Workers gather at Haymarket to celebrate May Day

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Larry Spivack talks about May Day
Pat Barcas photo
Larry Spivack, head of the Illinois Labor History Society, said the balance of power is shifting all around the world. Better organizing and sharing of information means the workers will soon have the power.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
CHICAGO — Solidarity, peace and brotherhood were celebrated May 1 in Chicago on International Workers’ Day, or May Day. Several hundred gathered at the Haymarket Monument at Randolph and Des Plaines in Chicago to extoll the virtues of union membership.
The modern International Workers Day was born out of the May 4, 1886 massacre right here in Chicago. Protesters gathered in Haymarket Square, striking for the eight-hour workday, when a bomb was tossed at police.
It went off, and the police retaliated by shooting at the crowd, killing four civilians and seven other officers. The resulting people found guilty for the crimes were called the Haymarket Martyrs, since they weren’t ever found to have fired the shots and have since become a symbol for worker solidarity and strength.
Rudy Lozano Jr. spoke atop the podium and reminded the crowd the importance of solidarity.
Lozano follows in the footsteps of his slain activist father Rudy Lozano Sr., an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union who, in 1983, ran for Alderman of the 22nd Ward in an attempt to be the first Mexican-American on the Chicago City Council.
“I have a saying in my family, an injury to one is an injury to all,” he said. “The struggle for working families continues on all fronts.”
Lozano said immigrants deserve more respect in this country.
“A lot of wealth in this country has been created by immigrants. They’re tied to the history of this country,” he said.
Susan Hurley, executive director of Chicago Jobs with Justice, said the balance of power is slowly shifting from the one percent to the 99 percent.
“It’s great news to hear marchers are rallying all over the world today,” she said. “It’s inspiring, it’s a big thing. All of these rallies are getting bigger. People are seeing that we have more power than the corporations do, and the corporations are getting scared.”
Larry Spivack, head of the Illinois Labor History Society, echoed her sentiments.
“When the workers organize around the world, then we’ll have the power,” he said.
Mack Julion, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers – Chicago branch, said there weren’t any letter carriers present because they were all out working hard.
“Of course they aren’t here, you know they’re all out delivering mail,” he said. “I’m here to represent them. We stand in solidarity with workers across this country. The letter carriers stand with you in solidarity.”
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said the income gap between the workers and the CEOs of the world is getting out of control.
“We’re here because the income gap in this country is out of control,” said Lewis. “To enact change, whatever we do, we do it together. We need to think and ask ourselves, does this unite us? Does this action make us stronger?”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Downers Grove golf store draws picket from union

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Doug Widener dicusses green jobs at CISCO luncheon
Pat Barcas photo
Members of IBEW Local 701 picket April 30 in front of the interior renovation of the new PGA Tour Superstore in Downers Grove. The union members say the company is using out-of-state, non-union labor for the project.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
DOWNERS GROVE — A Warrenville union wants to spread the word that if a Downers Grove business won’t use local labor, then they don’t deserve local money from local shoppers.
“I just wanted to get the word out — why spend your hard earned money on them if they don’t support local labor?” said Bill Habel, the business agent for IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville.
Habel and four other members picketed outside the PGA Tour Superstore on Butterfield Road April 30, and they brought their inflatable rat. The 45,000 square foot former Rossi furniture store is currently being renovated, and plans to open this summer.
This will be the second PGA Tour Superstore in the Chicago area, after one opens in Schaumburg. There are 14 throughout the country.
Habel did talk to the foreman of the project, who acknowledged the union men were on public property. The Downers Grove police, called to the scene, agreed.
“We’re on a public easement, it’s small, but it’s here,” said Habel, who said he plans to picket sporadically this week.
The store is owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., whose chairman is Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and retired Home Depot co-founder.
“I see a lot of labor coming from Georgia,” said Habel, who was observing license plates of the workers. “It’s not like they don’t have the resources. I’m not sure why they aren’t using unions, I know in most Home Depot projects, they used local union labor.”
Habel said unemployment sits at 25 percent in his union now.
“It’s at a plateau right now. We certainly would like the opportunity to work in there,” he said. “I’ve made several inquiries, if they were paying area standards, they would have told me. I assume they are not.”
Renovation on the store began in December 2011, with no definite opening announced.
“I know the unaware public is going to spend a ton of money in there without thought as to how it was built,” said Habel. “That’s not right. They should use local labor.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Green jobs the highlight at annual CISCO luncheon

