Numerous inquires have been made to the Society and others from unionists interested in enacting similar laws in their own states.

The Wisconsin law calls for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to make the teaching of labor history and collective bargaining part of the model standard in the schools.

DPI’s process of adjusting the model academic standards will involve the following:

• Identify and convene key stakeholders
• Determine the content at a standard level that should be incorporated into social studies related to the teaching of labor history and collective bargaining
• Post the information on the DPI web site
• Identify curriculum materials and resources that are available to for teachers to use to more easily implement the standard.

A Curriculum Committee of the WLHS Board has been appointed to assist in the process.

Meanwhile, the passage of the bill got national attention, with the appearance of State AFL-CIO President David Newby on Fox News on Thursday, Dec. 17.  It was hardly fair coverage, but in spite of that Newby was able to get the basic word out that the bill will enable a balancing of the scales, since labor has been long neglected in many school teaching curricula.

To view Newby’s testimony, click here.   For comments on the presentation, go to comments on the Media Matters blog and also to the blog of President Emeritus Ken Germanson.

More than 50 persons crowded into the governor’s conference room as he used four pens to sign the historic bill that will make the  teaching of labor history and collective bargaining part of the state’s standards for public schools in Wisconsin.

“Once again Wisconsin leads the way in progressive labor legislation,” commented Steve Cupery, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society.  “As far as we can tell, Wisconsin is the first state to have enacted such a law.  We expect others will follow our example.”

John Wagnitz, on the staff of Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), said that the senator’s office has been getting inquiries from around the nation about the bill.   Sen. Hansen and Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) co-authored the bill.   It passed both houses of the legislature, with most Democrats in support, along with a few Republican members.  Much of the work in developing the current bill was done in the Assembly’s Committee on Labor, chaired by Rep. (and former school board member) Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee).

In signing the bill, Gov. Doyle cited the importance of elections to achieving legislative goals.  He recalled the lengthy effort to pass the bill, with it often passing one house of the legislature, and being stranded in the other.

He said for the first time in the last dozen years both houses of the Legislature, and the governor’s office, were  in control of Democrats, nearly all of whom support legislation calling for teaching of labor history and collective bargaining in the schools.

“I’m happy to sign this bill so that Wisconsin students understand how important the labor movement was in creating some of the most basic workplace rights that Wisconsin families enjoy today,” Governor Doyle said.

The Wisconsin Labor History Society has made the teaching of labor history in the schools one of its key objectives since its founding in 1981.  As early as 1985, the WLHS worked with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Bert Grover to involve labor history in state instruction plans.

The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when the first bill was introduced. 

To implement the new law, WLHS will assist teachers, school districts, parents and students in accessing materials that will provide information about union history and collective bargaining.

WLHS has established a curriculum committee, chaired by Jim Lorence, emeritus professor of history at UW-Marathon County, to work on providing additional materials to assist teachers and students to fulfill the purpose of the new law.

“We look forward to working with DPI on developing their materials for our public schools,” Cupery said.

The annual conference of the WLHS which will be held April 17, 2010 in Milwaukee will focus on providing both community and teacher support for implementing the new law. Membership in the WLHS will go toward supporting these efforts.

Also instrumental in attending hearings, offering testimony, making legislative contacts and doing other activities in support of the bill through the 12 years were:

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, David Newby, president; Phil Neuenfeldt, secretary-treasurer; Joanne Ricca, legislative representative;

Members of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, for many years with leadership by Ken Germanson, president emeritus and more recently by President Steve Cupery

Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC);

Many of the state’s unions and members.

Background Legislative Action

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the State Senate passed AB172 which calls for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to include the history of organized labor and the collective bargaining process in the state’s model academic standards for our schools. The bill passed on a vote of 20 – 12, including 17 Democrats and three Republicans voting “aye,” and 12 Republicans voting “no.”

Since the early 1990s, WLHS, the State AFL-CIO, Teamsters, WEAC and AFT have bee urging that the State mandate the teaching of labor history in the schools. While this measure provides no such mandates, it does require the State Superintendent to make the subject part of the state standards, and, as such, to provide assistance in teaching the subject.

