[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNITION OF THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF MR. MARTY BEIL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK POCAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2015

  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional career 
of Mr. Marty Beil, who will retire this week after having served as 
Executive Director of the American Federation of State, Municipal and 
County Employees (AFSCME) Council 24, the Wisconsin State Employees 
Union since 1985. Over the course of his 30 years at the helm of AFSCME 
Council 24, Marty has come to be known by many as the face of public 
employee unions in the State of Wisconsin.
  Marty began his career in public service in 1969 working for the 
state's Division of Corrections as a probation and parole officer. It 
didn't take long for Marty to become involved with the union, and in 
1973 he became president of the local chapter. In 1978 Marty was then 
elected president of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, a position 
which he held until 1985 when he was chosen to take over as executive 
director. Throughout his time as director, Marty was appointed by 
Wisconsin Governors to many high level committees and commissions on 
which he served as the spokesman for Council 24 and an outspoken 
advocate for state employees.
  The hallmark of Marty's career was perhaps during the highly divisive 
2011 session of the Wisconsin State Legislature when Governor Scott 
Walker introduced Act 10, the controversial legislation suspending most 
collective bargaining powers of the state's public unions. The bill was 
unprecedented in Wisconsin, which was the first state in the country to 
provide collective bargaining rights to public employees in 1959, and 
the legislation drew significant public dissent. Marty provided pivotal 
leadership and was a constant presence throughout the weeks of protests 
at the State Capitol where crowds of demonstrators numbered over 
100,000 at times.
  It is a true honor to recognize the career of Marty Beil, a tireless 
advocate and leader for state employees and working families in my 
district and across the state. His contributions are an important 
legacy in the longstanding tradition of fighting for workers' rights 
and protections in the State of Wisconsin.

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