>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR
HERE & NOW 2022 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S.
SENATE GETS TIGHTER WITH ISSUES
LIKE CRIME AND ABORTION
ACTIVATING VOTERS.
ELECTION OFFICIALS DEAL WITH
LAST-MINUTE BALLOT GUIDANCE.
TURNOUT IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN
WON'T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED THIS
YEAR.
AND AN ELEVENTH-HOUR DEAL AVERTS
A MASSIVE NURSES' STRIKE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT
ON HERE AND NOW.
CHARLES FRANKLIN IS BACK WITH
HIS LATEST SURVEY OF VOTERS.
A COUNTY CLERK ON THE STRESSES
MOUNTING FOR LOCAL ELECTION
OFFICIALS.
A LOOK AT WHY CAMPAIGNS ARE
FOCUSING EFFORTS IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN.
AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE UW
HEALTH NURSES' UNION.
IT'S HERE AND NOW, FOR
SEPTEMBER 16.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> 53 DAYS OUT FROM THE NOVEMBER
ELECTION AND IT'S ANYBODY'S
RACE.
THE LATEST POLL SHOWING IT
NECK-AND-NECK FOR U.S. SENATE
AND WISCONSIN GOVERNOR.
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL
DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLY IS HERE
WITH HIS RESULTS RELEASED THIS
WEEK.
AND HI, CHARLES.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> SO THIS SURE IS A NAIL-BITER.
>> AS IT OFTEN IS IN WISCONSIN.
AFTER SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A
LEAD FOR BARNES IN THE SENATE
RACE, THAT'S NOW TIGHTENED TO A
ONE-POINT JOHNSON LEAD AND IN
THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, A LITTLE
TIGHTENING FROM A 4-POINT EVERS
LEAD TO A 3-POINT LEAD, ALL
INSIDE THE MARGIN OF ERROR.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE U.S.
SENATE RACE AND AS YOU JUST
SUGGESTED, IN AUGUST BARNES WAS
7 POINTS AHEAD.
WHAT HAPPENED THERE IN SUCH A
SHORT TIME?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WAS THE
POSITIVE SIDE OF THE PRIMARY WIN
THAT MANDELA BARNES HAD A STRONG
PRIMARY, THREE OF HIS OPPONENTS
DROPPED OUT AND ENDORSED HIM,
THE WINS THE PRIMARY EASILY.
AND SO YOU GET A BUMP FROM THAT.
BUT WHILE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
ESPECIALLY HAD A VERY POSITIVE
VIEW OF HIM AND SO DID
INDEPENDENTS, THERE WAS 41%
WITHOUT AN OPINION OF HIM IN
AUGUST.
AND NOW IT'S NOT THE PRIMARY,
WELCOME TO THE NFL, IT'S TIME
FOR GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
ADVERTISEMENTS, AND I THINK
THAT'S PRETTY CLEARLY TAKEN A
TOLL.
I DON'T THINK IT'S UNEXPECTED
WHEN YOU HAVE 40% WHO DON'T
KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
VULNERABLE TO THAT.
NOW SOME OF THAT INITIAL IMPACT
HAS HAPPENED, WE HAVE A VERY
TIGHT RACE, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS IN THOSE LAST -- WHAT
DID YOU SAY, 53 DAYS.
>> LET'S GO BACK THEN TO THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE.
47% OF YOUR POLL RESPONDENTS
SUPPORT TONY EVERS, 44% FAVOR
TIM MICHELS, BUT THEN THERE'S
THIS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE OUT
THERE WITH 5%.
HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT FOR EITHER
ONE OF THESE CAMPAIGNS?
>> WELL, HER NAME WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT.
LOOK, WHAT WE SEE WITH
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES IS THEY
REFLECT -- THEIR SUPPORT
REFLECTS THE DISAFFECTION FOR
THE TWO MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES.
AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE EITHER
EVERS OR MICHELS HAVE A NAME
THERE THAT THEY CAN PICK ON THE
SURVEY.
NOW, THEY'LL HAVE THAT NAME ON
THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.
USUALLY INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
GET 1% OR LESS BY NOVEMBER.