Senators voting in favor of AB 172: Sens. Carpenter (D), Coggs (D), Cowles (R), Decker (D), Ellis (R), Erpenbach (D), Hansen (D), Holperin (D), Hopper (R), Jauch (D), Kreitlow (D), Lassa (D), Lehman (D), Miller (D), Plale (D), Risser (D), Robson (D), Sullivan (D), Taylor (D) and Wirch (D).

Senators voting against AB 172: Sens. Darling (R), Fitzgerald (R), Grothman (R), Harsdorf (R), Kanavas (R), Kapanke (R), Kedzie (R), Lasee (R), Lazich (R), Leibham (R), Olsen (R) and Schultz (R).

Absent: Sen. Vinehout (D)

The first major step occurred when the State Assembly on April 28 passed an amended version of AB172, the Labor History in the Schools bill, by a vote of 61-38. Ten Republicans joined all Democrats (except two) in supporting the bill. The amended version, which is expected to be considered by the State Senate in May, makes the teaching of labor history part of the model standards for the teaching of social studies in the  schools.  The amendment removed the original goal that would have required all school districts to include the teaching of the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.

The Assembly Labor Committee, under Chairperson Christine Sinicki (D-Milw.), passed AB 172 on April 16, after holding a hearing on Wednesday, April 8, with strong testimony in favor of the bill.  There were no persons who testified against the bill.

The bill was introduced by two of its authors, Sen. David Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson), who gave strong endorsement of returning balance to our school curricula by providing more teaching of labor in the schools. Click here to see a video of the testimony on the Wisconsin Eye website.

The Bill, amended during the deliberations, modifies the Educational goals for the state’s schools to include the teaching of the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.

Both versions were discussed in a Senate Education Committee hearing on July 9.  Newly-elected President Steve Cupery and State AFL-CIO President David Newby both testified at the hearing, along with other supporters.  They both expressed support of the measures.  It is not known when the Committee will finally vote on the bills before moving it to the full Senate.  Click here to see video of Senate hearing of July 9.  The discussion about the bill is about 40 minutes into the video.

Click here for a fact sheet in PDF format.

12 years of effort finally pays off!

The long battle to pass legislation that urged the teaching of Labor History in the Schools began with a dedicated effort in the 1997-98 Legislative session when Sen. Russ Decker (D-Wausau) and then Rep. John Lehman (D-Racine) introduced SB182 requiring that Wisconsin schools teach labor history.  The bill passed the Senate then with a bipartisan vote of 25-7, but languished in the Assembly and died there.  At the same time, Rep. Lehman and then Sen. Kim Plache (D-Racine) also introduced a slightly different bill (AB 337) that failed in the Assembly.

The following session (1999-2000), Plache and Lehman introduced a similar bill (AB 130) which failed to pass the Assembly.

Lehman and Plache again sponsored a similar bill in the 2001-2002 session (AB 131), but it failed to get through the Republican-controlled Assembly.  Lehman and former State Sen. Kevin Shibilski (D-Stevens Point) introduced a similar measure (SB 235) that passed the State Senate with bipartisan support, 21-12, but it too died in the Assembly.

Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) offered a new slant on the idea for the 2003-2004 Legislative Session, introducing AB 564 along with Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Plover).  Besides calling for teaching labor history in the schools, the bill proposed establishing a labor history license plate, with funds being raised to develop a labor tool kit for the schools.  Despite a well-attended hearing, the bill stalled in the Assembly.

In the 2007-2008 session, Sen. Hansen and Zepnick introduced SB 108 that passed in the Senate, but again died in the Assembly.

In the current session, the successful bill (AB 172) was passed by the Assembly Labor Committee, chaired by Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee).  AB 172 calls for the teaching of labor history and collective bargaining to be incorporated into DPI’s teaching model standards.  As such the bill requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (DPI) to follow through on assuring that labor history is included in instruction in the public schools.  AB 172 was introduced by Sen. Hansen and Rep. Jorgensen.

