Wisconsin Businesses ‘Just Say No’ to Union Thugs & Left-Wing Bullies

Wisconsin businesses just say “NO” to union thugs and left-wing bullies.

Dawn Bobo shows the sign that she put in the front window of herstore, Village Dollar, 1000 Main St. in Union Grove, Wednesday March 30, 2011. Her store is one of numerous Union Grove businesses threatened with “public boycotts” by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. According to the letter businesses received Tuesday, they will be targeted for declining to display a sign stating, “This business supports workers rights,” with an AFSCME logo.(Mark Hertzberg mhertzberg@journaltimes.com)

Union thugs continue to harass and threaten Wisconsin businesses. But, these thug tactics may not work out in their favor.
The Journal Times reported:

The government workers union is threatening to boycott numerous businesses here for declining to display a poster stating their support for “workers rights.”

Many Union Grove businesses Tuesday received a letter from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Each of them declined to display a sign stating, “This business supports workers rights” – with a prominent AFSCME logo below that. As a result, the union threatened them with a “public boycott.”

The fact that many other businesses got the same letter is little consolation for Dawn Bobo, owner of Village Dollar store, 1000 Main St., which she opened 1 1/2 years ago.

“I’m a new business, and I need to concentrate on issues that won’t offend half of my customers,” she said Wednesday. “I work 60 hours a week, and I don’t get any of the benefits that (union members) get.”

Several weeks ago, Bobo said, five female union members showed her the poster and asked her to display it in her front window.

“I said I can’t put up any type of signage for either side,” she recalled. “They said, ‘No problem,’ they were all smiles.”

But Tuesday shop owners got the letter from AFSCME Council 24 Field Rep. Jim Parrett, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“It is unfortunate that you have chosen not to support public workers rights in Wisconsin,” it began.

“These signs simply said, ‘This business supports workers rights,’ a simple, subtle and we feel noncontroversial statement given the facts at this time,” Parrett wrote.

He listed the government institutions AFSCME represents in the area, including Southern Wisconsin Center and several corrections facilities.

After making a case that government workers are badly treated by Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans’ recent moves to remove most collective bargaining rights, Parrett wrote: “With that, we’d ask that you reconsider taking a sign and stance to support public employees in this community.

“Failure to do so will leave us no choice but do a public boycott of your business. And sorry, neutral means ‘no’ to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members.”

…The threatened boycott may backfire, based on what merchants heard Wednesday. “We have actually had quite a response the other way today,” Kieslich said.

#1 March 31, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Mahdi Al-Dajjal commented:

And we all know that the Injustice Dept will soon be investigating these unions under the RICO Statutes.
#2 March 31, 2011 at 4:39 pm
forest commented:

“Comments have been closed due to violations of our Terms of Use.”

Looks like the goonion is polluting the newspaper’s comment section too.

Shutting things down is all unions do.
#3 March 31, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Mikey commented:

Union thuggery SHOULD FAIL. This is the United States not Nazi States. The people of this nation DO NOT live under intimidation. F____ all of the Wisconsin union idiots. They DESERVE EXACTLY what they got from Governor Walker. Grow up, go home and accept your responsibility like adults.
#4 March 31, 2011 at 4:40 pm
eaglewingz08 commented:

Are these public employee thugs acting under color of state law, so that they could be charged with civil rights violations? I hope so.

#5 March 31, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Don Rodrigo commented:

After making a case that government workers are badly treated by Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans’ recent moves to remove most collective bargaining rights

BADLY TREATED?

Here’s what these parasites have left AFTER the mean Republicans “took away their rights:”

1. Collective bargaining for wages and working conditions

2. Most of both their monthly health insurance and pension payment is STILL PAYED BY WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS. Federal workers pay more out of pocket than Wisconsin state workers.

3. They ALL GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS

4. They STILL MAKE WELL ABOVE THE WISCONSIN WAGE AVERAGE

5. The still enjoy well above average leave and sick leave benefits — these benefits WERE LEFT UNTOUCHED

6. Oh, and did I mention They ALL GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS in this lousy economy?
#6 March 31, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Opaobie commented:

“….AFSCME Council 24 Field Rep. Jim PARROT…” sounds more like it. Maybe Moe “Monkey See, Monkey Do” is his assistant.
#7 March 31, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Terry in GA commented:

Does she have a website? I love a strong woman who will stand for what she believes.
#8 March 31, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Redwine commented:

People should patronize businesses that refuse to be bullied by the unions and their leftist thug followers in Wisconsin and everywhere else.
#9 March 31, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Collegiate Scholar commented:

I seem to recall that extortion is both illegal and a primary tactic of mafias attempting to extract money from the populous.
#11 March 31, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Ginger commented:

Greed! The union people will be chewed up and spit out after the communist has no use for them. They will be the first to go!
#12 March 31, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Rachelle commented:

Nothing makes it clearer that these thug unions need to be kneecapped.