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Doug Widener dicusses green jobs at CISCO luncheon
Pat Barcas photo
Doug Widener, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council, Illinois chapter, said that green jobs will be the next boom. Carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians and plumbers all should look into more training now, to take advantage of green jobs offered in the coming years.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
OAK BROOK — Demand for green jobs will rise in the coming years, leaving business opportunities for contractors seeking to find jobs for unemployed members.
Green jobs are defined as those that stress the importance of energy and resource conservation, and according to the U.S. Green Building Council, they are a fast growing segment of the construction industry.
Doug Widener, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council, Illinois chapter, spoke April 27 at CISCO’s 24th annual luncheon. He said Illinois is a stronghold for green building jobs.
According to Widener, Illinois ranks second per capita in the number of LEED certified buildings in the United States. Chicago is the number one city in the world for green buildings, containing more than 40 city buildings that are LEED certified.
“We are lucky to be in Illinois,” he said. “In the near future, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to double that figure.”
Creating jobs isn’t the only benefit of green construction. There are many benefits for tenants and owners as well.
“Buildings use a lot of energy. When you build green, there are economic benefits. Bills go down, the return on investment increases,” said Widener. “The occupancy rate increases. The reduced operating costs directly benefit the bottom line.”
It’s not just new construction either, Widener said retrofitting is becoming very popular as businesses try to save more money.
“The down economy gets people thinking about retrofitting,” he said. “In the upcoming years, we’ll be focusing on retrofits, which have opportunities for economic development and jobs.”
So where are the jobs?
Widener said they are coming. Major professions such as carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians, and plumbers will see the biggest jump in the coming years, according to a McGraw-Hill study.
Another benefit is wages have been found to be 13 percent higher than average in the green field.
“The time is now. Start training. It’s time to prepare your workers to respond to these trends,” said Widener. “We want our union members to be well equipped to deal with this influx.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

How God’s love purifies those with wretched hearts

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“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1st John 3:2-3).

By Dan Richardson
When John addresses readers as ‘beloved,’ he is specifically referring to born again believers who eagerly await the return of Jesus. “Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (4:7b).” These beloved possess a unique ability to love as God does (agape love). That means they cherish Christ and His commands above all things. Loving as God does is foundational in His work of conforming believers to be like Christ.
What will we be like in eternity? The answer will only be realized when Christ returns. We will change, and He will not. We will be like what He is now. Speaking of now, what is known in the present tense is all we need to be content: We are children of God. A child waiting for a surprise is cheerfully patient in the presence of a loving and joy giving Father.
Waiting on the Father keeps us constantly aware of His love. His love is not a pampering, it is purifying. So the worldly contamination in our hearts lessens as our desire for Him grows. That is how the love of Christ purifies us and enables us to keep His command: “You must therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).”
Parent Application:
If children grow up to be much like their parents, is the answer to remind parents to be a godly example? No, not really. Yes, parents should be a good example. But since we all break God’s laws, lose our cool, fail in constant devotion to God; the best we can offer our kids is a heritage of trusting Jesus who died for our sins and rose again. Parents, help your kids see their need for a Savior and show them how precious Christ is to you.

“No nation has ever existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man and I, as Chief Magistrate of this nation, am bound to give it the sanction of my example.”
—President Thomas Jefferson

Dan Richardson’s e-mail address is danrichardson@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Walker draws more criticism during downtown protest

