Firefighters target M&I Bank for executive support of Walker
Post by Jesse Russell on 3/10/2011 3:20pm
Update 3 p.m.: A call to M&I's Capitol Square branch confirms the bank is closed for the rest of the day.
When the firefighters arrived at the Capitol this morning they started the chant "MOVE YOUR MONEY!" Firefighters Local 311 President Joe Conway told the audience they should move their money out of M&I Bank. The bank was one of the leading contributors to the Walker campaign due to contributions by current and former executives and board members. Detailed contributions are available via the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last month the bank said "Individual employees may choose, at their own discretion and based on their political beliefs, to make contributions to political campaigns."
Following speeches by Conway and Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association Mahlon Mitchell, the firefighters marched to the M&I Bank across the street and picketed the bank and withdrew $192,00o. Video of the firefighters arriving this morning and part of Conway's speech is posted below. (edited: verified by the Wisconsin State Journal)
M&I Bank received $1.7 billion in bailout money via President George W. Bush's Troubled Assets Relief Program. The bank was acquired by the Bank of Montreal in December of 2010 for $4.1 billion in stock.
Jesse Russell
Co-Editor
Jesse was born and raised in Connecticut, began blogging in 1997, and moved to Madison in 2003. In 2005, he co-founded dane101 along with Kristian Knutson and Shane Wealti. In addition to helping nearly a dozen contributors run this website he's helped launch various events in the city including What's Your Damage?!, the MadPubQuiz of Awesomeness, the Fire Ball Masquerade, Dane101's Freakin' Halloweekend, and more.
Why is the local mainstream media ignoring this?
Submitted by KirstiB on Thu, 2011-03-10 20:14.
I've checked Madison.com, Channel3k, WKOW, and NBC15 and nary a peep on this issue.
It seems like someone at M&I must be engaging in damage control or they're stifling the story to not show how much power people really have?
I'll just schedule it right in
Submitted by Dusty Weis on Fri, 2011-03-11 12:57.
If I can speak out as a member of the local media... WE WERE A LITTLE BIT BUSY YESTERDAY... ya know, being locked out of the people's house where we were supposed to be able to be the public's eyes and ears as to what was going on inside. So while I'm certainly willing to admit this is an interesting story, and I'm glad it got this coverage, my focus was on being in the assembly and documenting what happened there.
There are precious few of us left in the local media, and most of us work damn hard. My office has called in extra help, and that's costing them lots of money. Even now, we don't have enough bodies to go around on this story, and the myriad of issues surrounding it.
I share your frustration. There's only so many of us, and we can't be everywhere at once.
Sorry!
Submitted by KirstiB on Fri, 2011-03-11 23:22.
I was making a general inquiry as to why it wasn't covered. It makes sense that you were all tied up with yesterday's events. You could chalk it up to paranoia and the assumption that everyone who isn't the Cap Times or the Isthmus seems to bury the good anti-Walker stories.
And for what it's worth to the next commenter, I wouldn't buy the WI State Journal with your money. I would, however, be happy to use someone else's copy for vermicomposting. I will read it online, but I refuse to pay for a paper that actively endorsed Walker and then said Oops, our bad, we didn't actually think he'd kill the train.
PS, page A5, Wisconsin State
Submitted by Dusty Weis on Fri, 2011-03-11 13:16.
PS, page A5, Wisconsin State Journal.
Reply to comment | Dane101
Submitted by Look At These Guys (not verified) on Sat, 2012-07-21 14:25.
Howdy! I'm at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
M & I
Submitted by Dr. Hot (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 02:09.
Verified or not - I am in favor of this. The live feed from Channel 27 today was pretty telling. I'm taking dear old mom to M & I tomorrow to close her account. I know of others closing their accounts as well. People ought to hold companies and corporations accountable for their actions.
I was at the Capitol
Submitted by AMS (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 11:31.
I was at the Capitol yesterday when the firefighters marched back over from the bank (with bagpipes, flags and drums!), and announced on their megaphone that they had just withdrawn $192,000 from M&I bank. One of them joked: "Don't try to mug us, we took it out in checks!" Didn't sound like a metaphorical withdrawal to me!
look at the list
Submitted by Salvador Dalai Llama (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 12:38.