AND IN OUR POLLING, WE SEE THEM
POLL IN THE MID SINGLE DIGITS IN
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND NARROW
DOWN TO LOW SINGLE DIGITS AT THE
END OF THE MONTH -- OR THE
CAMPAIGN.
SUSPENDING HER CAMPAIGN WASN'T A
VERY VISIBLE CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN
WITH, I THINK IT WILL KIND OF
DISAPPEAR, BUT IT ALSO IS AN
INDICATOR THAT 7%, 5% ARE NOT
THAT THRILLED WITH THE MAJOR
PARTIES RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU HAVE A NEW QUESTION ON
CRIME, WHICH IS IN THE TOP FIVE
FOR BOTH PARTIES, BUT YOUR
QUESTION THAT WE LOOKED AT GOES
MORE GRANULAR.
YOU ASKED, DO YOU FEEL SAFE FROM
CRIME WHEN GOING ABOUT YOUR
DAILY ACTIVITIES OR ARE YOU
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SAFETY?
PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
ARE THE MOST WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY BY A WIDE MARGIN.
IS THIS KIND OF RESPONSE WHAT
MAKES CRIME SUCH A SALIENT ISSUE
FOR REPUBLICANS PARTICULARLY WHO
ARE HITTING DEMOCRATS SUPER HARD
ON THIS?
>> I THINK THERE'S A CONTRAST
HERE THAT ON THE QUESTION ABOUT
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT
CRIME, REPUBLICANS ARE QUITE
CONCERNED.
BUT ACROSS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,
DO YOU FEEL SAFE OR NOT, THERE'S
JUST NO PARTY DIFFERENCE ON THAT
QUESTION.
AND SO I THINK WHAT WE SEE IS
THE USE OF CRIME OR THE WAY THAT
PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT CRIME AS AN
ISSUE THAT'S SOMEWHAT DIVORCED
FROM THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES,
AND THAT, I THINK, IS THE MAIN
THING.
WE ALSO SEE THAT CITY RESIDENTS
WORRY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND
ARE QUITE CONCERNED.
SUBURBAN MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS
DON'T WORRY MUCH IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES BUT ARE ALMOST AS
CONCERNED AS CITY RESIDENTS, AND
THEN WHEN YOU MOVE TO MADISON,
GREEN BAY, LA CROSSE, EAU
CLAIRE, THE NORTH OF THE STATE,
CONCERN AND PERSONAL FEAR GOES
WAY DOWN.
SO MOST OF THE STATE, PEOPLE
FEEL PRETTY SAFE IN THEIR DAILY
LIVES AND AREN'T AS CONCERNED,
BUT IN THE CITY AND THE SUBURBS
AROUND MILWAUKEE, CONCERN IS
HIGH IN BOTH AND PERSONAL
CONCERN, PERSONAL FEAR IS
ESPECIALLY HIGH IN THE CITY,
WHERE IT'S ABOUT A 50/50 SPLIT.
>> LET'S GO TO THE ISSUE OF
ABORTION.
YOU ASKED IN THIS POLL QUESTION,
DO YOU THINK WISCONSIN SHOULD OR
SHOULD NOT ALLOW A WOMAN TO
OBTAIN A LEGAL ABORTION IF SHE
BECAME PREGNANT AS A RESULT OF A
RAPE O OR INCEST?
OVERALL, 83 PEST SAID WISCONSIN
SHOULD ALLOW WITH EVEN 70% OF
REPUBLICANS SAYING YES AND ALSO
A TOTAL OF 63% OF RESPONDENTS,
INCLUDING REPUBLICANS, OPPOSE
THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.
IS THIS WHY ABORTION IS PROVING
TO BE A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES?
>> I THINK IT CLEARLY IS.
THIS IS WHERE BEING PRO-LIFE HAS
NOT NECESSARILY MEANT WANTING
THESE EXTREMELY SEVERE
RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS
FOR RAPE AND INCEST.
WE ADDED THAT QUESTION PRECISELY
BECAUSE IT'S A REAL LEGAL ISSUE
BEFORE THE STATE RIGHT NOW WITH
OUR LAW FROM 1849 AND WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT.
