11/04/2023
"WHAT'S DISGUSTING?" "UNION BUSTING"
Today, a couple hundred people gathered at the corner of Dayton and State Street in Madison, WI to protest the unfair, uncooperative, and uncaring bosses at TruStage Insurance company; a company who has had record profits over the past several years, despite our country (and world) being in a state of upheaval on all fronts.
This event involved a march up the remainder of State street and the around the Wisconsin State Capitol square, which also was hosting the weekly farmers market. Led by the Forward Marching Band, the group played, sang, and chanted, broadcasting their message as they made their way around the Capitol square. Onlookers from the farmers market came to the curb and the corners to show their support, clapping and thrusting fists high in the air, showing solidarity with these workers asking for good-faith negotiations, fair wages, and a fair contract.
Speakers at the event included:
- Dianne Hesselbein - Wisconsin State Senator
- Francesca Hong - Wisconsin State Representative
- Maeve Perkins - Wisconsin Starbucks Workers United
- Frida Ballard - Worker Justice Wisconsin
- Colin Gillis - SEIU Wisconsin
- Kelsey Hahn - Madison Gas and Electric workers represented by OPEIU Local 39
- William Franks Jr. - NAACP Dane County Branch #36AB
- Spencer Schlenker - Madison Sourdough United Workers
- Elizabeth Kidder - TruStage Workers Union
- Kevin Gundlach - President, South Central Federation of Labor