A message to Wisconsin liberals and progressives who are convening meetings across their state:
I'm not a resident of Wisconsin; but, as Director of Organizing for the Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council representing thousands of casino workers employed in Wisconsin trying to organize to protect their health, livelihoods and rights, I am wondering when Wisconsin liberals and progressives are going to do what good liberals and progressives should do, stand up for the rights of thousands of casino workers in Wisconsin employed in what is called the Indian Gaming Industry; an industry where all the slot machines and table games are owned by a bunch of rich white mobsters leaving the Indian Nations mired in poverty creating debt with the casino workers forced to work in loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages and without any rights--- no rights at all--- under the same state and federal labor laws protecting all other workers? In return for delivering this anti-labor/anti-worker agenda to these casino managements, the Wisconsin Democratic Party is richly rewarded with millions of dollars in campaign contributions by tribal governments who are trying to focus people's attention away from the unhealthy smoke-filled casinos by drawing attention to the mining companies. But, does it really make any difference if people die from heart and lung diseases and cancers and smoke-complicated problems relating to diabetes caused by being forced to work in a smoke-filled casino workplace or if people die as a result of the mining companies pumping contaminating pollutants into the fresh water aquifers, streams, rivers and lakes we drink from and catch fish in, or harvest the wild rice from--- or pollute the air we breath along with the soil our food is grown on?
Thousands of your friends and neighbors are being forced to work in these smoke-filled casinos at poverty wages without any rights and it is time for you Wisconsin liberals and progressives to join with us in correcting this most atrocious and deplorable situation.
Quite frankly, I find it just a little hypocritical that many of you, especially union leaders, would selfishly ask us to defend your rights when you won't lift your voices or your little finger to defend our rights.
Just saying.