Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee). AB 172 calls for the teaching
of labor history and collective bargaining to be incorporated into DPI’s teaching model
standards. As such the bill requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (DPI)
to follow through on assuring that labor history is included in instruction in the public
schools. AB 172 was introduced by Sen. Hansen and Rep. Jorgensen
Dec. 14, 2009
Gov. Doyle signs labor history in schools measure
Governor Jim Doyle made it official Thursday, Dec. 10: He signed into law AB 172, the
Labor History in the Schools bill, culminating 12 years of efforts by key legislators,
workers, unions and others to pass legislation to assure the teaching of labor history and
collective bargaining.
More than 50 persons crowded into the governor’s conference room as he used four
pens to sign the historic bill that will make the teaching of labor history and collective
bargaining part of the state’s standards for public schools in Wisconsin.
“Once again Wisconsin leads the way in progressive labor legislation,” commented Steve
Cupery, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society. “As far as we can tell,
Wisconsin is the first state to have enacted such a law. We expect others will follow our
example.”
The staff of Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), said that the senator’s office has been
getting inquiries from around the nation about the bill. Sen. Hansen and Rep. Andy
Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) co-authored the bill. It passed both houses of the
legislature, with most Democrats in support, along with a few Republican members.
Much of the work in developing the current bill was done in the Assembly’s Committee
on Labor, chaired by Rep. (and former school board member) Christine Sinicki (D-
Milwaukee).
In signing the bill, Gov. Doyle cited the importance of elections to achieving legislative
goals. He recalled the lengthy effort to pass the bill, with it often passing one house of
the legislature, and being stranded in the other.
He said for the first time in the last dozen years both houses of the Legislature, and the
governor’s office, were in control of Democrats, nearly all of whom support legislation
calling for teaching of labor history and collective bargaining in the schools.
"I'm happy to sign this bill so that Wisconsin students understand how important the
labor movement was in creating some of the most basic workplace rights that Wisconsin
families enjoy today," Governor Doyle said.
The Wisconsin Labor History Society has made the teaching of labor history in the
schools one of its key objectives since its founding in 1981. As early as 1985, the WLHS
worked with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Bert Grover to involve labor
history in state instruction plans.
The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools
began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when the first bill was
introduced. (See Legislative History Below)
To implement the new law, WLHS will assist in providing access for teachers, school
districts, parents and students to materials that provide information about union history
and collective bargaining.
WLHS has established a curriculum committee, chaired by Jim Lorence, emeritus
professor of history at UW-Marathon County, to work on providing additional materials to
assist teachers and students to fulfill the purpose of the new law.
“We look forward to working with DPI on developing their materials for our public
schools,” Cupery said.
The annual conference of the WLHS which will be held April 17, 2010, in Milwaukee will
focus on providing both community and teacher support for implementing the new law.
Also instrumental in attending hearings, offering testimony, making legislative contacts
and doing other activities in support of the bill through the 12 years were:
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, David Newby, president; Phil Neuenfeldt, secretary-treasurer;
Joanne Ricca, legislative representative;
Members of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, with leadership from Ken Germanson,
president emeritus
Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
Many of the state’s unions and members.
Legislative History:
12 years of effort finally pays off!
The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools
began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when Sen. Russ Decker
(D-Wausau) and then Rep. John Lehman (D-Racine) introduced SB182 requiring that
Wisconsin schools teach labor history. The bill passed the Senate then with a bipartisan
vote of 25-7, but languished in the Assembly and died there. At the same time, Rep.
Lehman and then Sen. Kim Plache (D-Racine) also introduced a slightly different bill (AB
337) that failed in the Assembly.
The following session (1999-2000), Plache and Lehman introduced a similar bill (AB 130)
which failed to pass the Assembly.
Lehman and Plache again sponsored a similar bill in the 2001-2002 session (AB 131), but it
failed to get through the Republican-controlled Assembly. Lehman and former State Sen.
Kevin Shibilski (D-Stevens Point) introduced a similar measure (SB 235) that passed the
State Senate with bipartisan support, 21-12, but it too died in the Assembly.
Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) offered a new slant on the idea for the 2003-2004
Legislative Session, introducing AB 564 along with Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Plover). Besides
calling for teaching labor history in the schools, the bill proposed establishing a labor
history license plate, with funds being raised to develop a labor tool kit for the schools.
Despite a well-attended hearing, the bill stalled in the Assembly.
In the 2007-2008 session, Sen. Hansen and Zepnick introduced SB 108 that passed in the
Senate, but again died in the Assembly.
In the current session, the successful bill (AB 172) was passed by the Assembly Labor
Committee, chaired by Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee). AB 172 calls for the teaching
of labor history and collective bargaining to be incorporated into DPI’s teaching model
standards. As such the bill requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (DPI)
to follow through on assuring that labor history is included in instruction in the public
schools. AB 172 was introduced by Sen. Hansen and Rep. Jorgensen
| Click Here to access "Can labor reverse a 25-year decline begun on Aug. 3, 1981" by Ken Germanson. President, Wisconsin Labor History Society |
______________________________________________________________________________
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Endorses
Tom Barrett for Governor
______________________________________________________________________________
Milwaukee – The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO today announced its endorsement of Tom
Barrett for Governor of Wisconsin in 2010.
”Tom Barrett is focused on creating new, family supporting jobs in Wisconsin, and as
Governor, he will make that the state’s highest priority. He recognizes that working
people in Wisconsin – their skills, their commitment, and their experience – are assets
that will help us build a new, strong economy,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President
David Newby.
As mayor, Tom Barrett has demonstrated a willingness to listen and cooperate with
people from all walks of life. That approach has led to better policies and better
outcomes for all working people.
“I am proud to stand with the working men and women from all across Wisconsin as we
build on this state’s economic strengths,” Mayor Barrett said of the endorsement. “We
have faced remarkably tough economic times recently, and too many hard working
people have been pushed out of jobs. But I continue to believe this state’s greatest
days are ahead of us. I will provide the leadership Wisconsin needs to make certain
everyone benefits from our future success.”
As the statewide coordinating council for AFL-CIO unions in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin
State AFL-CIO determines union policy on state issues, speaks for working men and
women on matters of public concern, provides services to local unions, and coordinates
political and legislative action with its over 1,000 affiliated unions which represent over
250,000 members in the state.
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Endorses
Tom Barrett for Governor
______________________________________________________________________________
Milwaukee – The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO today announced its endorsement of Tom
Barrett for Governor of Wisconsin in 2010.
”Tom Barrett is focused on creating new, family supporting jobs in Wisconsin, and as
Governor, he will make that the state’s highest priority. He recognizes that working
people in Wisconsin – their skills, their commitment, and their experience – are assets
that will help us build a new, strong economy,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President
David Newby.
As mayor, Tom Barrett has demonstrated a willingness to listen and cooperate with
people from all walks of life. That approach has led to better policies and better
outcomes for all working people.
“I am proud to stand with the working men and women from all across Wisconsin as we
build on this state’s economic strengths,” Mayor Barrett said of the endorsement. “We
have faced remarkably tough economic times recently, and too many hard working
people have been pushed out of jobs. But I continue to believe this state’s greatest
days are ahead of us. I will provide the leadership Wisconsin needs to make certain
everyone benefits from our future success.”
As the statewide coordinating council for AFL-CIO unions in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin
State AFL-CIO determines union policy on state issues, speaks for working men and
women on matters of public concern, provides services to local unions, and coordinates
political and legislative action with its over 1,000 affiliated unions which represent over
250,000 members in the state.