Dear Editor,

In college I read “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. It was not an enjoyable book. It chronicled the conditions in which immigrants worked in Chicago, during the turn of the twentieth century. Conditions in the meat packing factories were deplorable, to say the least, but if one wanted to work, they did what was required of them. They did not rock the boat.

When women entered the workforce as factory workers, they were often locked in. As a result many lives were lost when fire broke out. Countless women got cancer from working with phosphorus in the match factories, as well. Even children as young as 8-years-old were required to work 12-hour days. They had no recourse. There were no unions to bargain for safer working conditions, better pay, or fair and decent treatment. There were no class action or wrongful death suits.

Employees worked hard to improve conditions but it took a long time, much sweat, and an endless supply of tears. They bargained for a living wage, for safe working conditions, and for the right to bargain.

Scott Walker must not have read “The Jungle” or worked a potentially hazardous manual labor job. He must not have been bullied by a supervisor or worried about getting fired. Otherwise, would he try to take away what has been so hard won? In Wisconsin, we did not come so far to have it thrown away so carelessly.