Wisconsin: WSEU circulating boycott letters

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ^ | 3/30/11 | Don Walker

[Jean S]

Members of Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, have begun circulating letters to businesses in southeast Wisconsin, asking them to support workers’ rights by putting up a sign in their windows.

If businesses fail to comply, the letter says, “Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) 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."

[ScottinVA]

Yep. Thank God unions don`t own the levers of power in this state.

[yadent]

Very true. I would not sell nor provide services to any union member or their families and would encourage others to do likewise.

[fwdude]

Reprehensible. I can’t think of a stronger word now.

[JPG]

Hey, Pal, nice little union ya got there. Sure be a shame if sumptin’ where to happen to it.

[Malone LaVeigh]

[fwdude]

I think the goonions have really stepped in it this time. From the comments at the article site, it seems that even union supporters find this tactic disgusting.

[jtal]

“Judenfrei”

[TwelveOfTwenty]

I don’t want to put Americans out of work, but I’m moving closer to the boycott all unions crowd with every thuggish stunt. This keeps up, and I’ll soon be able to buy a foreign car guilt free, just like most of the the liberals I know already do.

[ridesthemiles]

I sincerely hope that Gov Walker is dusting off the pages of the RICO laws which are applicable to this kind of behavior.

Meanwhile, boycots can turn into BUYcots just as easily, perhaps even more so.

This is just plain extortion.

Gov Walker isn’t easily intimidated.

Hope the thugs in Milwaukee get their just desserts for this action.

[Old North State]

Well, at least they haven't demanded painted Stars of David for the Law's supporters - yet.

[Hunton Peck]

"Dese are my kinda people!"

[Skepolitic]

Nice little business there. Shame if something were to happen to it.

BTW, the cops are supporting the unions in WI.

[Logical me]

AFSCME Council 24 are criminals unlike the Mafia of old. They must be taken down real hard.

[jennings2004]

Remember: “You must display your Star of David at all times!”

[FrankR]

I would put this sign in my window...

NOTICE TO ALL UNION MEMBERS
THIS BUSINESS WILL NOT PROVIDE
PRODUCTS, GOODS, OR SERVICES WITH
ANYONE AFFILIATED WITH THE SEIU OR THE
AFSCME, COUNCIL 24, IN RETALIATION FOR
THREATS AGAINST MY BUSINESS AND MY
LIVELIHOOD BY SAID ORGANIZATIONS FOR
EXERCISING MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

ALSO FOR THE ATTEMPTED RESTRICTIION OF MY
RIGHTS OF COMMERCE, TANTAMOUNT TO
INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE TO SAID ORGANIZATIONS.
ALL THREATS, PHYSICAL OR OTHERWISE WILL BE
RESPONDED TO BY THE POLICE AND FULL CHARGES
OF TERRORISM, AND/OR TRESPASSING WILL BE BROUGHT AGAINST VIOLATORS.

FULL ALARM SYSTEM AND VIDEO
SURVEILANCEARE IN EFFECT.

[Brown Deer]

I will now be watching for those signs in the windows of businesses. If I see one, I will let them know that I will no longer be doing any business with them.

[tanknetter]

It doesn't work in Northern VA. Korean-American gangs have been running a protection racket on Korean-American business owners for years throughout that area.

Yup, I hear you. About 15 years ago my wife and I walked into a Chinese restaurant that was clearly in the process of being shaken down by several Asian gang members.

However, in all cases the level of threat and culture come into play. About 5 years ago I was able to observe a NoVA small businessman (I am a regular patron of his business) use that law to great effect to protect his business against a boycott. Not a perfect match for the situation in WI, but close enough for me to know that if WI had that kind of a law and the willingness to use it on his own behalf, local businesses refusing to pay the unions the requested tribute would have a solid case that they could win on.

[Brad from Tennessee]

The Wisconsin State Chamber of Commerce should file for a restraining order then organize a class action suit against the unions.

[longtermmemmory]

They did this before too.

Seems more jobs could be saved by firing the union bosses.

Save your job, fire the union.

[Carling]

If I lived in WI, I’d make it a point to visit any business I saw with a sign, and tell them that I was not going to be a customer solely because of that sign.

There are a lot more taxpayers than union members, and it wouldn’t be too difficult to have multiple private sector taxpayers visit a store each day.

I imagine the private taxpayer owning the store would get their priorities straight real quick after a week or so of this sort of “boycott”.