Wisconsin Union Bullies Circulating Boycott Letters

Wisconsin Union Bullies Circulating Boycott Letters
Nice Business You've Got There. Shame If Something Happened to It
by JWF
03/30/2011

Seemed not that long ago the president held a bullying summit and decried the intimidation faced by some in this country. It's funny how his supporters aren't getting the message. Now that the Age of Civility has died a quick death, unions are becoming even more brazen with their thug tactics, especially in Wisconsin. Earlier this month we chronicled the account of one James Palmer, the Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, who sent a rather ominous letter to the president of a Milwaukee company who had the temerity to be a contributor to Governor Scott Walker's victorious campaign. In his letter Palmer ominously intoned: "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."

Yes, this is America in 2011. As with most of the threats leveled against businesses that story went largely unreported, especially by the national media. Sadly, that's also been the case with the high volume of death threats made against Wisconsin Republicans, forever a stain on the credibility of the Make Believe Media.

Fast-forward to today and we discover yet another case in Wisconsin where members of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, are circulating letters to business owners asking they post signs in their store windows demonstrating support for the goon squads. From the very poorly written letter: “Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) do a public boycott of your business. And sorry, neutral means 'no' to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members."

So even if you tacitly support the efforts of unions but don't want to be publicly involved, you'll be targeted. I imagine if we had a functioning Justice Department in this country they'd already be on the case. The mastermind behind this latest caper is some punk named Jim Parrett. Of course, as is typically the case when bullies are exposed, Parrett's already playing the victim: "I've gotten a lot of threatening phone calls," says poor Jim, who offered no evidence to support his claim. It's amazing how quickly the bully turns to victim when smacked in the face.

Sorry, Jim, but if you're going to threaten business owners, don't expect them all to just roll over, take it, thank you and ask for more. Reality check, Jim: A lot of people don't like you and would probably just as well punch you in the face as they are to bow down and do what they're told. Just thought you should know that before you compose your next illiterate shakedown memo.

There's something else these modern-day brownshirts overlook in their short-sighted attempt to get their way through fear and intimidation. Suppose their misguided efforts bear fruit and shopkeepers are hurt financially. Well, their recourse is likely to lay off or terminate employees altogether. Now for a group of people supposedly concerned with the rights of "workers," who then speaks for the workers who suffer from the boycott? Or do they not count if they're among the overwhelming majority of Americans who aren't unionized? Do they have rights? This greaseball Parrett apparently hasn't considered that.

Also likely not factored into his "thinking" is the fact that posting a sign showing support for Parrett and his ilk could well have the reverse effect than desired. People sick and tired of these spoiled malcontents could very easily see which businesses to avoid. Said Terri Gray of the Union Grove Chamber of Commerce, voicing the concerns of businesses upset by this: "They don't want to pick a side," she said. "I told them, 'I believe you can choose to not choose.'"

The left is always preaching about "choice" and "tolerance" for others. Funny how they never tolerate the choices others make if it differs from theirs.

Yeah... these union members are only concerned about the rights the poor downtrodden proletariat.

So in their "concern" they threaten to put out of business the very people who are PAYING THEM - the private-sector taxpayers upon whom these government "workers" rely for their wherewithal to survive!

Apparently they cannot see that they are biting the hand that feeds them.

Am I alone in seeing this as insane?

dblboggie wrote:Am I alone in seeing this as insane?

Nope.

A republican viewpoint from a republican blog. Not much new here in the lies and spins. Wonder if they hire Breitbart to do all their work?

Cookie Parker wrote:A republican viewpoint from a republican blog. Not much new here in the lies and spins. Wonder if they hire Breitbart to do all their work?

I give you the full text of the letter:

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. 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
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, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association


Real sweet of this guy, no?

And the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper article on this can be found HERE.

This is extortion pure and simple. It's kind of hard to put a "spin" on that letter that reads any other way. These thugs are threatening economic harm to the very people who PAY THEM!!!!

If it were not for private sector taxpayers THESE THUGS WOULD NOT HAVE A JOB!!!

I don't know how much clearer I could make this. It is a disgusting, vile, reprehensible thing these union goons are doing and it should be a clear signal that they have now crossed a line.

First, the Senate Democrats flee the state to avoid doing their legally required jobs. Then union members walk off the job (illegally), lie to get "doctors excuses" for missing work, and take up residence in the capitol building (doing millions of dollars worth of damage in the process) and then union bosses start busing in scores more fresh meat to march in protest. These are mobs manufactured by union leaders and the mainstream media had the gall to call the truly spontaneous and grass-roots Tea Party movement "astroturf" while extolling the virtues of these union thugs.

I don't for the life of me know how anyone could put a happy face on this sort of chicanery!!!

Please, tell me, where are the "lies" and "spin" here?