I DO THINK IT SHOWS THAT THERE'S
BROAD SUPPORT ACROSS PARTY FOR
RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS.
THE CHALLENGE FOR LAWMAKERS AND
ESPECIALLY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS
IS HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT PUBLIC
OPINION WHEN YOU'VE ALSO SPENT A
CAREER BEING DEDICATED TO
PRO-LIFE POSITIONS.
IT'S A DILEMMA FOR THEM QUITE A
BIT NOW HERE IN THE STATE AND
ELSEWHERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, CHARLES FRANKLIN,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> VOTING RULES AND GUIDANCE ARE
STILL CHANGING EVEN THIS CLOSE
TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
THE LATEST CHANGE SAW A COURT
AND THEN THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION THIS WEEK DUMP
GUIDANCE TO CLERKS THAT THEY
COULD FIX THE PART OF ABSENTEE
BALLOT ENVELOPES HOLDING THE
WITNESS SIGNATURES, CURING SUCH
THINGS AS A ZIP CODE OR SPELLING
OF A STREET NAME.
IS THAT A BIG DEAL?
WE ASKED DANE COUNTY CLERK SCOTT
MACDONALD.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO IS IT A BIG DEAL?
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO DUMPING
THE GUIDANCE THAT CLERKS CAN
CURE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN THIS
WAY?
>> WELL, FOR THE MOST PART, IT
JUST MEANS MORE WORK FOR THE
CLERKS.
I THINK WE SAW THAT IN THE
AUGUST ELECTION.
CLERKS ARE SPENDING A LOT OF
TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
ENVELOPES THAT WEREN'T COMPLETE
WERE GETTING BACK TO THE VOTERS
SO THEY COULD COMPLETE IT AND
GET IT BACK AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, THEY DID THAT WORK.
THERE WAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF
BALLOTS THAT I SAW THAT HAD BEEN
CURED AND SO THEN WHEN WE -- YOU
KNOW, 25 OF THEM, I THINK, OUT
OF 130,000 IN AUGUST IN DANE
COUNTY.
BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE CLERKS WERE
WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAD GOTTEN CURED AND YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT
IN NOVEMBER, JUST BECAUSE NUMBER
OF VOTERS GOES UP.
>> IN YOUR MIND, DID THAT KIND
OF CURING RESULT IN FRAUD?
>> NO, ALL OF THOSE -- THE
CURING WAS DONE BY CLERKS AFTER
THEY COULD VERIFY WHO THAT
PERSON WAS.
THEY LOOKED THEM UP IN THE
SYSTEM, THEY COULD VERIFY THE
ADDRESS, THE PERSON.
SO YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN TRACED BACK TO
SHOW WHO IT WAS, AND THE PURPOSE
OF THAT ADDRESS, FOR EXAMPLE,
FOR THE WITNESS IS SO THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN INTERVIEW THEM
AND SAY, IS THIS THE PERSON WHO
VOTED?
DID YOU SEE THEM VOTE?
IS THERE FRAUD?
SO FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, IF
YOU CAN SHOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO
THIS PERSON IS AND WHERE TO FIND
THEM, THAT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE,
IT PREVENTS FRAUD.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE NEW
RULES WILL DISCOURAGE PEOPLE
FROM VOTING ABSENTEE OR RESULT
IN NUMBERS OF BALLOTS BEING
THROWN OUT, OR WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
>> YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT'S
REALLY ON THE MARGIN, AND I
WOULD SAY IT'S EVENLY
DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE STATE.
I MEAN, GENERALLY THESE MISTAKES
THAT WE SEE OFTEN ARE AN OLDER
COUPLE LIVING AT HOME, THEY
WITNESS EACH OTHER'S BALLOT, AND
THAT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE KIND OF
EVENLY.
SO I DON'T THINK IT AFFECTS THE
ELECTION, AND I DON'T THINK
THERE'S A LOT OF IT, BUT IT'S
JUST FRUSTRATING FROM A CLERK'S
POINT OF VIEW, BECAUSE WE CAN
SEE WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE, AND TO
DISENFRANCHISE THEM JUST SEEMS
WRONG.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE THIS YEAR,
TRYING TO READY FOR A MAJOR
ELECTION?
