M&I responds to boycott threat...
Monday, March 14, 2011 from the BizTimes.com
M&I Bank is an affiliate of Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp., which is being acquired by BMO Financial Group. The bank’s announcement came in response to a letter sent to businesses from the leaders of several unions. The unions’ letter stated:
“As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a ‘budget adjustment bill’ to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support. The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities. In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.”
The unions’ letter was signed by James Palmer, executive director, Wisconsin Professional Police Association; Mahlon Mitchell, president, Professional Fire Fighters; Jim Conway, president, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311; John Matthews, executive director, Madison Teachers Inc.; Keith Patt, executive director, Green Bay Education Association; Bob Richardson, president, Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association; and Dan Frei, president, Madison Professional Police Officers
Monday, March 14, 2011 from the BizTimes.com
M&I Bank is responding to union threats of a boycott if it does not publicly oppose Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. M&I issued the following response to the boycott threat:
"M&I has not taken, and will not take, a position either for or against the budget repair bill. As M&I has publicly stated before: M&I has not contributed to any candidate and did not contribute to Governor Walker or Mayor Barrett in the last gubernatorial election. M&I has over 6,000 employees in Wisconsin, and, in the great tradition of political freedom in this country, those employees have the right to contribute to the candidate of their choice. M&I employees contributed to both Wisconsin gubernatorial candidates in the last election. M&I is proud of our tradition of standing with teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees to support, improve, and grow Wisconsin communities. M&I has 188 branches in cities, towns, and villages throughout Wisconsin, and M&I employees work side-by-side with these dedicated public employees in civic endeavors across the state.”
M&I Bank is an affiliate of Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp., which is being acquired by BMO Financial Group. The bank’s announcement came in response to a letter sent to businesses from the leaders of several unions. The unions’ letter stated:
“As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a ‘budget adjustment bill’ to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support. The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities. In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.”
The unions’ letter was signed by James Palmer, executive director, Wisconsin Professional Police Association; Mahlon Mitchell, president, Professional Fire Fighters; Jim Conway, president, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311; John Matthews, executive director, Madison Teachers Inc.; Keith Patt, executive director, Green Bay Education Association; Bob Richardson, president, Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association; and Dan Frei, president, Madison Professional Police Officers
Thousands of protesters marched at a Walker appearance near Green Bay Sunday night, and another protest rally was planned at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at noon today.
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