Thousands Rally at State Capitol in Support of Wisconsin Workers

“Today, we are all Badgers.”

 “The workers united will never be defeated.”

 “Who does the work? We do.”

These were among dozens of phrases, chants and slogans that resonated in the Minnesota capitol rotunda late Tuesday afternoon as several thousand labor union members and supporters converged on St. Paul to show solidarity with public employee workers in Wisconsin who face a threat from that state’s governor to end collective bargaining.

From teachers to Teamsters, from police officers to pipe fitters, concerned union members filled the rotunda floor, the second and third level balconies above and the stairways leading to both chambers of the state legislature.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton countered the position of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker when he told the cheering crowd that no such situation will take place in his state.

“Because I’m here,” he declared.

State Representative Steve Simon, a Democrat in his fourth terms who represents all of Hopkins and half of St. Louis Park, said the rally was “the biggest I have ever seen in the six years I have been here.”

Jennifer Munt of Minnetonka is the public affairs director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5.  She said her union members are frustrated.

“Certain elements of the media and the public think the fight, especially in Wisconsin, is about money and benefits. It’s not. It’s about the right to have a union---to have collective bargaining," she said. 

State Senator Terri Bonoff-DFL, who represents Minnetonka, agreed.

“I think we are all very troubled about what’s happening in Wisconsin,” Bonoff said. “I’m very troubled about it….the teachers did already give on pension, wages.”

Munt added that the phones at Council 5’s office have been ringing off the hooks: "We are getting a ton of support from the general public. We have had several clergymen calling saying they are encouraging their congregations to support working men and women not only in Wisconsin, but everywhere.”

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, a Democrat who represents southwest Minneapolis and Richfield, said after the rally that he is hearing from a lot of his constituents.

“They understand the attempt to try and divide middle class working families and that unions and collective bargaining go a long way toward preventing that from happening.”

Toni Anderson of Fridley, Laurie McKenzie of Columbia Heights and Michele Struthers of Mounds View, were unanimous in why they were present.

 “We were there to show support for the workers in Wisconsin and Ohio and to make sure something like this doesn’t happen here,” said Struthers.

McKenzie added, “We have worked too hard to create unions and have collective bargaining. If that is taken away, one can only imagine the increase in home foreclosures and the inability to pay for higher education.”

Anderson said the unions have to stick together.

“Everyone’s jobs are on the line," she said.