|
|
|
|
Local 1 The Beginning of Local 1 Desperate
times can lead to desperate matters. The
early part of the 1930’s was very much “desperate times.”
A world-wide depression took its toll and people looked for anything that
could alleviate their suffering. It was at this time the Communism and Fascism
spread across the world. Some took advantage of this and began a climbed to greater power.
Governor Phillip La Follette saw this.
Governor La Follette discussed this with his friend, Alva E. Garey.
Garey, who was head of the Civil Service Personnel, understood what the
governor was talking about. The voters will no longer accept the current situation and demand change.
Anyone with an “R” by their name
will be voted out of office. A similar situation occurred in
1980 when anyone with a “D” was voted out of office. In late 1931, A.E.Garey advised key members of the civil service in These key civil service workers began researching the possibilities of
organizing government employees. An Approach was made to the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in regards
to the problems facing government workers. Special note…the CIO was not YET
formed. The AFL was reluctant to the idea of government workers in unions.
These were not people in an industry.
There were different trades at each department.
After much discussion and debate, Arnold Zander, from the Bureau of
Personnel, approached the AFL with one question; what can we here do? The
AFL knew there was only one answer to this question.
The civil service had to organize a union.
The AFL charted this new union, first call The Wisconsin State
Administrative Employees Association, as federated local 18213 on May 16th,
1932. The following names appear on this charter: E.E.Gunn Jr., Mrs. Jennie
Turner, Arnold S. Zander, Mrs. Mary Trace, Charles Mullen, W.L.Ragartz, Leo
Dugan, William Kirsch, Frank R. King and Mrs. Lucile McCarthy. In June, 1932, the association held its first meeting in the Assembly
Chambers of the State Capitol. Edgar
Gunn Jr. was elected first president. (It
showed be now noted that the first membership card went to Mr. Gunn) This first step set off a number of other government workers in other
states to organize. On August
18, 1932 the American Federation of Government Workers (AFGE) (Fed workers) was
founded. In 1935, Arnold Zander met with other leaders of civil service unions to
discuss the formation of a national union.
The AFGE claimed jurisdiction. At the Sept, 1936 convention of AFGE, it was noted on the differences
between the needs of the federal workers and the needs of the local government
workers. The AFL granted a
chartered for a new international union.
Local 1 of this new international union was the Wisconsin State Employee
Association. The new international union was called the American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees. It’s
first meeting, The president of Local 1 was H.C.Thayer.
(Note…you better remember that name because it WILL come up again) Membership grew in Local 1. By
1942, due to the number of members, the vast geography of the local and
significant changes in union structure, Local 1 was broken up.
The WSEA became a council (now called WSEU AFSCME-Council 24) In May of 1942, after the breakup, Harry Thayer was elected president of
Local 1. (I told you to remember his name) The Early Trials and Tribulations With
any organization, there is going to be resistance and a period of trials and
tribulations. The first test came in 1933 with the new legislative body.
A bill was proposed to abolish the current civil service system thus
bringing back the patronage system. The
bill did pass the state assembly, but due to the heavy lobbying efforts made by
the new union, the bill failed in the senate. Now, believe it or not, an attempt to abolish the civil service system
was performed not once but two more times prior to 1942. Both times, the WSEA lobbied successfully against these bills. Other successes included obtaining sick leave of 12 days per year,
increase in pay, restoration after unfair discharge, 3 week vacations, overtime
compensation, etc. The WSEA was an early supporter of the Child Labor Amendment.
It also helped bring about 40 hours work week for government workers. In the 1930’s, there was an attempt to get rid of women in the state
civil service after they got married. (I
am not making this up) Again, the WSEA fought this piece of unfair
legislation. Beginning as early as 1908, attempts were made to create a
pension/retirement plan for state workers. Session after session, an attempt was made but failed either in the
Assembly, the Senate, or in Committee. In 1941, another attempt was made, sponsored by Local 1 to
pass
legislation for a retirement package for state workers.
The bill passed the assembly with only 3 voting against it.
However, due to procedure movement, the bill was note voted on by the
Senate even though a majority of Senators were supporting it. 1943 was marked as the year of the retirement package by the
WSEA. Roy Kubista, Executive Secretary of WSEA, and member of local 1 presented
another draft of a retirement package.
