Friday, March 11, 2011

Boycotts, Large And Small, Follow Walker's Union-Busting Offensive

Elections have consequences, and so do the actions of winning candidates who didn't level with the electorate on their way to victory.

Under consequences, file this under boycotts:

There are lists on Facebook and the Internet of businesses which in one way or another directed money or support to the Walker campaign, and now boycotts of some of these interests are sprouting up.

You can find some of the boycott sites in this Journal Sentinel story.

A Facebook page - - Boycott Scott Walker Contributors - - that the newspaper story said on Tuesday had more than 9,000 followers had more than 14,000 Thursday night.

Several unions said they planned on boycotting M & I Bank. 

Organized withdrawals at one Madison branch reportedly shut it down.

And then there are those concerned and motivated citizens that simply use their spending to make a statement - - like people who stopped buying BP gasoline after the Gulf spill.

Pressure against companies has led to hundreds agreeing to withhold advertising from Glenn Beck's television show, so consumers do have power.

So I noticed this comment from a reader in Virginia that was posted beneath a New York Times story online about Walker and Wisconsin: 

BWilmer
Arlington, VA
March 9th, 2011
10:11 pm
I for one intend to avoid buying Wisconsin products: Cheese, butter, beer, and anything else that is from Wisconsin. If Wisconsin doesn't want unions, they don't want me.

My father was a steelworker and union member his entire life. I believe that his employer would have cut his wages to the legal minimum had there been no union.
Recommended by 1236 Readers
How many people around the country with strong union sentiments, or a simple belief in fair play, for that matter, will decide this summer that Door County, or the North Woods, or Milwaukee's lakefront museums or Miller Park aren't going to be their destinations?

Under that comment, notice that more than 1,200 people registered their support by clicking "recommend."

Arizona's economy got clipped years ago when the state legislature there refused to approve a state holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a national boycott led to the cancellation of conventions.  Eventually, the holiday was recognized and the boycott was lifted.

I can see the same sentiment mounting nationally to punish Wisconsin for the actions of its political leaders. If we get stamped as the nation's most radical, anti-union state, look for people to spend their discretionary income elsewhere.

It would be a shame if charter fishing captains and hotel workers and Wisconsin Dells concessionaires paid the financial price for Scott Walker and Scott Fitzgerald's authoritarian power plays, but if they are serious about jobs in the state they can do something now to minimize the damage they unleashed.

8 comments:

nonquixote said...

I hope BWilmer Arlington VA, makes a distinction between business owned or a subsidiaries of the Kock Bros and other Governot(tm) Walker supporters and continues support of family owned cheese, beer, art, resort and other business in the sate.

Anonymous said...

Interesting you cite a supposed boycotter from Virginia, a state which took away thier Public Employee's bargaining rights.

Signed into law by Democrat Governor Douglas Wilder.

Ahhh the irony.

Atlanta Roofing said...

It took many years to gain the rights that the Union has/had , threats of strikes have always been the biggest weapon in their arsenal. A General Strike will be the only thing to restore what has been stolen from them now if Courts fail. Air Traffic Controller¬s didn't have the kind of backing these Union workers have now.Togeth¬er we are many and strong..th¬at is why it is called a Union.

enoughalready said...

Start walking, Scott ... and Scott.

enoughalready said...

Anonymous: So which state was the first domino? Indiana or Virginia? This definitely did not start here in Wisconsin under Scott Walker.

garyglonek said...

Spread this simple message in as many places and as often as you can. Copy, paste, repeat.

The Republican anti-worker rights party has successfully taken workers rights away from public employees in Wisconsin and you may be next.

jpk said...

@Anonymous:
Interesting that you cite Virginia as a state that eliminated collective bargaining but still has a $2 billion budget gap for 2012, compared with Wisconsin's $1.8 billion.

Ah the irony indeed.

Carol from the West said...

TDS is a Madison,Wisconsin telecommunications firm. TDS advertises on Rush Limbaugh, weekdays, 12-3Pm, Milwaukee WISN,Radio station 1130 Am.
It really isn't THAT hard to establish a new carrier.
TDS supports RUSH LIMBAUGH!
Good grief. Can you go any lower than advertising on Rush Limbaugh!
I don't think so.