>> WELL, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S THE
SAME OLD SAME OLD.
I MEAN, WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGER
DIFFERENCE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
SEEN JUST OUR WORKLOAD REALLY GO
UP.
A LOT OF OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS
COMING IN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY I'VE
GOTTEN.
AND IT'S TRUE ALL OVER THE STATE
AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
HONESTLY.
ALSO JUST TRYING TO PLAN
CONTINGENCY WISE FOR THINGS YOU
HAVEN'T HAD TO WORRY ABOUT
BEFORE, DISRUPTIONS IN THE
POLLING PLACES, HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO MAKE SURE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE CLERK'S
OFFICE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ON
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO
THOSE THINGS?
JUST A LOT MORE WORKLOAD THAN
NORMAL.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THOSE OPEN
RECORDS REQUESTS, ARE THESE FROM
PEOPLE WANTING TO SLEUTH OUT
FRAUD?
>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.
THE ONES THAT I'VE GOTTEN
RECENTLY SEEM -- THE GOAL SEEMS
TO BE TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION
OF MATERIALS FROM THE 2020
LUCKTION.
LUCK 2020
ELECTION.
SO RIGHT NOW, AFTER 22 MONTHS,
IS WHEN WE WOULD DESTROY THINGS
LIKE THE BALLOTS TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THE ONES COMING IN NOVEMBER,
THE ENVELOPES, YOU KNOW, POLL
BOOKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THEY TEND TO BE A COPY AND
PASTE THAT HAVE GONE ALL OVER
THE PLACE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU
MUST RETAIN THESE RECORDS, THERE
MAY BE A LAWSUIT, OR THIS IS AN
OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, BUT THEN
WHEN YOU FOLLOW UP WITH THEM,
IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO NAIL
THEM DOWN ON WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY SEEM TO BE JUST TRYING TO
DELAY THE NORMAL CYCLE FOR US,
AND OF COURSE THAT CREATES ITS
OWN CHALLENGES FOR CLERKS AROUND
THE STATE.
>> YOU SPOKE TO CONTINGENCY
PLANS AT POLLING PLACES THIS
YEAR, LIKE WHAT?
>> WELL, WE SAW IN MICHIGAN, YOU
KNOW, THERE WAS TRAININGS GOING
ON IN SOME COUNTIES WHERE THEY
WERE URGING POLL WATCHERS TO
BRING CAMERAS IN AND
SURREPTITIOUSLY DO THINGS
AGAINST THE LAW.
YOU REALLY CAN'T RECORD PEOPLE
VOTING IN A POLLING PLACE, FOR
OBVIOUS REASONS.
AND FOR SOME NOT SO OBVIOUS
REASONS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE VOTING THERE
WHO ARE CONFIDENTIAL VOTERS WHO
ARE, YOU KNOW, VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO WE JUST WORRY THERE MAY BE
PEOPLE BEING DISRUPTED IN THE D-
DISRUPTIVE IN THE POLLING PLACE.
THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN AUGUST,
SO MAYBE IT'S MUCH TO DO ABOUT
NOTHING, BUT YOU HAVE TO ASSUME
THE WORST, AND HOPE FOR THE
BEST.
>> YOU SPOKE THIS WEEK ABOUT
PERSISTENT MISINFORMATION AROUND
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
WHAT DOES THIS DO TO PEOPLE'S
FAITH IN THE PROCESS?
>> WELL, THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK
IF HALF THE VOTERS DON'T THINK
THEIR BALLOTS ARE BEING TALLIED
CORRECTLY OR THE MACHINES HAVE
BEEN HACKED.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CAN DO
ABOUT IT.
BUT DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON BOTH
SIDES BELIEVING IN THE RESULTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE LEAVE IT
THERE AND WE WISH YOU LUCK,
SCOTT MCDONALD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WITH LESS THAN TWO MONTHS
UNTIL THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, GET
OUT THE VOTE GROUPS HAVE THEIR
WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER STEVEN
POTTER CAUGHT UP WITH FOLKS
WORKING TO INCREASE VOTER
TURNOUT FOR A SPECIFIC AND
SOMEWHAT NEGLECTED DEMOGRAPHIC
IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.