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Downtown Chicago rally against Scott Walker
Pat Barcas photo
Last week was a week of protests against Wis. Gov. Scott Walker who was visiting Illinois. They started April 17 in Springfield, then came to Chicago April 20.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
CHICAGO — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said April 20 at an appearance in Chicago that he does not expect to be recalled in a June election, but the hundreds of union members crowded outside where he spoke disagreed.
“These kind of attacks against our livelihood can go on no longer,” said Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary-Treasurer Robert Reiter, addressing the crowd on the sidewalk on the 100 block of S. Lasalle Street. “Let’s tell Governor Walker that his tactics will not stand in Illinois. Go back up to Wisconsin and get yourself recalled.”
Walker spoke at an Illinois Policy Institute luncheon in front of about 200 people, where he defended his behavior of slashing collective bargaining rights.
“We avoided massive layoffs, you won’t know that from some of the guys out in front, but the irony is what we did allowed us to avoid massive layoffs of public employees in our state and local government,” said Walker.
He expects to be elected again, but it will be a “nasty campaign.” Criticism from unions in Wisconsin and Illinois is at an all time high, alleging Walker has stripped public employees’ collective bargaining rights, slashed their pensions and benefits, and just recently repealed the state’s equal pay protection law, all within only two years of being in office.
Walker gave his speech on the same day it was revealed he had reinstated merit-based pay increases for more than 220 Wisconsin state workers, costing the state $765,000. This clashes with his image as a budget balancing governor.
He also faced heat from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who issued a statement clarifying Illinois job creation statistics, after Walker claimed in Springfield April 17 that Illinois had fallen behind Wisconsin under his governership.
“Since Governor Walker took office, Wisconsin is dead last among the 50 states in job growth,” said Quinn in his release.
According to a report by Bloomberg News, he’s correct.
The report states: “Illinois ranked third while Wisconsin placed 42nd in the most recent Bloomberg Economic Evaluation of States index, which includes personal income, tax revenue and employment. Illinois gained 32,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found. Wisconsin, where Walker promised to create 250,000 jobs with the help of business-tax breaks, lost 16,900.”
Walker will face his special recall election June 5, with the Democratic primary to occur May 8. Four Democrats have declared their candidacies: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, Wisconsin secretary of state Doug LaFollette and state senator Kathleen Vinehout.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Thousands stand against Right to Work in Champaign

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Rally against Mitch Daniels
Pat Barcas photo
Lieutenant Pat Devaney of Firefighters Local 1260 in Champaign speaks to the crowd of 2,500 in Champaign April 19 criticizing Right to Work laws.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois union members turned out in force at a rally in Champaign April 19 to make it clear that anti-union Right to Work legislation is not welcome in this state.
About 2,500 union members from all trades and professions gathered at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall parking lot for the Right to Work Won’t Work in Illinois rally, letting their voices be heard by visiting Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Daniels was in town as a keynote speaker at the Champaign County Republican Lincoln Day dinner.
He recently signed legislation that makes Indiana a Right to Work state. Right to Work is a loophole created under the National Labor Relations Act that allows a state to enact a law prohibiting union security clauses in union contracts. Basically, it allows workers to not pay union dues even if a union bargains on their behalf.
The legislation effectively weakens unions, job security and collective bargaining.
“We are here to fight those that want to take away the fruits of our labor. Are we going to allow them to do that?” asked Lieutenant Pat Devaney of Firefighters Local 1260 in Champaign.
Devaney was one of several speakers that took to the mobile stage set up by Teamsters Joint Council 25. It wasn’t just firefighters and union leaders criticizing Daniels, teachers also voiced their opinions.
“The middle class is the backbone of this country,” said Kathi Griffin, vice president of the Illinois Education Association. “If any man tells you he loves America and hates labor, he is a fool.”
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, cited research that has shown Right to Work does not work.
“It doesn’t work. Research has shown, Right to Work does not help the economy or bring more work. It hurts jobs, and it lower the minimum wage. Governor Daniels is trying to take away our voice, but we won’t let him,” said Montgomery.
As the evening wore on, the protesters marched from Assembly Hall to the location of the Lincoln dinner, closing down several streets.
Inside, Daniels did acknowledge the crowd outside, a little sarcastically, however.
“Our good friends on the welcome wagon that were here to salute our evening — I was really tempted to go out and have a few words and talk to them,” said Daniels. “If you’re asking me about Illinois passing a right to work law, please don’t. We’re welcoming businesses (in Indiana) every day, and we would hate to have that advantage neutralized.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Quinn pension reform not sitting well with state workers

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By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Governor Pat Quinn’s latest plan to fix the Illinois state public pension system is drawing criticism from government employees, who would be required to work longer with fewer benefits.
The $83 billion pension shortfall has been in the making for decades, caused by not enough money being put into the retirement fund coffers.
“I didn’t create the problem,” said Quinn at a press conference last week. “But I’m here to solve it. That’s my job, and I know I was put on Earth to get this done.”
The governor wants the General Assembly to raise the state workers and teacher retirement age to 67, and also to increase employee contributions by three percentage points.
This doesn’t sit well with Chicago union coalition group We are One, who released a statement on behalf of Illinois AFL-CIO president Michael Carrigan.
“The unions representing public employees are committed to working with Gov. Quinn and the members of the General Assembly to find a solution to the pension funding crisis caused by the state’s failure to pay its share,” he wrote. “It is crucial that the pension problem not be compounded by an unconstitutional solution that is unfair to public employees who have always paid their share. The average public employee pension is just $32,000. Because most public employees do not receive Social Security, this modest pension is their life savings.”
Carrigan also wrote that unions were not asked to be a part of Quinn’s pension working group.
“We strongly disagree with the proposals made today. Considering that the subject at hand is the ability of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans to support themselves in retirement, we believe the proposals are insensitive and irresponsible,” wrote Carrigan.
Carrigan went on to call the proposal “illegal” because it forces public servants to choose between two sharply diminished pension plans.
“It is a clearly illegal attempt to solve the problem caused by past governors and the legislature solely on the backs of teachers, caregivers and other public workers. Public employees must be treated and heard as full partners in any substantive discussions. No one has a greater stake in solving the problem than we do. A serious problem deserves a serious effort at a solution. The unions are ready,” wrote Carrigan.
The deadline for the state legislature’s adjournment is May 31, and there will almost certainly be some changes to Quinn’s proposals by then.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Bob Mitchler remembered as a war veteran and friend