If you look at all Walker's contributors in the financial sector, you'll see that most financial institutions had a half-dozen entries or so. Not M&I. Look at all those contributors. Something was up there--not just random individuals choosing to support this or that candidate. I think they deserve what they get. The free market at work.
Did some checking on M & I
Submitted by John (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-12 16:59.
Did some checking on M & I "individual donors". Something fishy going on. If you check the dates of the donations, they seem to be bunched together. 5,10 or more on one day. Almost as if someone was funneling this money through the donors to circumvent the law.
According to the article,
Submitted by Anon. (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 11:39.
According to the article, 'individuals' are making the contributions, not the bank itself (quote: "...due to contributions by current and former executives and board members"). Individuals are entitled to their political opinions and it should not reflect on the company. Put your money in a bank with excellent personal customer service and a good solid reputation (M&I), regardless of the opinions of a handful of employees.
Individuals are entitled to their political opinions....
Submitted by Out to change the world (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 15:42.
...And individuals are entitled to take their money out of a bank run by people who are working against the values and interests of those individuals.
well M&I dont have a good
Submitted by FreedomFighter (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 21:40.
well M&I dont have a good solid reputation anymore...lulz...
Regardless of "individual contributions"
Submitted by KCStymie (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 12:29.
Take your money out of M&I anyway. The bank executives get bank stock as compensation and the bank stock value is based on bank performance. You are better served by putting your money in a credit union.
Lying Fleebaggers
Submitted by IGGY!!!!!! (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 14:30.
What a load of marxist misinformation. Lying Fleebaggers.
Re: Fleebaggers?
Submitted by Jesse Russell on Fri, 2011-03-11 15:12.
Name calling? Is that the best you can do? Try articulating why you disagree.
So facts now have a political
Submitted by KirstiB on Fri, 2011-03-11 23:35.
So facts now have a political bias? If the largest contributors from M&I were members of their board, and they are in charge of making banking decisions, those are the people who should be held accountable.
We the consumer do not owe M&I anything, especially not a whits consideration of their "those are the donations of private citizens."
Look... the Supreme Court gave companies the right of free speech, but a company isn't an entity unto itself. It IS its employees and most importantly it is its Board and CEO, COO and CFO. Those people, in my opinion, when it comes to campaign donations are not private citizens, they are speaking for their company and their company's interests.
So M&I and Metcalfe's and every other business can protest "oh, no, it's not the business, it's the employee..." That is pure, unadulterated obfuscation. If you own a business, your business pays "you" and you, in turn are using your business to finance your "personal" contributions to candidates. There is no other way to look at that in light of Citizens United.
And for what it's worth, when I look up contributions by businesses if the person donating is really just an employee and not the owner, the owner's spouse, or members of the corporate board, then I wouldn't boycott.
"So M&I and Metcalfe's and
Submitted by anon (not verified) on Tue, 2011-03-15 16:06.
"So M&I and Metcalfe's and every other business can protest "oh, no, it's not the business, it's the employee..." That is pure, unadulterated obfuscation. If you own a business, your business pays "you" and you, in turn are using your business to finance your "personal" contributions to candidates. There is no other way to look at that in light of Citizens United."
I am wary of this argument. This seems like the same argument that anti-union folks make about how the unions funnel the taxpayers' money into the pockets of democrat candidates. As a pubic employee, I feel like it's money that I earned and should be able to do with as I choose, such as paying union dues. What the union chooses to do with my money is up to me to decide, not the taxpayers who paid for my service. Moreover, people have no choice but to pay taxes whereas one does have a choice to not shop at these places.
Your knowledge of this
Submitted by erorstdoyal on Fri, 2012-11-23 01:35.
Your knowledge of this subject comes through clearly in this article. I love to read this kind of articles, I hope you will update it. Thank you for sharing it with me.
water leak repairs
Hopefully they'll move their
Submitted by Matt (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 17:47.
Hopefully they'll move their money into credit unions; e.g., co-operative banks where all of the members democratically elect the boards of directors!
M and I Bank and the public workers.
Submitted by rob wyman (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 19:01.