If the legislature has to re-do the bill, this time they should be careful to include the police and firemen unions as well. They have already shown that they are prepared to agitate on behalf of the rest…they should be served the same menu.
#13 March 31, 2011 at 5:39 pm
George commented:

I did order one of the green T-shirts stating Governor Walker has ‘nads…supporting businesses targeted by union thugs is a must.
#14 March 31, 2011 at 5:39 pm
southernsue commented:

if the police is in on this, shouldn’t the FBI step in? what can the gov do?

i would leave that hell hole, it sounds like a mafia movie.

i never knew much about unions until this, now i know where the mafia has been hiding. ha, union dues=extortion money. the ones paying the extortion money gets it from private sector tax money. wow, what a racquet, this has to be a movie. also starring corrupt judges.
#15 March 31, 2011 at 5:40 pm
mike191 commented:

When the pension plans, perks and job security outstrip the capacity for all people who work in Wisconsin to support, the first thing to go will be all the cultural and “liberal” value agencies, that the left and especially teacher unions hold dear.The bottom line for these folks is Me…me…ad absurdum.
#16 March 31, 2011 at 5:47 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

this is the “power of persuaion” that marxist andy stern was talking about. unions make up 15% of the workforce. what happens if the unions boycott these businesses and the non-union 85% of workers boycott businesses that use union workers, who is going to win that battle. i’m a died in the wool union supporter. unlike a lot of people here i think unions are necessary and good for working people. but since the union leadership has been taken over by leftists like stern and pete trumka and at the state and local level by democrati party politicans their purpose is more to support the democratic party they to advance and protect workers rights. so let them boycott, the rest of us can do what we can to support these businesses.
#17 March 31, 2011 at 5:48 pm
retire05 commented:

Governor Walker – RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW

Just enact the damn thing now.
#18 March 31, 2011 at 5:52 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

ginger #11 are there unions in cuba, viet nam, north korea, china, ao any communist country. these union workers need to understand that is the political ideology that their union leaders are supporting.
#19 March 31, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Militant Conservative commented:

Love it! Keep showing America who and what the unions truely are. LOL

No win situation for the Unions. Collapsed economy and we all lose. Cutbacks and reductions and maybe the unions buy a little time.

powder is dry
#20 March 31, 2011 at 6:10 pm
timwi commented:

Check out the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The crazed emailer who was going to put a bullet in the heads of senators children is a female 26 year old elementary school teacher. From her facebook page it looks like she was hired as a counselor perhaps. She’s from near Madison.
#21 March 31, 2011 at 6:15 pm
timwi commented:

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119023079.html
#22 March 31, 2011 at 6:24 pm
squeaky commented:

isn’t this biting the hand that feeds you? not to mention the job security of their neighbors who just happen to work for some of these companies. [recent moves to remove most collective bargaining rights, Parrett wrote: “With that, we’d ask that you reconsider taking a sign and stance to support public employees in this community."] press your case while jeopardizing the finances of your neighbors. good going sherlock [snark snort]
#23 March 31, 2011 at 6:25 pm
nickless commented:

I’ll boycott your business if you DO put that sign up.
#24 March 31, 2011 at 6:52 pm
newrouter commented:

“The manager of a fruit-and-vegetable shop places in his window, among the onions and carrots, the slogan: “Workers of the world, unite!” Why does he do it? What is he trying to communicate to the world? Is he genuinely enthusiastic about the idea of unity among the workers of the world? Is his enthusiasm so great that he feels an irrepressible impulse to acquaint the public with his ideals? Has he really given more than a moment’s thought to how such a unification might occur and what it would mean?