After heavy lobbying, the bill finally passed both the Assembly and the
Senate. HOWEVER, (the dreaded however has appeared) Governor Walter Goodland vetoed
the bill. The Assembly did over ride the veto.
While the Senate debated on over riding the veto, two ladies decided to
visit the governor. These two ladies, who cleaned the These two ladies were Ingeborg Sidwell and Katherine
Conlin.
Mrs. Sidwell was a young lady at the time, she was 80.
Mrs. Conlin was even younger at age 71.
These ladies explained to the governor that they did scrimped to save,
but lost there money when a bank crashed. Now
they did explain to the governor that they were alright and had a plan of their
own. However they did explain
to the governor that food and doctor care was expensive.
Besides they told him that they were getting too old to continue
scrubbing the capitol floors. Ingeborg
referred to herself as a stubborn Norwegian but then mention to the governor
that “he was a Republican and that Republicans could always find some extra
money in some corner for a worthy plan.” A
rarity in the history of American politics, how many times has a president or a
governor done the following. The
governor looked over the numbers that night and the next morning called the
senate, informing them that he desired to recall his veto and sign the bill.
The bill was voted on by the Senate and the governor’s veto was
overridden. Roy Kubista continued working on improving the retirement system until
his death in 2001. In Civil rights, Local 1, in an editorial, mention the unfair
treatment of people in this country based on race.
Local 1 fought for civil rights for all people from the beginning of this
union. It was even an advocate for the disabled. Local 1 was involved in the process of health insurance for state
workers. Local has been through many trials and tribulations.
It has always fought through such adversity. Mat Schleck, former Local 1 president and state illustrator, displayed
portraits of his creation depicting life as a state worker at the 1960 AFSCME
International Convention. (Sadly,
at the time of this lesson, the portraits are nowhere to be found) Recently, Local 1 lost a vice-president who was also a chief steward in a
house fire, and a few months later its treasurer was called to war in Yet, Local 1 still went on, fighting not the fights it can win, but the
fights that must be fought. Higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions are just a
few of the issues Local 1 is currently working on. From the first president, Edgar Gunn Jr, to the current President, Vern
Seay, local 1 has consistently been on the front lines of the labor movement. Local 1 has been forced out of some towns in Local 1 has been banned at one point from some towns, yet, local 1 still
exist. (Waupun, 1934) Even in times when a quorum could barely be reached at its meetings,
Local 1 continues fighting. In 1943, a personal letter from Arnold Zander was sent to Local 1.
The letter covered the reason why an international convention could not
be held. In it, Arnold Zander
stated, “It has come to my attention that members of Local1, or should I say
the thirteen that showed up at the meeting…” With every problem that comes to Local 1, one question is asked, one way
or another; what can we here do? This question refers to what the people, that are present in that room,
can do? Many famous people have done business with local 1.
All of the Governors of Wisconsin since Phillip La Follette’s first
term, Senators, Congressmen, etc. Local 1 has received letters from people such Senator Joe McCarthy, and
Robert La Follette Jr. (these were friendly letters) Local 1 had a candidate for Governor, named Gaylord Nelson,
address Local 1’s meeting. Local 1 even introduced a young Assemblyman, named Fred Risser, in 1956. Local 1 has had its meetings in the oddest of places.
From a damped basement of an apartment building that was dubbed “the
bat-cave”, to the headquarters of AFSCME International and finally the
Assembly Chambers of the State Capitol. It was even recommended at one time by a member of Local 1 Executive
board that the general membership meeting take place in a vacant brewery vat
just to increase membership attendance. It has been over 40 years since a member of Local 1 was President of
AFSCME International, but it reminds a least one high ranking person every year
on where this union was born. Local 1 does this, not to boast, but educate and remind why this union
must go forward and fight. Local 1 does not seek power. Power
corrupts. Local 1 seeks to improve
itself and the union, for Local 1 knows that in the civil service, “The best
shall serve.” If Local 1 ever fails, others will fall like a set of dominos
In
Solidarity and Fraternally Yours
Bob
Walker |
|
WSEU - Local 1 |