Sell commented it was an honor to receive an award named after Frank Zeidler, Milwaukee’s last Socialist mayor.  He said he had been impressed with Zeidler’s knowledge of history when he met him shortly before Zeidler death in 2006.  He noted that Zeidler said his major regret was that as mayor he had failed to address the needs of Milwaukee’s black community.

Sell received $500 for his undergraduated level study.

The funds for the awards are raised through the WLHS Legacy Fund in the Zeidler 100 funding program, in which persons are asked to pledge $15 a year.  The Award was presented by Laurie Wermter, WLHS Vice President.

The winners are to honored announced at the Society’s annual conference May 9, 2009 at the Neenah-Menasha Labor  Temple, Neenah.  They will receive awards ranging from $100 to $500.   Students competed with a 750 word essay on “Unions Are Important to my Family and Community . . .”

Benjamin T. Plass, of Combined Locks, a senior at Kimberly High School, won the first prize award of $500 for his essay on how important his father’s union membership in Steelworkers Local 16 was to his life and the community.  His father was employed by Kimberly Paper Mill which recently closed,  The union has been working to overcome the effects of that closing, he wrote.  Benjamin turned 18 on November 2, and states his pride in being able to vote for President two days later.   He played four years on the Kimberly Papermakers High School football team, mainly as an offensive lineman.  The team won two state titles in Division 2.  In addition, he’s a member of the school’s trapshooting and  bowling teams.  He also helped to form the school car club.  He works as a salesman for a nutrition store, and plans to enter Concordia College, Mequon, to study pharmacy.

Rebecca Schleicher, of Oostburg, a senior at Oostburg High School, won a second prize award of $300 for her essay that compared the difference between working for union and nonunion employers, as well as the community services works performed by union members.  Rebecca participates in the shotput in track and field at her school and is active in the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America.  She also performs much community service and works part-time for a sporting goods company.  She plans on attending the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh to study business administration.

Ariel Johnson, of Solon Springs, a sophomore at Solon Springs High School, won a third place award of $200 for her essay about how her father’s membership in the Plumbers Union has benefited her family.  The essay also tells of the contributions of that union to the community.  Ariel is a member of the cross country team and plays clarinet in the school band.  She likes fishing, including ice fishing, and is planning on attending college.

Five students were awarded $100 each for Honorable Mention awards in the contest.  They were:

Melissa Ertl, a 10th grader at Park Falls High School;

Joshua Sigmond Elder, a 12th grader at La Crosse Logan

High School;

Erin Scharenbroch, a 12th grader at Portage High School;

Adam Cooper, a 12th grader at Portage High School; and

Aliyya Terry, a 12th grader at Rufus King High School, Milwaukee.

Entries are accepted from high school students throughout the state, and judging is done by a committee of Wisconsin Labor History Society members.  Harvey J. Kaye and Andrew Kersten, both professors of history and social change at University of Wisconsin – Green Bay,, judged the essays.

Donations were received from many local unions and labor councils to fund the costs of running the contest and the awards.  The WLHS has been running the contest for 28 years.   In addition, the funds are used to sponsor awards for the National History Day statewide program for those entries featuring labor.

(Transcripts of the three top award essays are to be found in the April 2009 issue of the WLHS Newsletter.  Click here.)

Amy Stear, Wisconsin director for 9 to 5, addressed the event, linking the struggles of the workers in 1886 with the  current campaign to require paid sick days in Milwaukee.  Popular folksinger Larry Penn, historian Stephen K. Hauser and other dignitaries attended. All full report will follow soon.

The commemoration has been held annually since 1986 (the 100th Anniversary of the Tragedy) and has become a tradition. More than 200 are expected to attend the event which is held to remember the incident on May 5, 1886 when the state militia fired upon several thousand workers marching for the 8-hour day, killing seven. The tragedy was the deadliest in Wisconsin labor history. Some 1,500 workers, carrying signs in support of the 8-hour day, approached the Rolling Mills, then Milwaukee’s largest employer. Not hearing orders to halt, they were fired upon by the militia, and the deaths resulted. Rep. Gwen Moore addressed the 2008 Commemoration.

