Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Union Labor at Work

Yes, I will point out that it took 5 years to paint a union mural in a stairwell.

Labor issues have been front-and-center in Madison for the past couple of months, but for many decades, the fight for the rights of working people has made waves here.

That story is depicted in a mural, five years in the making, that will be dedicated Thursday with cake and a theater performance.

The mural covers three walls in the stairwell of the south entrance to the Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park St.

I’ll bet a non-union artist could have done it in 4 months - and for less than $50k.

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2008 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. A fine example of taking a simple statement—“That story is depicted in a mural, five years in the making”—and twisting it to make some unsupported commentary.

    Did you read the article?  The talks about having the mural started in 2005, thus 5 years ago. Plus, the original artist got sick. Sometimes projects take time.  Don’t blame it on unions, when there’s NO EVIDENCE to support any claim that the mere presence of a union caused some kind of delay.

    Really.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 31, 2011 at 1554 hrs


  2. Yes, I did. And the artist started in 2006. He got sick in 2010 - 5 YEARS after he started. If I was paying you $50K to paint a mural in my stairwell, I’d have higher standards.  I hope you would too.

    Posted by Owen on March 31, 2011 at 1626 hrs


  3. Dateline Fond du Lac, 2009.

    Three city workers riding in a van:

    Step 1 -Worker 1 drives the van.
    Step 2 - Worker 2 exits the van and locates residential water shut-off with metal detector.
    Step 3 - Worker 3 writes down the number on the shut-off and marks it with spray paint.
    Step 4 - Workers 2 & 3 climb back into the van’s open side door and ride 65’ to the next property.
    Step 5 - Repeat.

    Wonder why your taxes are high?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 31, 2011 at 1633 hrs


  4. Where is there evidence that the artist is unionized.

    And have you ever designed and painted a mural with this level of detail?  I haven’t, and I have no clue how long it would take to come up with the design and implement it. And, who knows how many hours the artist dedicated to it each day/week/month/year.

    THAT’S my point. You’re ignorant as to all the relevant variables. So stop making assumptions to merely make your viewpoint seem valid.

    Oh, but wait, this is a blog. My attempts to encourage rational discourse are obviously misplaced.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 31, 2011 at 2114 hrs


  5. LOL

    Posted by Owen on March 31, 2011 at 2120 hrs


  6. Thoughtful response.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 01, 2011 at 0843 hrs


  7. I have worked non-union until I was fifty years old. We didn’t work faster or smarter as non-union work. We had no voice and no protection as non-union workers. Our ancestors fought hard forming unions and died to do so. Fought so hard that May 1st (a truly American day) is recognized and celebrated around the world, but not here, because those in power have been busy eliminating that part of the courageous men, women, and children that died without it and lead to the creation of unions. Frances Perkins was so impacted by watching working women, some as young as 11 years old, leap to their death or burn to death in the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory fire that she was instrumental in workers rights and protection and the first woman Secretary of Labor.You can wipe out the mural, but this old woman from a right to work state will remain Union Proud!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 03, 2011 at 1139 hrs


  8. I meant ‘eliminate the American history of those that died’.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 03, 2011 at 1145 hrs


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