>> OUTREACH WORKERS ARE HITTING
THE STREETS TO GET OUT THE
VOTE AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER
ELECTIONS.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M LACKING A
LITTLE EDUCATION JUST BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR.
>> VOTERS LIKE MIRACLE HOLMES IN
RACINE WELCOME THE PERSONALTIME
AND ATTENTION.
>> WHEN YOU AREN'T BEING
ENGAGED, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TO
FEEL THAT YOU'RE BEING IGNORED.
>> THERE ARE NEARLY 250,000
BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES
OF MILWAUKEE, RACINE AND
KENOSHA. THOSE RESIDENTS,
HOWEVER, HAVELONG SAID THAT
ELECTED OFFICIALS, POLITICIANS
AND THEIR CAMPAIGNSHAVE
NEGLECTED BLACK COMMUNITIES.
>> I THINK WHY RESIDENTS HAVE
FELT IGNORED BECAUSE LARGELY WE
HAD BEEN, AND I THINK 2016
PROVED IT.
>> THAT'S WHEN EXPERTS SAY
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE HILLARY CLINTON TOOK
THE BLACK VOTE FOR GRANTED,
NEVER VISITED WISCONSIN,
ULTIMATELY LOST THE STATE.
IN RESPONSE TO THAT NEGLECT AND
TO HELP BLACK LEADERS MAKE THEIR
VOICE HEARD, ANGELA LANGE
CREATED THE MILWAUKEE GROUP
KNOWN AS BLOC, WHICH STANDS FOR
BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR
COMMUNITIES.
>> BLOC IS A YEAR ROUND CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION THAT
LAUNCHED AFTER THE 2016
ELECTION.
IN SOME WAYS, PEOPLE WERE VERY
FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF
ENGAGEMENT.
I PERSONALLY WAS VERY FRUSTRATED
TO HEAR FROM DEMOCRATS AND
PROGRESSIVES THAT SAID IF YOU
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE JUST COME OUT,
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A
COMPLETELY MISGUIDED
INTERPRETATION OF THE ELECTION
BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY IS SOME OF
THE MOST DISENFRANCHISED AND
LEAST ENGAGED, BUT YET WE WERE
TO BLAME.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
BUILDING LONG TERM BLACK
POLITICAL POWER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
FEEL THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
DEMOCRACY AND THAT THEY CAN
FULLY PARTICIPATE IN IT BECAUSE
THEY KNOW HOW DEMOCRACY AND
THESE INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK
OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AS JUST
VOTING WHEN IT'S SO MUCH MORE
THAN THAT.
>> SINCE ITS CREATION AFTER THE
2016 ELECTION, BLOC HAS GROWN
TO INCLUDE UPWARDS OF 50
SO-CALLED AMBASSADORS, EMPLOYEES
OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS, ENGAGING
RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> OUR BREAD AND BUTTER IS
REALLY KNOCKING ON DOORS,
MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT,
AND ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT
DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY TO THRIVE?
>> WITH THE SUCCESS BLOC HAS HAD
IN MILWAUKEE, THE GROUP EXPANDED
INTO THE CITIES OF RACINE AND
KENOSHA.
JAVONNA LUE IS LEADING THE BLOC
EXPANSION.
>> MOST OF MY JOB ENTITLES
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
>> BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND
MANAGING NEW RACINE AND KENOSHA
AMBASSADORS.
LUE HAS HER TEAM KNOCKING ON
DOORS IN THESE TWO CITIES A FEW
TIMES A WEEK.
>> AMONG THE PRIMARY ISSUES THAT
BLOC ORGANIZERS ARE HEARING FROM
RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNS OVER
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAFETY,
INFLATION, AND THE NEED FOR
FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS.
LUE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET
OUT AND VOTE BECAUSE OF ALL
THAT'S AT STAKE.
>> WHY WOULDN'T YOU GET OUT
THERE AND VOTE?
IF WE DON'T GET OUT THERE AND
VOTE, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO MAKE
A DECISION THAT DOESN'T GO WITH
THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE.
