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  • Mining Bill Unveiled
    A mining bill was unveiled today at a State Capitol news conference. It would streamline Wisconsin’s mine permitting process and was written specifically for an out-of-state mining company that wants to build an open pit iron mine in Northern Wisconsin.
  • Meeting Tuesday night about Hoan Bridge bike lane
    "There is a great deal of support for a bike lane over the Hoan Bridge. It's something we've been talking about for more than a decade," said Rep. Richards.
  • Rep. Richards to host meeting Aug. 23 on Hoan Bridge bike lane
    Prospects for a bike and pedestrian lane on the Hoan Bridge have shifted from no to maybe, and residents have been invited to share their views at a neighborhood meeting in Bay View on Aug. 23.
  • Same rules for all
    The state Supreme Court has said it cannot enforce the open meetings law against the Legislature. So let's change the state constitution to give the courts the necessary authority.
  • Amendment would hold state Legislature to open meetings law
    Madison - The Legislature would be subject to the state's open meetings law under a proposed amendment to the state constitution unveiled by Assembly Democrats on Thursday.
 
Dear Neighbor,
 
It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer.  Here we are, more than three months later, at the unofficial end of summer with Labor Day.  Labor Day celebrates how committed people acting together in a noble cause can bring about needed and lasting change.  Our proud history of organized labor inspires the work we are doing to roll back the unprecedented assault on worker rights that occurred earlier this year.
 
Labor Day was first recognized in New York City in the 1880’s to honor those, “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”  Many other cities and states joined the tradition and in 1894 President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a national holiday. 
 
Even though Labor Day was recognized as a national holiday, working conditions for most people were horrendous.  People worked twelve hours a day, six days a week without any benefits.  Unemployment compensation and worker’s compensation for those injured on the job were nonexistent. 
 
When they organized, Wisconsin’s workers set the standard for other states and the nation.
 
Wisconsin’s first unions were organized in Milwaukee, the bricklayers in 1847 and the carpenters in 1848.  In 1867, the shoemakers founded the Knights of St. Crispin to form Wisconsin’s first national trade union organization that would quickly become the nation’s largest union.  Along with a demand for fairer wages, talk of the eight hour workday intensified across the nation amongst workers in the 1880’s. 
 
On May 1, 1886, planned strikes demanding an eight hour workday took place in Baltimore, Chicago and Cleveland and workers at the North Chicago Railroad Rolling Mills Steel Foundry in Bay View also went on strike.  On May 5th a crowd of demonstrators were attacked by the National Guard and resulted in the death of seven people and four wounded.  We still recognize this event in Bay View as the ultimate sacrifice a few workers made so most could have what many take for granted today – the eight hour work day.
 
Please take some time to reflect this Labor Day and remember the worker.  Remember the hard work and sacrifice of organized labor that brought about the eight hour workday, five day work week, worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation and safe working conditions.  Let’s draw inspiration from these past successes to as we work together to restore rights and improve working conditions for Wisconsin’s working families.
 
As always, it is a pleasure to be able to stay in touch with you!  Please feel free to contact me with any concerns, questions or ideas you may have.
 
Sincerely,
 
JON RICHARDS
State Representative
19th Assembly District
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