Friday, July 29, 2011

07.28 Protest Video: Walker gets temp air-conditioning in visit to WI sweatshop



Police estimate between 300 and 400 people (including Teamsters) showed up to protest Koch whore Gov. Scott Walker in Fort Atkinson yesterday. Walker was honoring a company that exploits disabled people with below-minimum-wage, temporary jobs while paying its CEO nearly $200,000 a year.

We just love the fact that they piped in temporary air conditioning for Scott Walker, when the permatemps have to work in stifling heat.

According to the Shit Scott Walker is Doing To My State Facebook Page,
After Walker's car zoomed around a bunch of corners and he snuck inside though a back door Karoline slapped Opportunities Inc's wall. She was then arrested for and charged with disorderly conduct!
Here's more about the company Walker was honoring, from Madison.com (emphasis added):

...92 percent of the roughly 450 disabled workers employed by Opportunities Inc. were paid less than $5 an hour and 50 percent made less than $2 an hour. In some cases workers were paid as little as 11 cents an hour based on a piece-work scale...
At the same time, Opportunities Inc. President Barbara LeDuc received $198,795 in total compensation in 2009, according to the company's filing with the Internal Revenue Service. Vice President Sheryl Labonne was paid $140,326.
Opportunities Inc has a budget of $12.2 million but $9.2 million is public funding, according to its 2009 tax filing, the most recent figures available. The firm operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making it exempt from most state, local and federal taxes.

Opportunities Inc. also has a fast-growing division that hires able-bodied employees, most at the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Read more here.