AFSCME Protests Business Employing Disabled

[teolar00]

@mcv47

Further, if our state can add 9500 jobs and have the governor publicize it to make it sound like we added half of all jobs created in the US that month and still have a 59% disapproval rating the next month; He is obviously doing something wrong!

[teolar00]

@mcv47

I'm not sure how adding 9500 net jobs means he is doing anything right. Minnesota gained over 12k and Massachusetts added over 10k. Obviously we are in one of the states that gained net jobs rather than lost to arrive at that 18000 national number. The governor didn't create those jobs- the private sector (including a large number of seasonal tourism industry) created them. The governor WAS responsible for 3400 government jobs lost that month bringing our u employment rate up by .2%.

[robertmike57]

The CEO of Opportunities Inc, Barb Leduc, made $200,000 in 2009 while chiseling pay of the disabled. Gee, I wonder why a Koch Brothers funded phony news organization didn't report that? And this 45th anniversary sounds like something phony, contrived for Scott Walker to speak at for his political gain.

[Lbfent2]

Ed Sadlowski unknowingly expressed the entire current union mentality and agenda in one short phrase: "...BUT THIS IS ABOUT US"

[yakyakyak69]

Union = Collective Marxists and Enemies of Liberty/Responsibility!

[mmille10]

I really don't get what people think they're accomplishing by protesting Walker at these events for the disabled. People can protest him, but they've gotta have a sense that there's a time and place for it. If I were one of their organizers I'd be asking, "Uh...isn't this going to make *us* look bad??" It seems to me there's no "bad PR" radar with some of Walker's opponents, which ends up working to his advantage. That's not the point for me. The disabled don't deserve this negative exposure.

[giggiggitygoo]

The fat guy in the green union t-shirt puffing on a cigg must be their 'poster boy'!

[scootosan]

Unions are no longer needed and if you think they are you are part of the problem. 

[watchoosay]

man did you guys see the fatty in the red shirt at :15?

[DOHC2L]

@watchoosay It's not nice to talk about your girlfriend like that.

[jjfoust]

Sounds like the audio clip from the union leader was cut short. Where's the rest? The protesters kept out of the street, stayed off the lawn, and don't seem to be doing much in your video.

[modernfreestyle]

These morons are batting a thousand in making themselves look bad. Next thing you know, they'll be protesting Mother Teresa's grave.

[HorseWaterDrink]

union people seem well fed. ... 

[teolar00]

@ladysforest- While sheltered workshops are appropriate for some people many other's would thrive in a fully integrated setting with 1:1 job coaching. Unfortunately this is much more expensive and is much more prevalent in liberal counties that are willing to pay a bit more in taxes to give our vulnerable citizens more opportunities.

[Ladysforest]

These union individuals are completely despicable and dishonorable. To protest a business that employs special needs people is reprehensible.

The people that work there likely have no other option. I have a special needs uncle, and he was SO PROUD to have a real job to go to, and was treated so well.

Where do these union bastards think the special needs people can find work if not at businesses like this?

[teolar00]

@radishthegreat. Please don't call people liars when they're not. On May 24th the joint finance committee voted to allow DHS to make $466 MILLION in unspecific cuts to our states medicaid programs (familycare, badgercare, seniorcare) DHS used to have full legislative oversight but thanks to scott now are only accountable to the jt. finance committee. These votes now happen behind closed doors without public hearings. Disgusting.

[teolar00]

@Ty311- an even more inconvenient fact: A poll conducted by the UW survey center badger poll found that in mid july Scott Walker had a 59% disapproval rating. They may not have released that on fox news.

[mcv47]

@teolar00 in the state of Wisconsin is in the month of June we saw a new job increase of around 9,500 jobs. Wisconsin's net job gain is half of the net job gain nationwide last month, which was 18,000 jobs. He must be doing something right.

[HangProgressives]

Kill all public unions ...starve the taxpayer funded Dem political machine

[IronMikeHouston]

I noticed the union thugs didn't seem to be missing many meals.

[adamkon1104]

This is why unions need to be abolished. They're nothing but a bunch of thugs and bullies.

Do they really think that behavior like this is going to endear them to the American public.

[1971badgerfan]

Your video showed employee's of Opportunities Inc. protesting Governor Walker and his policies. Your video also showed me on two separate occasions. I am a private sector and non union worker. Your credibility as a news source is that of a supermarket tabloid.

[cherylocean]

Unions can go ahead and protest all they want. Video like this shows the hostile business climate that exists in states like Wisconsin. They can hold their signs and protest as all the jobs exit the state to Right to Work states.

[DarkShadowTactical]

never heard of the maciverinstitute. must be a puppet company paid for by the shamefull koch brothers who are the biggest home grown terrorists. maciverinstitute and gov sleezy walker are no doubt on the koch bros payroll. koch bros are the biggest players in wisconsin economy are getting gov sleezy walker to do their bidding

[teolar00]

Again, union stuff has been overshadowing other legitimate concerns with this administration's policy regarding our vulnerable citizens. I do feel that renting air conditioning for a 7pm gala while people work there without ac is disgusting.

[Vespasia70]

@ grassfoam - Piece work scale. They get paid for what they complete. Like I said before, for some people the job is a substitute for adult day care and gives them structure and something to do. By no stretch of the imagination does everyone at Opportunities get paid like this. The supervisors are trained to care for special needs workers. Sometimes that means a time out when they get upset. Should they get paid for their time-out's?

[grassfoam]

More than half their disabled workers = less than $2 an hour.

Absolutely sickening. How can anyone defend that?

[cherylocean]

@grassfoam  Perhaps if they earn too much money they would lose disability pay? there is always the unintended consequence when government intervenes. Raise their pay and they lose their disability pay......