>> AS TO VOTER TURNOUT, IT
CHANGES FROM ELECTION TO
ELECTION.
WE TALKED WITH UW MILWAUKEE
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
REALLY BROUGHT ON KIND OF SOME
CONCERN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
IS THAT THE BLACK VOTERS HAVE
BEEN THE BACKBONE OF THAT PARTY
FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND I THINK
2020 REMINDED THEM THAT THERE
ARE TIMES WHEN YOU CANNOT TAKE
THAT VOTE FOR GRANTED.
>> ALTHOUGH BLACK RESIDENTS TEND
TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATES, REPUBLICANS SAY
THEY'RE WELCOMING THOSE VOTERS
TO THEIR SIDE OF THE POLITICAL
AISLE.
KEN BROWN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF RACINE
COUNTY.
>> I AM EXCITED FOR MORE AND
MORE BLACK VOTER TURNOUT BECAUSE
AS I SAID, WE ARE ONE OF THE
MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN AMERICA
AND IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
AND A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS ARE
COMING IN AND THEY'RE LOOKING IN
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
THEY'RE PROSPEROUS, WE'VE
ACTUALLY HAD PROBABLY 30% OF THE
NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED
IN DOWNTOWN RACINE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS ARE BLACK-OWNED
BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE WORKING PROFESSIONALS.
THEY'VE INVESTED A LOT IN THOSE
BUSINESSES AND THEY WANT TO
SUCCEED.
AND I DON'T THINK SOCIALISM,
WHICH IS WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IS TODAY, IS GOING TO LEAD
THEM TO THAT LEVEL OF SUCCESS.
SO I WELCOME BLACK LEADERSHIP TO
COME IN AND ENCOURAGE BLACKS IN
OUR COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT THE
ISSUES AND LOOK AT THE
CANDIDATES AND WHERE THEY
ACTUALLY STAND.
>> WHILE BLOC IS NOT AFFILIATED
WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
ANGELA LANGE SAYS THE GROUP DOES
ENDORSE CANDIDATES AND FOR THIS
YEAR'S ELECTIONS, THOSE HAVE
BEEN DEMOCRATS.
HOW VITAL IS THE BLACK VOTE FOR
DEMOCRATS IN STATEWIDE RACES?
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO WIN A
STATEWIDE RACE WITHOUT THE BLACK
VOTE, SPECIFICALLY MILWAUKEE,
BUT THEN ALSO RACINE AND
KENOSHA.
IF YOU DON'T COURT OUR VOTE, YOU
DON'T ENGAGE US OR WE JUST DON'T
FEEL EXCITED ENOUGH, THEN THAT
WILL RISK PEOPLE STAYING HOME.
>> KYLE JOHNSON IS BLOC'S
POLITICAL DIRECTOR.
HE EXPECTS THE ENTIRE STATE WILL
BE WATCHING SOUTHEASTERN
WISCONSIN ON ELECTION NIGHT.
>> WE KNOW BLACK FOLKS ARE GOING
TO PLAY A SUPER IMPORTANT PART.
WE KNOW WEAR GOING TO BE THE
DECIDING FACTOR AND THAT MEANS
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO
MEET THAT MOMENT AND MAKE SURE
WE'RE GETTING OUR COMMUNITIES
OUT HERE TO VOTE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
STEVEN POTTER IN KENOSHA.
>> A STRIKE BY NURSES AT UW
HEALTH IN MADISON WAS AVERTED
THIS WEEK AFTER AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE HOSPITAL TO REGULARLY
TALK ABOUT WORKPLACE CONCERNS.
>> WE'VE SHOWN UP FOR EACH OTHER
TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD
OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO IMPROVE
OUR WORKING CONDITIONS AND
PATIENT CARE AT UW HEALTH.
TODAY, WE CELEBRATE A BIG STEP
FORWARD.
WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH THE UW ADMINISTRATION TO
SOLVE THE CHALLENGES WE'RE
FACING.