If I had my money in their bank I would take it out too. We bailed out the bastards! The middle class is getting the shaft. I like to get kissed before I get f**ked! Screw all you rich assholes.
Firefighters withdrawal of monies from M&I Bank!
Submitted by Roxie524 (not verified) on Fri, 2011-03-11 21:06.
I just have to thank the Wisconsin firefighters - being exempt they are not affected by the removal of collective bargaining but have stood by the working class protesters every step of the way! Thanks for making such a direct impact and I had the utmost respect for firefighters before but now your on a "pedestal" in my eyes! Thank you so very much!
Singing a different tune now
Submitted by Justme (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-12 00:02.
You are either for us or against us. I love how the other side is calling this "union thuggery". Did they say that when Bush called for a boycott of France OR the Dixie Chicks (ruined their careers) over the war? I think not. Let's not forget the old "freedom fries" silliness.
Scott Walker Fund Raiser
Submitted by Michael Murphy on Sat, 2011-03-12 13:09.
There is (thankfully) much talk starting now... a fantastic grass-roots effort, pushing for Scott Walker to run for President of these United States of America.
He is saving Wisconsin......... Hopefully next will be America!
I have news for you. After
Submitted by up211 (not verified) on Mon, 2011-03-14 06:31.
I have news for you. After leaving Milwaukee County devastated and now spreading that to the rest of the state he not only has no national political career, but no local political career after the recall. Although I guess there is touring with Palin or Joe the Plumber to keep the Kochs happy.
M&I bank
Submitted by cherie (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-12 13:49.
Between my daughter and I we removed about $245,000 from the M&I bank in Maple Grove Minnesota yesterday. WI is my home state and I will be over on the weekends to help recall these GOP thugs.
M&I Bank Customer
Submitted by Anonymous1 (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-12 22:35.
I've been a customer of M&I bank for the past 10+ years. Those bastards just lost another great customer.
If you transfer your money to
Submitted by Otto (not verified) on Mon, 2011-03-14 09:53.
If you transfer your money to a credit union, make it one that's small and local, like Dane County Credit Union. The big credit unions are not always on board with the credit union, cooperative philosophy.
Heartland
Submitted by Jesse Russell on Mon, 2011-03-14 10:17.
Dane101 uses Heartland Credit Union and we've always had good experiences.
I couldn't make this stuff
Submitted by What fodder (not verified) on Mon, 2011-03-14 19:55.
I couldn't make this stuff up! First you complain about government tyranny and nobody listening to you, you complain about gov walker threatening to lay off 1500 workers if the budget is not passed and then you turn right around and do the same damn thing!? You threaten businesses if they don't respond to your demands? Waaahaaahaaha! Look at the similarities
Union letter to M&I: "In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers..."
George W Bush: addressing congress re: Iraq invasion September 20, 2001: "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." We all know how well that went!
Waaahaahaahaa
Trust me you don't want this in the media. Forcing businesses and voters to take sides is not a good tactic. History shows it only angers them toward your position. It does nothing to allow freedom of thought. This is not good PR for the Unions.
You need to do a lot better to influence this independent vote for the re-call! waahaahaahaa!
It's a little different.
Submitted by leftilicious on Tue, 2011-03-15 08:56.
Bush had no basis to assume anyone not "with us" is with the terrorists.
We can safely assume that M&I is "with Walker" because THEY GAVE MONEY TO GET HIM ELECTED.
Nobody's forcing them to take sides. They already did. Important distinction.
me too
Submitted by lake mills resident (not verified) on Mon, 2011-03-14 21:11.
I see jeff skiles pulled $400,000. After being a customer for 21 years they will lose my $240,000 as fast as I can get there.
RECALL-REPLACE-REPEAL
I feel like the city of
Submitted by Tired of all of you! (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-16 12:55.
I feel like the city of Madison is populated with a bunch of 2-year olds. Seriously, must you throw a temper tantrum every time something does not go your way? It is absolutely ridiculous. Educate yourselves! Do you realize that some of the businesses you are boycotting donate money to other needs in the city? That is going to be the first item of business they discontinue if they see a blow to the bottom-line due to your actions. Let me guess, you will bitch about that as well? Get a life!
Totally Awesome!
