Welcome to Our Site: Join with us as we salute Wisconsin's workers and their unions for helping to make Wisconsin a great state! Look at our history, share your own history, preserve that history and tell it to coming generations. The Society is totally volunteer, is a nonprofit organization and is affiliated with the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
What's here . . .
- Labor History Resources, Including DPI Curriculum Available Online
- Bay View Tragedy event features Amy Stear of 9to5
- Labor History in the Schools Bill passed, awaits Doyle signature!
- 2009 Conference looks at 'Organizing in Hard Times.'
- View High Schoolers video on Workers Compensation
- WLHS Activities outlined : President's Report to Annual Conference
Our 2006-2009 newsletters available in PDF format. Click here to go to the News and Events page.
CLICK HERE for a handy list books, CDs, videos and other materials at BARGAIN Prices, all telling about Wisconsin's colorful labor history. Also, you may order on same page "THE BAY VIEW TRAGEDY," our popular 15-minute video of the 1886 Bay View Tragedy, now available as a DVD at $8, plus shipping.
Labor History Curriculum, Resources Available on Line!
"Lessons in Labor History," a publication of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, with the cooperation of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, is now available again on line. PDF versions of the curriculum by sections is available by clicking on the desired section:
Section 1 - Preface; Table of Contents
Section 4 - Ten Lessons: The Modern Union Movement (See ** below)
Section 5 - American Labor History Time Line
Section 6 - Labor History Glossary and Resources
Section 7 - Related Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards
This curriculum also available at http://labor-studies.org. You'll find the link at the top of the home page.
** You will find access to additional online resources covering Lesson No. 6 by clicking here
Labor History in Schools Bill Steps Ahead!
State Legislature Passed Bill; Gov. Doyle Signature Awaited!
For nearly 20 years, unionists in Wisconsin have been trying to make the teaching of labor history in the schools a reality.
Finally, a state law which would make that happen passed. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the State Senate passed AB172 which calls for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to include the history of organized labor and the collective bargaining process in the state’s model academic standards for our schools. The bill passed on a vote of 20 - 12, including 17 Democrats and three Republicans voting “aye,” and 12 Republlicans voting “no.”
The next step is for Governor Jim Doyle to sign the bill.
Since the early 1990s, WLHS, the State AFL-CIO, Teamsters, WEAC and AFT have bee urging that the State mandate the teaching of labor history in the schools. While this measure provides no such mandates, it does require the State Superintendent to make the subject part of the state standards, and, as such, to provide assistance in teaching the subject.
Senators voting in favor of AB 172: Sens. Carpenter (D), Coggs (D), Cowles (R), Decker (D), Ellis (R), Erpenbach (D), Hansen (D), Holperin (D), Hopper (R), Jauch (D), Kreitlow (D), Lassa (D), Lehman (D), Miller (D), Plale (D), Risser (D), Robson (D), Sullivan (D), Taylor (D) and Wirch (D).
Senators voting against AB 172: Sens. Darling (R), Fitzgerald (R), Grothman (R), Harsdorf (R), Kanavas (R), Kapanke (R), Kedzie (R), Lasee (R), Lazich (R), Leibham (R), Olsen (R) and Schultz (R).
Absent: Sen. Vinehout (D)
The first major step occurred when the State Assembly on April 28 passed an amended version of AB172, the Labor History in the Schools bill, by a vote of 61-38. Ten Republicans joined all Democrats (except two) in supporting the bill. The amended version, which is expected to be considered by the State Senate in May, makes the teaching of labor history part of the model standards for the teaching of social studies in the schools. The amendment removed the original goal that would have required all school districts to include the teaching of the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.
The Assembly Labor Committee, under Chairperson Christine Sinicki (D-Milw.), passed AB 172 on April 16, after holding a hearing on Wednesday, April 8, with strong testimony in favor of the bill. There were no persons who testified against the bill.
The bill was introduced by two of its authors, Sen. David Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson), who gave strong endorsement of returning balance to our school curricula by providing more teaching of labor in the schools. Click here to see a video of the testimony on the Wisconsin Eye website.
The Bill, amended during the deliberations, modifies the Educational goals for the state's schools to include the teaching of the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.
Both versions were discussed in a Senate Education Committee hearing on July 9. Newly-elected President Steve Cupery and State AFL-CIO President David Newbe both testified at the hearing, along with other supporters. They both expressed support of the measures. It is not known when the Committee will finally vote on the bills before moving it to the full Senate. Click here to see video of Senate hearing of July 9. The discussion about the bill is about 40 minutes into the video.
Click here for a fact sheet in PDF format.
Other information supporting this bill can be found on the "News and Events" page.
Bay View Tragedy Event attracts crowd
The 123rd Anniversary Commemoration of the 1886 Bay View Tragedy was held on a sunny Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the Bay View Historical Marker Site at S. Superior St. and E. Russell Ave., on Milwaukee’s lakefront, before some 200 persons.