(For full summary of event and article about the 2009 event, click HERE)

Teachers for the for the three 11th graders and a 9th grader were Barbi Petty and  Linda Kleeman.  You can view this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcE6GJ05W0o.Unemployment Compensation History

Last year, the 27th Annual Conference of the Wisconsin Labor History Society looked at how vital immigrants were to the creation of our Wisconsin society and economy. More than 75 attended. Click Here for Full Report.

There was a full hour devoted to the issue on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Idea Network when Ken Germanson, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, discussed the bill, with an opposing viewpoint from John Ashley, executive director, Wisconsin Association of School Boards. (Listen to this program at http://www.wpr.org.and click on “View All of Joy Cardin’s Audio Archives,” and then scroll down to program # 071211A for the 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11 program.)

The Milwaukee Journal on Monday, Dec. 17, ran pro-con op-edpieces on the bill. The “pro” side waswritten by Phil Neuenfeldt, secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIOand Ken Germanson, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society. (See http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=696867.) The “con” side was by the Center forUnion Facts, a notoriously anti-union group. (See http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=696866.)

A week later, on Monday, Dec. 24, there were three lettersin the Journal Sentinel, basically citing general agreement with the “pro”position. Please see: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=699308.

Coincidentally, there have been two recent articles thatpoint to how important unions are to a healthy economy and to restoring astrong and viable middle class in our nation. New York Times columnist PaulKrugman outlines how the drop in union membership has been caused largely by U.S.corporations that have figured out ways, with the help of a pro-businessNational Labor Relations Board, to undercut the ability of unions toorganize. He notes further the valuethat a strong union movement would have for all Americans. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/opinion/24krugman.html?hp.)

New York Observer Columnist Nicholas von Hoffmanlikewise states the value unions have for a healthy society. (See http://www.observer.com/2007/unions-may-be-flawed-they-re-needed.)

(Note: Complete summaries of the 2007 Conference are available in PDF format. Click on Morning Panel, for summary of morning events. Click on Grandin Address for summary of his keynote. Click on Afternoon Panel, for summary of afternoon events.)

The Wisconsin Labor History Society since 2006 has offered top prizes to students who use labor history themes to their National History Day projects.  This has prompted a plethora of projects this year on labor topics by Wisconsin school kids.  The Society offers special cash awards for the best student projects on American labor history within the scope of each year’s national theme: a $50 junior prize and a $50 senior prize at each of the regional contests and a $100 junior prize and a $100 senior prize at the statewide finals.

A unique aspect of our WLHS awards is that they are given out at every regional event, in addition to being available at the state finals in Madison.

Altogether, the WLHS awards up to $900 a year in prize dollars.

For the purposes of the WLHS special prize, “American labor history” was defined broadly to include the history of:

1. organizations, such as labor unions and political groups connected to the labor movement;
2. leaders of working people and their associations; or,
3. the experiences of workers on the job or their organized struggles to improve their work and their lives.

By awarding these prizes we hope to increase awareness in the school children and teachers of Wisconsin about the role of working people in building a more just and equitable America. Winning projects have to demonstrate strong research and analysis as defined by the National History Day evaluation criteria.

The Wisconsin Labor History Society reserves the right to not make an award, if, in the opinion of its representatives at any competition, no student project at that competition falls within the scope of the society’s labor history award or has the quality needed to merit the award.

Each History Day event was attended by one or more WLHS members who participated in the judging for the labor history award and who were available to hand out the labor history award at the awards ceremony conducted at the close of each event.

WLHS Board members and others volunteer to judge the entries at the statewide and regional contests.  The chair of the WLHS committee is John Jentz, a WLHS board member from Milwaukee.  john.jentz@marquette.edu.