THIS MOMENT MATTERS FOR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OTHER
WORKING PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> FOR UW HEALTH, FOR ITS BOARD,
FOR ITS LEADERSHIP, FOR THE
ORGANIZATION, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
ABOUT THE LEGAL QUESTION, CAN WE
OR CAN WE NOT, AFTER ACT 10,
RECOGNIZE A UNION, WHETHER
VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY,
FOR PURPOSES OF REPRESENTING OUR
EMPLOYEES IN COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING?
WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO COME
TOGETHER IN A CONSTRUCTIVE,
PRODUCTIVE WAY, FOCUSED ON
PATIENT CARE ISSUES, FOCUS ON
WORKFORCE ISSUES, FOCUS ON ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT WE ALL CARE
ABOUT.
AND SO IN THAT REGARD, AS COLIN
WAS TALKING ABOUT, RG WE WERE
ABLE TO FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN
BRING THOSE THAT WISH TO BE PART
OF A UNION TO COME TO THE TABLE
WITH US TO START TALKING ABOUT
THESE ISSUES.
>> THE NEXT STEP IS FOR THE
STATE EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION TO
RULE WHETHER THE HOSPITAL CAN
RECOGNIZE AND BARGAIN WITH THE
NURSES' UNION.
ULTIMATELY THE COURTS WILL
LIKELY DECIDE THAT QUESTION.
IT'S COMPLICATED IN WISCONSIN,
WITH ITS ACT 10 LAW THAT
STRIPPED MOST PUBLIC UNIONS OF
MOST BARGAINING RIGHTS,
ESPECIALLY AS UW HOSPITAL NURSES
ARE OUTSIDE THE PROVISIONS OF
BARGAINING LAW, AND LOST THEIR
UNION RIGHTS BECAUSE OF ACT 10.
WE TURN TO DON TAYLOR, A
PROFESSOR AT THE UW MADISON
SCHOOL FOR WORKERS WHO HAS
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR
UNIONS.
PROFESSOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO HOW WOULD YOU REGARD THIS
DETENTE THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?
IS THIS A WIN FOR THE NURSES'
UNION?
>> I THINK IT IS, I THINK IT IS.
THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED
RECOGNIZES THAT THE WORKERS CAN
JOIN THE UNION, CAN OPERATE AS
AN ORGANIZATION INSIDE THE
HOSPITAL AND CLINICS.
WHILE THE THORNIER LEGAL
QUESTIONS ARE YET TO BE
RESOLVED, THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER OR NOT THE NURSES CAN
GET TOGETHER AND HAVE THEIR
VOICES HEARD COLLECTIVELY
APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS WILL SET
SOME KIND OF A PRECEDENT GOING
FORWARD FOR OTHER BARGAINING
UNITS?
>> I DON'T THINK DIRECTLY.
I THINK BECAUSE THE NURSES ARE
IN KIND OF A SPECIAL LEGAL
STATUS WHERE THEY WERE REMOVED
ENTIRELY FROM STATE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING LAW, THE OTHER PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, HIGHWAY
MAINTAINERS AND SO FORTH, ARE
STILL COVERED BY WHAT'S LEFT OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC SECTOR
BARGAINING LAW.
AND SO THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
DO EXACTLY WHAT THE NURSES HAVE
DONE, BUT THE NURSES' SUCCESS
COULD CERTAINLY INSPIRE THEM TO
TRY AND EXPERIMENT WITH
DIFFERENT WAYS OF APPROACHING
THE ISSUE.
>> BECAUSE WE SAW LIKE 15,000
NURSES IN MINNESOTA WALK OFF THE
JOB, GO ON STRIKE, AND THEY'RE
IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION
THAN THE UW HEALTH NURSES, IS
THAT RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
MINNESOTA HAS A VERY DIFFERENT
SET OF LAWS, AND ACTUALLY ALLOWS
PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKES IN SOME
CASES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
>> SO IT IS YOUR EXPERT BELIEF,
THOUGH, THAT UW HOSPITAL COULD
LEGALLY BARGAIN WITH ITS UNION
NURSES?
>> YES, YES, THAT IS MY
POSITION.
THE REMOVAL OF UW HEALTH FROM
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAW,
UNLIKE OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES,
EFFECTIVELY PUTS THEM BACK IN
THE SITUATION THAT ANY EMPLOYEE
WAS IN PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAW.