Submitted by Move Your Money (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-16 15:55.
Move your money!
AM 950
Submitted by Made in America Union Member! (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-16 15:31.
I heard about this on the Ed Shultz show and an another AM 950 show! The word is getting out. Screw main stream media folks. Anyone with half a brain doesn't look to them for news. (Unfortunetly the ones we need to reach are busy watching Fox) just thought I would let you know this business owner in Minnesota is in the process of closing her accounts with M & I banks after listenign to this story on AM 950
We all have a choice and the right to choose too
Submitted by Made in America Union Member! (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-16 16:19.
That's what they want when they say "free market" right? We can choose to buy .50 socks at Walmart made in China or we can buy 3.00 socks made in the US and save our fellow citizens jobs. I hate big corporations, but they are not soley to blame. This mess is consumer driven too. It is nice to see consumers finally realize that our hard earned money shouldn't be supporting the companies or people trying to take away our hard earned money. I for one think this is great. I haven't stepped foot in a Walmart since I signed my union card 9 years ago and I won't for as long as I live. That is the power of the people, and people...we need to get powerful!
You vote with your dollars
Submitted by Former_MI_Employee (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-16 22:02.
As a former M&I employee, I always referred to my time there with great respect. Unfortunately, I will be closing my accounts. They always have provided a great service, but you vote at the ballot and with your dollars.
Voting with your dollars is about the only thing a corporation notices or pays attention too. Maybe they will take notice.
As a current employee of M&I,
Submitted by Anonymous1 (not verified) on Tue, 2011-03-29 21:32.
As a current employee of M&I, I am keeping my money with them. The argument that those in charge gave the money to Walkers campaign and therefore M&I is for Walker is bull! I gave money to Barrett and voted for every democrat on the ballot, so by your insane reasoning, M&I supports Barrett. Private citizens have the right as Americans to contribute to ANY campaign they wish. Its called freedom people.
I go to work everyday to feed my family and make sure we have a house to live in. I also live in a college town, go to school, and support my professors and teachers. I protested the move against unions with my friends and colleagues. When you hurt M&I, you are not hurting executives or BMO, they have little to worry about; you are actually hurting the local branches, and the local employees. You are hurting fellow Wisconsin workers. I certainly hope that when you decide to take your money out you think long and hard about the care and service you received at your local branch. If it was awful and truly merits taking your hard earned money elsewhere, then by all means. But if you are judging your local branch, and by extension, the people who go to work each day to serve you, only by the actions of the people at the top, then you are really sad and petty, I pity you.
HI M&I Employee, I understand
Submitted by Tammy Wolfgram (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-30 23:05.
HI M&I Employee,
I understand your frustration particularly as your political leanings apparently differ from those of your employer. I have the same frustration every time I see a statement from the US Chamber of Commerce, as I am a small business owner and I have yet to agree with ANYTHING that the US CoC has ever said. And it is every citizen's right to contribute to whatever political candidate they choose. It is also my right to bank where-ever I choose, and to buy or not buy any products I want. I choose to bank and shop with either neutral businesses or those who hold the same values that I do, and it is my right to do so. It has nothing to do with being petty. Money is the only language some people and businesses seem to understand, and so I am speaking my beliefs by where I bank and where I spend my money.
My logic
Submitted by Sheilah (not verified) on Wed, 2011-03-30 02:12.
I am sure a lot of "good people" work for the Koch brothers as well -- that does not mean that I have to continue giving them money and choosing their products and their business over a better competitor that is going to better serve my interests both politically and with respect to the product or service I am purchasing.
In this case we're talking about a local bank, M&I. Yes, it may "hurt" a few local employees when some people withdraw their money and put it elsewhere, but as business is protracted at M&I, it will expand at another bank or credit union. Perhaps M&I will close, but people will still need their banking needs met elsewhere just as much. People are not choosing to close down M&I in favor of "nothing" in Madison... they're choosing to close it down in favor of a business with top execs who do not take taxpayer money and funnel it back into the campaigns of those who are hurting WI workers to begin with.