Amy Stear, Wisconsin director for 9 to 5, addressed the event, linking the struggles of the workers in 1886 with the current campaign to require paid sick days in Milwaukee. Popular folksinger Larry Penn, historian Stephen K. Hauser and other dignitaries attended. All full report will follow soon.
The commemoration has been held annually since 1986 (the 100th Anniversary of the Tragedy) and has become a tradition. More than 200 are expected to attend the event which is held to remember the incident on May 5, 1886 when the state militia fired upon several thousand workers marching for the 8-hour day, killing seven. The tragedy was the deadliest in Wisconsin labor history. Some 1,500 workers, carrying signs in support of the 8-hour day, approached the Rolling Mills, then Milwaukee’s largest employer. Not hearing orders to halt, they were fired upon by the militia, and the deaths resulted. Rep. Gwen Moore addressed the 2008 Commemoration. (For full summary of event and article about the 2008 event, click HERE)
28th Annual Conference looks at union's and bad times
The 28th Annual Conference of the Wisconsin Labor History Society attracted 70 on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Neenah Menasha Labor Temple in Neenah. The topic was "Organizing in Hard Times: Unionization, De-unionziation and Re-unionization." and the discussion will involve how unions handled the changing economic times from the 1930s to the present day. (A full report will be available soon. Watch this site.)
Last year, the 27th Annual Conference of the Wisconsin Labor History Society looked at how vital immigrants were to the creation of our Wisconsin society and economy. More than 75 attended. Click Here for Full Report.
Texas students highlight Wisconsin WC law
Wisconsin was one of the first states to initiate workers compensation, which became effective in 1911. That story is told on a video produced by students at Chester W. Nimitz High School in Houston TX. The project was done as an entry for National History Day and ended up as qualified for the national competition in Washington. The video tells the story of workers compensation in a compelling and interesting manner.Teachers for the for the three 11th graders and a 9th grader were Barbi Petty and Linda Kleeman. You can view this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcE6GJ05W0o.
WLHS is dedicated to:
WLHS is supported by:
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Become a Member of WLHS: For easy-to-use Membership Application Form, click here .Now available on CD:'Stickin' with the Union: Songs from Wisconsin Labor History,' including the CD of 14 labor songs and a well-illustrated 32-page booklet. For order blank and more information, click here.Visit Our Historical SiteThe Wisconsin Workers Memorial in downtown Milwaukee, Zeidler Union Square Park, N. 4th and W. Michigan Sts. |
Remember labor history by honoring loved ones
Formed in 1981, the Wisconsin Labor History Society exists to continue the heritage developed by the state's workers and union activists. What better way to remember the contributions of loved ones than to consider making a memorial donation to the Wisconsin Labor History . You may make donations in many different ways, such as by suggesting making the Society the receipt of gifts at the time of the person's death or by establishing a memorial in the person's name. Contact Ken Germanson, WLHS President.
Activities
Officers and Board -- 2009-2010 Term
Steven Cupery, Lakeshore Uniserve Director, Wisconsin Education Association Council
Laurie Wermter, Vice President, AFSCME Local 2412, Madison
Bob Agen, Secretary, PACE Local 7-16, Appleton
Candice Owley, Treasurer, President, Wis. Fed. of Nurses and Health Professionals, Milwaukee
Directors
Joanne Bruch, Retired, IUE-CWA, Whitewater
Paul Cigler Jr., Teacher, Appleton
Carmen Clark, Educator, Madison
Judith Gatlin, Wis. State Employees Union Local 1914, Eau Claire
John B. Jentz, Reference Librarian, Marquette Univ., Milwaukee
William P. Jones, Associate Prof. of History, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Harvey Kaye, Prof. of History, UW-Green Bay, Green Bay
Jim Lorence, Prof. of History (Retired), UW-Marathon County
Stephen Meyer, Department of History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
David Nack, Faculty, UW School for Workers, Madison
David Newby, Pres. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Madison
James Reiland, Fox Valley Area Central Labor Council, Menasha
Joanne Ricca, Staff Representative, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Milwaukee
2008 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT: Society Aims Efforts at Schools
Representative Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), speaking at the Commemoration of the 122nd Anniversary of the Bay View Tragedy in May, 2008, asked: “Why would we want to celebrate an incident at the rolling mills that took a mere seven people’s lives. . . in the 19th Century?”
She answered that question in her remarks at the annual gathering in Bay View. The event had meaning, she said, “so that we can say never again, never again in the world” as workers struggle to win their inherent rights to fair wages, good benefits, decent working conditions and justice.
Representative Moore’s comments summarize the mission of the Wisconsin Labor History Society:
- to tell the public of the contributions of labor to the
United States and - to get labor’s story into our schools and colleges and
- to preserve the stories of workers and their unions.
In the last two years, the Society has focused much attention on getting labor’s message into
Labor History Essay Contest for High School Students. Since its founding in 1981, the Society has held an essay contest for high school students, asking them to write on the subject: “Unions are important to my family . . .” Attractive cash prizes for up to eight winners, ranging from $500 to $100, have prompted hundreds of students to write, many on labor topics involving their family members or communities.
