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I am ‘one of the nuts’
Published 1:44pm Wednesday, March 2, 2011The commentary “They’re nuts in Wisconsin” caught my eye, as I was born and bred in Milwaukee, Wis.
Then, as I finished reading it, I discovered you were writing about me. Yes, I was one on the three union workers standing on the comer with signs protesting what was happening in Wisconsin.
I really wanted to be in Madison but I just couldn’t, so when I got a call saying the local unions wanted to show their support to the workers of Wisconsin, I had to be there.
I am sure you didn’t mean to misrepresent us, (there were up to 13 of us at one time). But I can’t believe you didn’t call for a photographer, you being a newspaperman! But then there are a lot of places that don’t want social rallies to be seen.
No, we didn’t think we could change Walker’s plans. He isn’t listening to anybody these days but the Koch brothers. By now, it’s pretty well known that he is trying to break the unions. The noted economist Paul Kruger said in the New York Times (2-21-2011), “It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power.”
My family history in Milwaukee is a lot about unions and speaking for workers. My father was a business representative for Local 66 of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers. Two of my uncles were active in their locals for the breweries where they worked. My one other uncle worked for the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., and my grandfather was president of the Milwaukee Technical College when it was Milwaukee Vocational College. Yep, all about blue-collar here.
Crazy that I should end up in Fergus Falls protesting something that is happening in Wisconsin. I hope more people read up on the facts about the budget crisis and how Walker is trying to scapegoat the Wisconsin worker for something they had little part in.
Wisconsin isn’t the only place where it is happening and workers need to stick together to have their voices heard and be part of the solution. Wanna know what it really crazy?
When we left that corner, we all agreed we should come back and do it again. Nuts, hey?
P.S. If the Vikings should ever win a Super Bowl, you might not think that running out in the streets is so crazy.
Cyrilla Grover, Fergus Falls
I totally agree with you.