Ran 2/22/2011 at Dane101.com

At Sunday’s rally on the Capitol steps, firefighters who have been demonstrating in solidarity with state public employees announced they would spend Monday night on the statehouse floor, joining a tradition that continued for an eighth night last night. The Wisconsin Capitol sleepover began last Tuesday when opponents of the bill chose to camp out in the building overnight rather than give up on their chance to testify at a Joint Finance Committee hearing that stretched more than 17 hours. It’s become, to me, one of the most interesting markers of the determination of union protestors and those who support them.

Though a nonunionized, private-sector worker myself, I’m the daughter of two public workers, the friend of many more, and sympathize wholeheartedly with a tradition to which I owe every minimum wage I’ve ever earned, my 40-ish-hour workweek, and my weekend. I’ve been among the thousands of people voicing opposition, walking and yelling on the square as I can in solidarity, but, out of a sense of penance for staying in to do dishes on our sloppy Sunday, lugged a couple pillows, blankets, and a change of pants to join the sleepover-cum-occupation…(read more)