Labor Themes in National History Day. Since 2006, the Society has provided an additional $1,000 in prizes for students who choose labor topics for their projects in the National History Day program of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Winning projects, including photo exhibits, videos, scrapbooks and others, with a labor theme were awarded prizes of $50 to $100 in six regions of the state, plus the statewide finals. Winners in 2008, for instance, highlighted such issues as child labor, the Allen-Bradley Strike of 1970 and the Allis-Chalmers Strike of 1946-47. As a result, youngsters throughout the state have been encouraged to look to labor as potential topics.
The Curriculum Committee. In a major step, the WLHS Board in 2009 also formed a Curriculum Committee which has met twice to form the outline of the Society’s effort to provide ready materials to assist in the teaching of labor history in the schools. The committee consisted of two board members, Steve Meyer, professor of history at UW-Milwaukee, and Jim Lorence, emeritus professor of history at UW-Marathon County, and two teachers, Jim Grinsel of Wausau, and Tom Sobottke (a former board member), of Pewaukee. Ken Germanson, Board president, joined in the meetings.
The committee has decided to update existing Lessons in Labor History materials rather in such a way as to make them more accessible to modern social studies teachers and to students.
The committee concluded that the best approach to updating the materials would be to make the WLHS website the gateway to a variety of resources, images, texts, discussion questions, and the many websites available at this time. The objective will be to have the WLHS website provide links to these additional materials, so that teachers and students may move easily from the site to other internet destinations where teaching materials may be accessed.
The committee further determined that an important issue for WLHS will be the effort to find a way to attract teachers to the WLHS website as the portal to teaching materials on Wisconsin Labor History, as well as the broader field of labor history in general. Among the suggestions were
- To use existing technical means of enhancing the WLHS website as an internet destination.
- Contacting librarians at secondary schools, who are often interested in identifying entry points for accessing texts, images, and resources.
- Getting the DPI to send interested teachers to the WLHS website as port of entry.
The first step will be to prepare a sample lesson plan in the new format. Also efforts will be made to improve the website, making it more attractive and accessible. The work has begun on preparing the lesson plan, and should be made available by mid-summer 2009. (A full copy of the minutes of the July meeting is attached.)
Labor History in Schools Legislation. The Society continued its efforts, in conjunction with labor unions throughout the state and the active work of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, to seek legislation to require the teaching of labor history in the schools of
Other activities during 2008 were:
- The 27h Annual Meeting of the Society was held April 26 at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Golda Meir Library, on a theme of “Immigration, Unions and Workers: An Historical Perspective.” Some 80 attended in a discussion that showed that Wisconsin historically has been the home for various waves of immigrants, from the Yankees who moved into the territory of Wisconsin in the early 1800s, to the Germans who framed much of Milwaukee’s early character, to the Pole and Finns and Italians and others, all of whom brought their own skills and helped mark the state. Today’s new immigrants from
Mexico and Puerto Rico and - More than 200 attended the 122nd Commemoration of Bay View Tragedy on May 4, 2008. Rep. Gwen Moore (Democrat-Milwaukee) was principal speaker, and noted that history tells us never to repeat such a bloody violation of worker rights as occurred on May 5, 1886 with the killing of seven persons by the State Militia who fired upon a crowd of workers marching on behalf of the eight-hour-day. This event has become a tradition, having been held annually since 1986 under the sponsorship of the Society with planning done by a committee of interested persons.
- Six
- The Society made a contribution of $1,000 for recognition awards for labor history topics that were made by
- The Frank P. Zeidler Legacy Scholarship of $500 was awarded to Joel Feingold, of
Janesville, for his undergraduate essay on "Red (White and Blue): Communism, Finnishness and America in the Madison , where he has been active in various worker rights groups, such as the United Students Against Sweat Shops and the Labor Action Coalition. The Award was given in the undergraduate category for original research in the area of - Four newsletters were published, carrying the full texts of the winning high school essays, full reports on the conference activities, the Bay View Tragedy event and other information. Carmen Clark of
- The Website has been upgraded and is up-dated regularly. (The website link is http://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org.)
- The Society set up exhibit tables at the annual Wisconsin Education Association Council annual conference in October in
The Society’s membership has remained stable with some 150 individual dues-paying members and some 60 organizational memberships. Our dues payments continue to be the single most important source of revenue.
The activities and success of the organization could not have been possible without the generous contributions or time and effort on the part of our members, whose volunteer activities are most appreciated. A special word of thanks must go to our Board Members, all of whom continue to actively support the organization in many ways; their participation in our three regular board meetings is high, in spite of the need for many to travel. In addition, each member has contributed their time and effort in various activities of the Society.
It is through the participation of so many of our supporters that helps to make it possible for us to continue our work to preserve and promote the story of the