Now, I'm sorry that your paycheck and your family is suffering, but because of those your employer has supported, every school in the entire state, most people with disabilities, the elderly and every public worker is hurting, not to mention that soon every person who drinks water will be hurting. I know you want us to care about your plight, but we are doing this for the betterment of Wisconsin. We'll put our money into another bank or credit union, which will then put money back into our community or state in a more appropriate way -- then it will be your choice whether you want to take a job at one of those businesses. Or I suppose you can go live in some community that likes supporting businesses like M&I while everything around it stagnates and suffers.
But I guess as most of us are promoting freedom of choice, you're free to keep your money there for personal reasons (i.e., since it feeds your family) -- but it's not very logical for you to expect the rest of us to want to keep our money there for the same reasons. Since I've never banked at M&I, it's been an easy choice. However, if I did, I would certainly move my money to make a statement. I think it is one of a few times that "free market" is taking on a true meaning that some may not like, but is definitely part of the equation -- the executives and owners of a business are free to support and lobby all they want, but if they cross a line and it gets noticed they alienate those who truly keep them in business -- their customers. It's kind of like biting the hand that feeds you, so to speak.
I gathered useful information
Submitted by kabkikhatam on Mon, 2012-11-19 22:56.
I gathered useful information on this point as I am working on a business project. Thank you posting relative information and its now becoming easier to complete this assignment.
Ethan
I am exploring this subject
Submitted by tuntonpok on Mon, 2013-01-14 09:13.
I am exploring this subject as part of a report I need to do on possible careers I might choose. Thank you for your post it has valuable information on this topic.
making any lawn greener
Firefighters target M&I Bank for executive support of Walker
Submitted by Melissa R. Hensley (not verified) on Wed, 2013-01-16 03:08.
As i was searching on the web i been gathered more info on your article. Aside from the useful info that is written on it, it is also interesting. Great job posting this!
Melissa R. Hensley
Check out my article about Exploring The Different Types Of Book Clubs - click here
Firefighters target M&I Bank for executive support of Walker
Submitted by Paul D. Stolte (not verified) on Sun, 2013-01-20 23:26.
You have a very interesting content of article. Thanks for the effort sharing this!
Paul D. Stolte
Choosing Wedding Bouquets
Firefighters target M&I Bank
Submitted by Jonathan J. Sweet (not verified) on Wed, 2013-01-23 05:38.
I understand what is the content of your article. You put it on a clear writing style that is why it is easy for me to understand. Nice effort posting this!
Jonathan J. Sweet
Tarlow Design Reviews
M&I Bank
Submitted by Elbert D. Daniel (not verified) on Wed, 2013-01-30 06:13.
If I have an account on the said bank I will get out of money.It was their lost because they have a loyal clients.
Elbert D. Daniel
Tarlow Design Complaint
Firefighters
Submitted by Irene K. Montgomery (not verified) on Thu, 2013-02-07 08:27.
Fantastic post! I really like your article, because of its very informative and significant info. Thumbs up!
Irene K. Montgomery
Tarlow Design
executive support of Walker
Submitted by James T. Jarman (not verified) on Fri, 2013-02-08 23:51.
Nice post! Your article content and title is fantastic. I really love it and it was very significant. Keep posting ideal article again!
James T. Jarman
Tarlow Design Complaint
Firefighters target M&I Bank
Submitted by Olivia T. Coronado (not verified) on Wed, 2013-02-13 07:37.
Once, firefighters just used to put out fires. Now it is different. Of course, firefighters still fight fires! But they also rescue people from car crashes or train accidents. And a big part of their job is talking to people about how to prevent fires from starting.
Olivia T. Coronado
Tarlow Design Complaint
M&I Bank
Submitted by Richard V. Waller (not verified) on Mon, 2013-02-18 08:24.
M&I provided trust and investment management, equipment leasing, I do not think if that was good in this matter.
Richard V. Waller
Tarlow Design Reviews
Firefighters target M&I Bank
Submitted by John E. Fisher (not verified) on Thu, 2013-02-21 08:33.
This would probably be a good tactic to keep banks from supporting candidates that the union opposes, but at the time of the donations the unions supported Walker. If you wield punitive power like that you have to let prospective targets know what decisions will arouse your ire ahead of time to be an effective deterrent.
John E. Fisher
Tarlow Design Complaint
Post new comment