Shut Down Wisconsin!

By Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton

It has just been reported that Wisconsin Republicans have approved the provision in Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill that strips public employees in Wisconsin of their collective bargaining rights.  Collective bargaining is necessary to the functioning of trade unions and is a right that should be held by every worker in both the public and private sectors.  As socialists, we condemn Governor Scott Walker and the Republicans in Wisconsin.

We call on students, workers, and all who are opposed to this decision to converge on Madison tomorrow to protest.  We support the resolution passed by the South Central Federation of Labor (Wisconsin) that calls for a general strike of all workers in the region.  We support the immediate formation of strike committees by all union and non-union workers in the state.  We support all acts of civil disobedience and non-compliance to protest and reverse this Bill.

Workers and students, shut down Wisconsin!  As popular movements throughout the world claim their democratic rights, Walker and the Republicans have trampled on workers in Wisconsin.  By building on the spirit of Tahrir Square, Madison can be the site where a new militant workers' movement is built.  Our democracy is not contained within the Assembly Houses and State Capitols; we build it in the streets!

For a General Strike of All Wisconsin Workers!
Kill the Bill!
Build Democracy in the Streets!