Victims of job exodus in Wisconsin place blame on Bush BY DICK POLMAN, Phladelphia Inquirer
MANITOWOC, Wis. - It was dusk in the old factory town, the dying sun was sending shafts of light across the floor of the deserted union hall, and the bells of St. Boniface Church were poised to begin a mournful tune. That's when the phone jangled.
Gary Miller, a former union official, clad in a steelworkers sweatshirt and nursing a Mountain Dew, gave it a glance. He said it was probably his wife, since nobody called about union business anymore. He checked his Green Bay Packers wristwatch, hoisted the receiver, and found himself talking to an organizer from the John Kerry campaign. The guy was looking for labor help and figured the steelworkers local was a good place to start.
But Miller cut him off: 'OK, you should know that our local went out of existence. (Pause) Yup, a few months ago. (Pause) The company we worked at is gone, took all the jobs to China and Mexico. We have no members now. We do nothing. (Pause) Wish I could help you more, sorry.' He hung up, and started to stew.