On Local union membership declines

Posted on September 8 at 10:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

All you people that love to see unions go by the wayside. Maybe you then would like to live back in 1893. When unions were just starting. This is how Labor Day got started. This is not in your history books: For most of us, Labor Day means backyard barbecues, weekend sales, and a last carefree day before school starts. But the laid-back holiday has some seriously sad history, including chaos, riots, and even death. Let me explain.

A tragic tale
Back in the days of the Industrial Revolution, workers were expected to put in 12-hour days, seven days a week (yes, including kids). Already sounds awful, right? It gets worse. In Pullman, Illinois, a company town that employed and housed workers to build posh railway cars, times had gotten tough. In response, George Pullman cut jobs and wages. It was 1893. Thousands of workers walked off their jobs in protest, demanding higher salaries and lower rents. Other unions joined, refusing to work the Pullman cars, turning the small-town fracas into a national fury.

With mail cars backing up, and riots worrying train execs, President Grover Cleveland stepped in. He declared the strike illegal and sent 12,000 troops to break the strike. Cue brutal protests and bloodshed. The strike was broken, but so was the spirit of the workers. To reach out to the labor movement, Congress rushed the national holiday into law. The bad will resulted in Cleveland losing re-election. But the day off for hot dogs endures.

When is it?
Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September. This year, that would be Monday, September 7. According to the Department of Labor, Congress passed an act in 1894 making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

So, working stiffs everywhere, say it now, with feeling: Happy Labor Day.

Maybe you like working 7 days a week like Japan & China for $7-10 an hour with no benefits. You won't support a family. I know first hand. As for foreign auto plants in the U.S.A. they make over $20 an hour but their profits go back to Japan & Korea. I have a friend that lives in Japan and she works 7 days a week and no holidays and no weekends like us. Thank goodness for unions!

On Janesville workers take GM buyout

Posted on July 26 at 3:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Whoever said Do yourself a favor and go out and buy a Honda, Toyota or BMW that was built in this country....That would be the right way to support America!!!! Is a total Idiot! The profits don't stay here they go back to they homelands. Top wages in Japan & China are just a little over $7 - 8. And they work 7 days a week, no weekends. Wow that's top dollar here in Janesville. I'm so glad we're in the top wage scale with other countries. I guess it's a good thing G.M. is leaving don't want Janesville to be growing. Seems all you people that are jealousy of G.M. probably couldn't do their work anyway. Line work and chasing trucks every 45 seconds or so is hard work 10 hrs a day. Janesville is looking at hard times down the road. When people's unemployement runs out and there's no good paying job's. Then you will start to see the effects of the G.M. plant and parts plants effect the area. So instead of putting down, we need to start lifting each other up and helping each other to get through these hard times.

On Where does Janesville GM plant rank?

Posted on June 8 at 12:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

All you people that write about GM & the U.A.W. simple amaze me. First of all doesn't it make you wonder of all the plants that are close that Janesville is even consider one of the three? I'll tell you why it is because Janesville has made the most money for GM and has the best workfore in GM. The local 95 has set the tone for other locals in the U.A.W. and Janesville should be proud of the leadership we have here. The new contract that was just ratified was based on what Janesville has had for a few years already. Obama knows it and I believe he will work to bring jobs back to Wisconsin. Even if Janesville doen't get the car, we remain on the waiting list. There will be another product in Janesville when things pick up. That's what the GM annoucement said three plants, Janesville, Orion, and Spring Hill. I am proud to be a retiree of the U.A.W. and Local 95.

On Beloit fans tear up over Gokey's departure

Posted on May 15 at 7:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

To all you people that think all people are God's children, you better read your bible. The bible says unless you are born again, you belong to the devil. So not all people belong to God. The Gospel of John is a good place to start. And just a few weeks ago Miss California was trashed by a gay person so don't tell me that don't have a agenda. As for American Idol I hope for the best for Kris.

On Beloit fans tear up over Gokey's departure

Posted on May 15 at 8:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

SarahB1, I don't want to hurt your feelings but when you see another man kissing another man it means that they are gay. The pictures are on the internet and Adam had them on his website until the competition. If you decide to support Adam and believe in his beliefs that's your choice. But Simon picks the U2 song "One" because the gay community adopted the song as a plea for tolerance. Yes Adam is gay and they are using American Idol for their agenda. Kris is a Christian and we who are Christians should support him. Kris has a lot of talent and could pull off one of the biggest upsets in American Idol history. Paula picks a song that nobody knew so that Danny would fail. No one knew the song. The judges couldn't afford the fan base to upset their choice in Adam. So Randy & Simon were on two talk shows last week to promote Adam. Is that fair? But Kris also has a huge fan base and if we join with his fan base, we will knock off Adam and the left agenda. Again I ask you to ask yourself do you want a gay American Idol for your children to look up to? If not then VOTE next week for Kris!

On Beloit fans tear up over Gokey's departure

Posted on May 15 at 12:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Number one show on TV, yes people watch American Idol. And yes Danny Gokey is a winner! The man has a great voice and he will go far with it. Thank you Danny for singing to all of us who watch you every week and voted for you. But Idol isn't over, there is one more week and all supporters of Danny should cast their votes toward Kris. Lifestyles of artists should be look at and even though Adam has a good voice. Ask yourself is he someone you want your children to lookup to as a American Idol?

On Ice arena work could cost $350,000

Posted on April 15 at 1:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Lets see City Council wants to bring a junior a hockey team here. And we the taxpayers pay the bill. Anybody been to Beloit the last few years and seen the Snappers? Nobody in the stands. No one wants their taxes to go up for second rate hockey. And folks $7-$10 jobs will not pay for an Ice Rink. It took Kenosha close to twenty years to recover. You have about a year before this whole GM thing causes Janesville to fall apart. So wake up city council and spend our money to improve Janeville because soon there will be no money to spend at all.

On GM CEO Wagoner forced out as part of gov't plan

Posted on March 30 at 11:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Did anyone listen to Obama today? At least he gave hope to the autoworker and their famlies.

On GM CEO Wagoner forced out as part of gov't plan

Posted on March 30 at 11:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

You people still don't get it. GM & the union are not the problem. Janesville made the most money ever for GM and had the best work force. They were closed because of gas prices. The city will miss the money the plant poured into it. So now the rest of us will have to make up the difference. And it's going to be hard on $10 an hour jobs with a city council out of control. And more & more places laying off. But all you people that are so happy that GM is going down, wait till the end of the year when the employee's start to run out of unemployment and they can't find jobs. Then we will see how Janesville is doing? They will follow like every other auto plant city and fall. The signs are all ready starting to appear unless you have your head in the sand. Let's hope GM does change their mind and bring something back to Janesville or we are looking at least a recovery of 5 to 10 or more years.

On Woman: Give police grant money to teen center

Posted on March 19 at 12:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

hannah, It seems to me that you believe everything you read. The paper & the police always tell the truth. You either watch to much tv or live in a dream world. They both sometimes miss lead you with the truth. Thats their job. One to sell papers & one to arrest you. As for teen center, Janesville needs one, who runs it thats up to the city council. They have needed one for a long time.