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Bob Mitchler
Jennifer Rice photo
Sen. Bob Mitchler walks the yard of his rural Oswego home. For years, his front yard has been home to an enormous American flag strung between two trees.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Bob Mitchler was a people person. He loved working with people, veteran organizations and schools. He truly was a Renaissance man.
I first crossed paths with Mitchler in 2010. I was to spend a few hours with the then 89-year-old veteran, summing up his life for a feature story. In the end, I spent two days with him — an excessive amount of time for a story.
On the first day, we talked for so many hours, the sun had disappeared, making the possibility of outdoor pictures impossible. I would have to come back.
“Why don’t you come back tomorrow?” Mitchler asked. “At lunchtime. We’ll have lunch together.” It was more of a statement, than a question.
And that’s what I did. After lunch, we moved outside. A few days prior, a storm had blown through Kendall County, snapping several tree branches and scattering dead twigs and limbs in his yard.
Before I know it, I’m riding shotgun in his John Deere Gator 6×4 vehicle, zipping all over his yard, Mitchler talking my ear off. He suddenly hits the brakes and points to a pile of twigs. “Why don’t you throw them in the back?” I do as he says.
A few feet further, he stops again. “Why don’t you throw them in the back?” Again, I do as he says. Suddenly, I begin to see a pattern. I notice several piles of twigs. I realize I was here to help him pick them up. And I didn’t mind at all.
Listening to Mitchler speak was a reporter’s dream — he never stopped talking. He was so knowledgably, on everything. He had the best stories. He recounted his time running for state senator, how he loved to campaign — “nice, clean campaigning, no mudslinging. We campaigned on issues and platforms,” he remembered. Something they don’t do today, he remarked.
“Never get into a squirting contest with a skunk,” he told me, shaking his finger to the air for emphasis. “If you’re a public figure, you never get into an argument — even if you’re opponent’s wrong. Because the skunk will win, and you’ve got that splattered all over you, and you’ve got to live with it,” he said.
He had a political career he was very proud of. Over the years, he said politics changed. The General Assembly changed. “Today, I couldn’t stand doing what they’re doing down in Springfield.”
He served in both WWII and Korea. He was 21 when he enlisted in the Navy, just before Pearl Harbor. In September 1950, three months after marrying his wife Helen, he was called to active duty when North Korea invaded South Korea.
For Veterans Day, he’d talk to students. He wanted to stress to them to talk to their grandparents; ask them about their role in the war. Just thinking about the question made Mitchler get tears in his eyes. “I’d tell those young students, ‘Around the holidays, take your grandfather aside. Ask him, ‘Will you tell me what you did in the military?’”
He told me several times he’s really had a wonderful life, a good life. That summer and the next, he asked me to canoe alongside him during the Mid-American Canoe Race on the Fox River. That first summer, I tipped my canoe — twice. Before I knew it, Mitchler was long gone.
After the race, he held a 90th birthday party for himself at his house. That’s where I finally met up with him; smelling like river water, dirty with dried mud on my legs and a few bruises to boot.
“Well,” he said. “Maybe when you’re 90, you’ll be able to catch up to me,” which drew laughs from most of the partygoers.
I’m glad I had the honor and experience to know Mitchler. To know him is to love him. I consider him a friend and I’m sad that he’s gone. To the sea his spirit is now.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is Jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.

The goal of God’s love: It is not what you think

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“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Rom 15:1-2).”