AND IN THAT SITUATION, THE
ABSENCE OF A STATUTE DOESN'T
PROHIBIT VOLUNTARY COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING FROM TAKING PLACE.
IT SIMPLY DOESN'T REQUIRE IT.
>> AND YET HERE WE ARE, LOOKING
AT POTENTIALLY THE COURTS HAVING
TO RESOLVE THIS AFTER THE STATE
EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION MAKES ITS
RULING, BUT IF THE COURTS
RESOLVE IT, AND THAT IS WHAT UW
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION SAYS
SHOULD HAPPEN, IS IT NOT LIKELY
THAT IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO
THE STATE HIGH COURT, WHICH IS
THE COURT THAT RULED THAT ACT 10
WAS CONSTITUTIONAL.
SO YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE FOR THE NURSES' UNION GOING
FORWARD?
>> WELL, I WOULD ASSUME THAT
THEY ARE CALCULATING THOSE RISKS
AND THE SITUATION DOES NEED TO
BE RESOLVED AS TO THEIR STATUS,
WHICH ALTHOUGH I HAVE KIND OF A
CLEAR VISION OF IT, IS UNIQUE.
AND THE COURT COULD OBVIOUSLY
RULE IN A WAY THAT'S DETRIMENTAL
TO WHAT THE NURSES WANT, AND
THEY'LL HAVE TO REGROUP AND
RESTRATEGIZE AT THAT POINT.
IT DOES SEEM THAT HOSPITAL
MANAGEMENT HAS TAKEN THE
POSITION THAT THEY ARE
PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AND THEY
REALLY CAN'T STEP FORWARD
FURTHER THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE
WITHOUT SOME CLARIFICATION OF
WHAT THE STATUTORY
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
>> WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PROCEEDS,
BUT MORE GLOBALLY, I'M
UNDERSTANDING THAT MORE
EMPLOYEES ARE KIND OF WANTING TO
JOIN UNIONS, WANTING TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS, THE
WORK CONDITIONS THAT HAVE LED TO
THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PANDEMIC
HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.
A LOT OF EMPLOYERS STRUGGLED TO
ADAPT TO THE NEW HEALTH AND
SAFETY NEEDS OF THEIR WORKFORCES
WITH THE RELATED WORKFORCE
SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE NOW
EXPERIENCING.
MORE EMPLOYEES ARE BEING MADE TO
DO THE WORK OF -- YOU KNOW, THE
SAME AMOUNT OF WORK WITH FEWER
PEOPLE, AND THAT MAKES IT HARDER
TO NOT JUST KEEP A WORKPLACE
SAFE, BUT TO MAINTAIN WORK-LIFE
BALANCE AND AVOID EXCESSIVE
OVERTIME, SO I THINK ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE ADDING UP TO
ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN UNIONS.
THE YOUNGER WORKFORCE TENDS TO
BE MORE INTERESTED IN UNIONS AND
THERE'S A NEW POLL THAT THE
APPROVAL OF UNIONS HAS REACHED
THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE I THINK
THE 1960s, SO I THINK ALL OF
THAT IS COMING TOGETHER, AND THE
LAST THING I'LL SAY ON THAT IS
SIMPLY THAT ONCE SOME GROUPS
STARTED HAVING SUCCESS, THAT
INSPIRES OTHERS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE FIRST STARBUCKS, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT UNIONIZED THEN
INSPIRED OTHERS TO FOLLOW THE
SAME TRACK.
>> HOW RESPONSIVE ARE EMPLOYERS
BEING TO THAT?
>> NOT VERY.
AND THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN
THE CASE IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN EMPLOYERS
AT THE VERY LEAST EXPRESS THEIR
OPINION, WHICH THEY'RE ALLOWED
TO DO, THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE
THE EMPLOYEES NEED A UNION.
OTHERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH
WHAT ARE CALLED UNFAIR LABOR
PRACTICES IN TERMS OF
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST EMPLOYEES
FOR WANTING A UNION OR
RETALIATING AGAINST EMPLOYEES
FOR WANTING A UNION, WHICH IS
VERY COMMON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PROFESSOR DON TAYLOR, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG,
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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