[deakalmel]

I was there last night, not protesting, but having to be escorted by the police to get into the event. This was not a political event, Gov. Walker was simply the keynote speaker. Perhaps theses protesters could do something more meaningful with their time, like help a disabled person. This organization gives these special individuals a chance to get skills and gain self esteem by contributing to the work force, before criticizing, perhaps people should look deep.

[whallett]

It is importnat to remember that the MacIver institute is not a news organization and they probably should not try to pass themselves off as one.

[daydream7a]

@whallett Thank God there's an alternative to the so-called news organizations covering the protests. MacIver's profile states: "The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy - The Free Market Voice for Wisconsin." Seems pretty clear to me. Of all the protest coverage I've seen, MacIver's has been the most objective. Local and national news, not so much.

[mlemmy127]

@daydream7a Most objective? It's a partisan public policy think tank. By most objective you really mean most in line with your own views. Walker is met by protests everywhere he goes and this "news organization" just records and edits it to fit their narrative, which in this case is protesters are against disabled people. No, they are against Walker, who, by the way, hurts the disabled population of Wisconsin way more by cutting their services rather than a few protesters outside their job site.

[Ty311]

@mlemmy127 #inconvenient fact: 2/3rds of Wisconsin support Walker. 2/3rds of America support Walker. You and your ilk are fringe and anti-democratic

[radishthegreat]

@mlemmy127 You're a liar. No services have been cut.

[MacIverInstitute]

@whallett Hmm, yet this MacIver News Service piece covers the event and shows what happened. We have faith in our readers adn viewers to determine whether or not that is news...

[whallett]

@MacIverInstitute Perhaps the MacIver Institute should play an extended version of the audioclip of the AFSCME person rather than cut him off mid sentence immediately at the word they are using to implicate him. That is what an actual news organization would do.

[cherylocean]

@whallett

They may be the wave of the future, due to the one sided news the alphabets give.

[IronMikeHouston]

@whallett

And it is important that the union thugs (who protested) aren't really Americans. I would say they are more communist than Americans.

[Ty311]

@whallett Arguably, there is no such thing as journalism. By your standards, NBC,ABC,CBS,CNN, and yes Fox News, are all biased propagandists

[pcklein]

@whallett

So what, are you apologizing for these thugs? I for one am tired of seeing these self serving blutos and their intimidation tactics. I don't care who exposes them. The people of Wisconsin need to wake up and understand that the enemy of the middle class is the power grabbing unions.

[teolar00]

I have not worked a union job in my life. I was there because in the course of my job I see the damage that budget cuts have on persons with disabilities. For some, a sheltered workshop is appropriate but many others could benefit from having a job coach in a fully integrated setting, but workshops are cheaper than 1:1 job coaching.

[teolar00]

Some of us were there for disabled people. The governor signed legislation to end full DHS oversight, effectively silencing the 1,000,000 elderly, disabled and children the department serves. This company also employs people whom are not disabled for low wages that don't support wisconsin families. They trucked in external AC units for the event rather than installing them permanently for the employees they care for so much.

[kategehring1]

Opportunities helps provide these disabled workers with a "job". A job, which many wouldn't be able to hold down elsewhere. For many of of these workers, a simple job helps to give them an improved self-esteem in the world around them. They feel like valued members of society simply having a job to go to. For most, it isn't about the monetary benefit, but fulfillment of something "important" to do on a daily basis. Shame on AFSCME! They are worried about union dues more than anything.

[Vespasia70]

JeTricot - You should finish the quote before you post inflammatory information.

Here's the rest of the quote: Records filed with the state Department of Workforce Development show that 92 percent of the roughly 450 disabled workers employed by Opportunities Inc. were paid less than $5 an hour and 50 percent made less than $2 an hour. In some cases workers were paid as little as 11 cents an hour based on a piece-work scale.

For some of the people this job is a substitute for adult day care.

[gbmphillips]

Did you see the guy at the 1:24 mark he really needs to stop going to the free union brat frys.

[JeTricot]

‎"...records filed with the state Dept of Workforce Development ...92 percent of the roughly 450 disabled workers employed by Opportunities Inc. were paid less than $5 an hour ... 50 percent made less than $2 an hour...some cases workers were paid as little as 11 cents an hour..." - The Capitol Times

[Roooskee]

/sigh, unions giving another black-eye to WI.

Nice to see that company's holding votes to be union are voting 'NO' because they don't want the thuggery....... Good job unions showing your true colors.

[jims1973]

They aren't protesting because they hire disabled, it's how they treat their employees. They have "Part time" employees working nearly 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year some 3 or more years with out benefits. THAT'S what is being protested.

[daydream7a]

@jims1973 Sure, the part time jobs are what's being protested. Which is why the signs say "Gov. Walker's Budget Wrong Way for Wisconsin Families", "Dirty Politics Won't Stop Walker's Recall", "DMV Shut Down Evil Voter Suppression Bill", "Care about educators like they care for your child".

[jims1973]

@daydream7a Granted they have taken the opportunity to voice all of their concerns about Walker, but it was "organized" because of that. The bigger issue is the staff picking Companies for Walker to visit need to do better research. Two big events now to less than desirable locations, plus the original Budget signing location issue... His advance team is terrible.

[d1islander]

"Labor Union's The Enemies of the United States of America and All Legal Tax Paying Citizen's"! To ALL of "You Soulless Labor Union Leaches", Get a Real "Job", "A Real LIfe" & "Stop Being a Whinny Baby Constantly Blood Sucking On The Government Pacifier"! Grow a "Backbone", "Stand Up & Be a Decent Human Being Again" and Not a "Soulless Zombie Labor Union Socialists-DEMONcrat"!!!