{5}I think it can safely be assumed that the overwhelming majority of shopkeepers never think about the slogans they put in their windows, nor do they use them to express their real opinions. That poster was delivered to our greengrocer from the enterprise headquarters along with the onions and carrots. He put them all into the window simply because it has been done that way for years, because everyone does it, and because that is the way it has to be. If he were to refuse, there could be trouble. He could be reproached for not having the proper decoration in his window; someone might even accuse him of disloyalty. He does it because these things must be done if one is to get along in life. It is one of the thousands of details that guarantee him a relatively tranquil life “in harmony with society,” as they say. ”

Havel 1978 “The Power of the Powerless”

http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/165havel.html
#25 March 31, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Paul52 commented:

We are seeing the same methods the Nazis used to harass Jewish businesses. Will the goonion members please start wearing brown shirts and jackboots so we may see ‘em coming?
#26 March 31, 2011 at 9:05 pm
ilikai commented:

Typical union crybaby tactics. Time to grab the guns and defend yourself against the new terrorism in the country, AFL-CIO.
#28 March 31, 2011 at 9:37 pm
bitterclinger commented:

Once again, the Repubs are sitting obediently in their seats, folllowing all lefty orders. Gov. Walker said HE WILL ABIDE by corrupt Judge Sumi’s third order striking down the new law. In other news, she also declared herself supreme leader of Wisconsin. I used to be impressed with Gov. Walker. Is he waiting for the new state supreme court election to seal his fate? Why in G-d’s name didn’t he get the reps to re-vote this thing now that the fleebaggers are back and there could be no disputing the legality of it — not that they had a leg to stand on in the first place!
#29 March 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm
AuntieMadder commented:

The people of Union Grove should drop “union” from their town’s name and replace it with something nicer, like Elm Grove or Shady Grove or something.
#32 April 1, 2011 at 7:40 am
Hedgehog commented:

Neutral means NO. How Leninist.
#34 April 1, 2011 at 1:16 pm
James T commented:

First of all I want to say that MOST and I repeat MOST union members are under achievers. This whole thing is mob rule….funny aren’t they managed by the mob. There was a time we needed unions…early 1900′s. Companies took advantage of employees….the employees got screwed. Then unions came…they screwed business who intern screwed the public. Do get me started on teachers…..the quality of education sucks in the US and it is mostly the fault of unions. NY Transit workers are the laziest and a grossly overpaid. What happened to the garment industry on the east coast….gone…greedy unions and corporations. Automotive workers……some making over $200.00. Some of these guys couldn’t do anything that required a brain. Printer union …gone….union and corporate greed. I lived in the WEST for years. The super markets were unionized. Who goes to high school to be a cashier or shelve stacker. Unions use the crap that families need them to fight for rights. Maybe they shouldn’t be having families until they have a career.

Finally that women in Union Grove is a hero.
#35 April 1, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Taqiyyotomist commented:

#24,

#34

Great comments.
#36 April 1, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Professor commented:

Article and comments all interesting! But Tuesday and the ballot box is the place to defeat this mess. Call your friends! Organize free transportation! Do everything you can to get people to vote this kind of thing into the place it belongs.
#37 April 1, 2011 at 3:49 pm
mariefromtx commented:

I lived in Wisconsin during the 90′s and was very sad when we left to move to Texas for work reasons but I have to admit I have come to love Texas and even more so because it is a right to work state. That being said I would encourage everyone, everywhere, to support the Village Dollar Store for starters and any other store that will not be threatened, bullied, or intimidated by unions and those that run them. No matter where you live buy from them if they have shopping by mail or send them letters of support for standing up for the survival of all who live their and their state. Union members do not let union bosses divide you from your fellow citizens.
#38 April 1, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Larry commented:

Here is her email & website info……..give her your encouragement. This lady needs all the good words she can get…..she is super for standing up to those THUGS.

http://www.manta.com/c/mt4fb0b/village-dollar-mart-llc
#39 April 1, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Becky commented:

The unions are instituting the Poster Test. Vaclav Havel wrote about this phenomena in communist countries where you find a poster (‘Workers of the World Unite, etc) in a grocer’s window among the onions, etc. What the business is saying is that they are afraid and wish to be left alone.

Is there anyway we can boycott these public officials? I would like to.
#40 April 1, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Jeanie commented:

Just saw this brave woman on TV. These Obama Democrat union thug tactics have enraged true Americans who have been driving from out of state to patronize this woman’s business.
This crap may work in Obama’s Chicago thug city, but the rest of the country won’t tolerate it.
You can bet the corrupt Obama justice department will do nothing against their union thug comrads for this illegal activity. Business owners would be better off contacting the FBI for support. Then today we see that inside the Obamacare law, the taxpayer is being forced to fund over 5 Billion dollars to Obama’s union thugs early retirement plans! Organized crime infests the White House. We need a regime change in 2012 to prevent the further destruction of America. Otherwise Obama will have 4 more years to usher in his socialist THUGOCRISY.
#41 April 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm
bobdog commented:

Yessir, Chuck. He’s got a nice little business going here. Lot’s of nice customers. Lots of kids. He’s got a good chance to make it here. Be a shame, yep, a real shame if somethin’ bad should happen. Like all that expensive window glass, or those shiny new door locks. Bet he don’t have much of a problem with shoplifting and vandalism with all them nice customers…
#42 April 2, 2011 at 9:04 am
Professor commented:

Now union leaders are spinning the events that aren’t unique to Union Grove. Kwik Trip and others in Wisconsin have experienced this same kind of thing. You have to dig a little to find out about it. True Americans are not anti-public workers! They understand what they do and aren’t opposed to fair and just compensation. The budget reform law doesn’t balance the budget. All of us will have to pay for the mistakes of the past. Why can’t those who made the mistakes be held responsible instead of those trying to fix the mistakes? How is it that we are at war with each other over things that concern us all?
Answer, the failure to understand what America and Wisconsin are supposed to be!

This is what our President and all liberals mean by democracy. Mob rule. Their way or no way! Everyone else must pay and obey. So the Health Care law has given millions to the police and fire unions to pay for their health care if they retire early. Hundreds of others including one whole state have been granted exemptions. The rest of us must just pay and obey! Now the union leaders fear that they won’t be able to collect enough money to have the power to continue this kind of takeover of freedom in Wisconsin and the U.S.

This is how democracy has worked in Wisconsin. The unions elect politicians and the politicians give them what they want and the rest just pay and obey. Wisconsin and this country were not founded as and were never intended to be a democracy. How often do you hear any talk about defending our republican form of government? One wonders exactly what the kids are taught in the schools in this country. Remember the children being led in chants in Madison? Last November “we the people” spoke up for our republic!
Surely you’ve noticed the kick back?

Of course, when these things become public and the truth shows through, all of a sudden the blame is placed on “over zealousness”, “strong emotions” etc. My guess is that it’s the ingrained ideology of mob rule, greed, power happiness, and the desire to change America and Wisconsin into something other than they should be.

If you value freedom and your unalienable rights, a government that protects real rights – doesn’t grant special rights to certain groups; if you want to be free and live free in a true republic, and pass that freedom to the next generation, YOU MUST VOTE FOR THAT!

Do you smell a rat in former Gov. Lucey’s last second change from Prosser to Kloppenburg? You should check out his reasons!!! Activist judges who create rights and laws instead of enforcing the law justly and fairly are a plague on freedom, society, and constitutional government. I won’t tell you for whom you should vote. That’s your free choice!!! But make an informed choice and think carefully as you VOTE!!!!
#44 April 4, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Wes Freeman commented:

Unions have outlived their usefullness and now they are nothing but organized crime
and should be outlawed in civil soceity.
#45 April 8, 2011 at 11:38 am
Patty commented:

Isn’t it ironic that we don’t have the right to boycot them????
#46 April 11, 2011 at 10:42 am
KAte commented:

I used to think that unions were corrupt, had outlived their usefulness, were political machines and all the other idiotic comments that the posters have included above.
However, then I served as a union officer and while the system is not perfect, it is dedicated to the protection of the working class. Judging from the wrting style of your readers, they are members of the working class and not the elitely educated Wall Streeters and corporate execs whose greed destroyed the wealth of most middle class families and retirees in this country and indeed the world.

Those of you who think that the likes of corporate execs and Wall Streeters will protect you or give a darn about what happens to you and your families are truly dilusional and have not learned any lessons over the past two years. You really should stop and intelligently ask yourselves who suffered from their greed. We all know it was not them with their million dollar bonues year after year. You were told that your defined benefit pensions were going to be replaced by a better 401k system that you could manage. And you let them. Tell me, how is that working for you now? Did any of the TARP money keep you solvent or keep you in posession of your homes? No, it did not.

Some of you speak of union THUGS. Yes there are bad apples, but those occur in every barrel and are not exclusive property of unions. Do you even know a single person that is one? Probably not, because union members are just like you and me, just average American citizens who work all week to pay the bills, own a home and put food on the table.
What do you think your Union Busting mentality is going to do for you? We have seen that in practice in the right to work states and you will continue on your downward slide to being low paid Wal-Mart type workers beholden to the corporation for your daily ration of bread.

There was prosperity in this country 50 years ago and unions were a big part of that. Now corporations ship your jobs off shore so their bottom line looks good and the CEO gets multimillion dollar compensation packages.

WAKE UP, the water is heating up and you are going to sit there until you boil to death. Frog leg stew.