By Dan Richardson
God’s love is truly known when we understand how undeserving we are. In spite of our lack of faith and thankfulness, His love is greater. In spite of our complaining and lack of forgiveness towards others, God’s love is greater. Despite our numerous trespasses against His commandments, His love is greater. On average, you and I accumulate more than 100,000 sins in a decade. That’s factoring two sins per waking hour (a shallow estimate). Yet despite all that, God’s love is greater.
The world has no concept of this kind of love. By nature, man loves his family and neighbor, but not his enemies like God does. Who would give his life to save his enemy? God did. While we were His enemies, He sacrificed His only Son. While we were rebellious towards Him, He reached out and offered His love. No one’s sinful past is greater than God’s love.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1st John 4:10).”

God’s love and the crucifixion of Christ are inseparable. Let’s try it step by step. God’s love isn’t fulfilled in us until He adopts us and makes us His children. But adoption can’t take place unless He deals with our rebellious heart. That is why the violent, bloody and cruel cross is necessary in His love story. Justice demands Someone taking the punishment for our sins. You can’t be justified without a perfect sacrifice — Jesus, the Lamb of God. You can only be adopted if you are justified before God.
If you receive Christ by hating sin, loving Him and trusting in His shed blood, God grants you the legal right to be called His child. The benefits of adoption are endless: love, joy, peace, forgiveness and strength. Most of all, God is your Father for eternity.
An unsettling result of God’s love is the separation of His children from the world. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is God’s child. Why? Because many reject God’s love and refuse to live for Him. They despise Jesus Christ and create gods in their imagination to suit themselves. Many say self is god and worldly wisdom is supreme. A Christian is often misunderstood because his desires and lifestyle doesn’t align with the world.
It is obvious the goal of God’s love is not world unity. If that were so, everyone would respond to His love and trust in His Son. They would hate sin and love righteousness. Rather, we see the goal of God’s love is to call people into a relationship so they can know and admire Him. The goal of God’s love is for you and me to know Him and say, “Wow, what a great God. He loved me despite my sinful heart.”
Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14).” Have you found God’s love at the cross? How did you respond?

“It is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and pray for His mercy.”
—Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Dan Richardson’s e-mail address is danrichardson@foxvalleylabornews.com.

AMVETS wins Hoops for Troops tournament

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Hoops for Troops
Brenda Bazan photo
The AMVETS team dominated the tournament, defeating the Kane County Sheriff’s Department in the championship game 63-29.

By Larry Peterson
Staff writer
The first Hoops for Troops basketball tournament held a year ago was very successful. The 2nd Annual Hoops for Troops held April 21 and 22 at the Vaughn Athletic Center in Aurora was twice as successful as the first event last year.
The 2012 tournament was increased from eight to 12 teams including: AMVETS Post #0103, Aurora Fire Department, the Police Departments of Aurora, Montgomery, Naperville and Oswego, the Sheriff’s Departments of DuPage, Kane and Kendall County, U.S. Army Recruiters, Home Depot, and the 2nd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment.
There were several competitive games, but the AMVETS team was the class of the tournament and breezed through four games with decisive wins. They had 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7 big men in the middle who blocked nearly every layup and close-in shots by the opponents.
The AMVETS defeated the Montgomery Police Department 71-25, Oswego Police Department 52-29, Aurora Fire Department 54-39. The most convincing victory was the 63-29 trouncing of the Kane County Sheriff’s Department in the championship game.
The success of this event, sponsored by the Fox Valley Marines Detachment #1233, was no accident. This was the brain-child of a little lady with unlimited energy and drive, Sarah Rashkow, who enlisted the assistance of her husband, Steve.
With lots of leg work, recruiting volunteers and hundreds of phone calls, this couple obtained the support of more than 64 donors and have raised $10,000 and counting. In addition, at least 29 prizes for raffles were donated, which generated more monies for the fund raiser.
Rashow said, “Office Max in Oswego has chosen military charities as their main focus and was a tremendous contributor. They printed tickets and posters, donated and delivered several office equipment prizes for the fund raising event.”
The proceeds from the event will be divided between veterans’ charities, Hope for Tomorrow, Operation Welcome You Home, Illinois, Inc., and a portion will go to the Fox Valley Marines Detachment #1233 to help military and women.
A complimentary and supervised children’s play area was also provided. Parents brought their children to the area directly across from the gym and then went back to enjoy the games.
Due to the huge success of the last two tournaments, the Rashkows have begun preparations for the 3rd Annual Hoops for Troops and assured fans in attendance that it will be held about the same time next year and probably in the same location.
So, if you want to attend some competitive and usually quite physical, exciting basketball games and contribute to a very worthy charity, mark your calendars now for next years’ tournament.