"TAKING UNION BUSTING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL"

[Cha]

"With several new Republican gubernatorial administrations, public sector workers are facing an onslaught unseen in many years. But in Wisconsin, the GOP's war on unions is almost hard to believe.

Citing Wisconsin's gaping budget shortfall for this year and even larger ones expected in the years ahead, Gov. Scott Walker proposed a sweeping plan on Friday to cut benefits for public employees in the state and to take away most of their unions' ability to bargain.

The proposal by Mr. Walker, a Republican who was elected in November after pledging that he would get public workers' compensation "into line" with everyone else's, is expected to receive support next week in the State Legislature, where Republicans also won control of both chambers in the fall.

The prospect left union leaders, state and local employees and some Democrats stunned over the plan's scope and what it might signal for public-sector unions in the state.

On Thursday, the newly-elected Republican governor said he would refuse to negotiate with unions, and on Friday, Walker said he's contacted the Wisconsin National Guard, making sure they're prepared to respond to a protracted labor dispute, doing some of the jobs union members currently do.

Even by GOP standards, the scope of Walker's union-busting efforts is striking. We're talking about a governor effectively stripping nearly all government workers of their collective bargaining rights, and then trying to break the backs of unions themselves.

Mr. Walker made several proposals that will weaken not just unions' ability to bargain contracts, but also their finances and political clout.

His proposal would make it harder for unions to collect dues because the state would stop collecting the money from employee paychecks.

He would further weaken union treasuries by giving members of public-sector unions the right not to pay dues. In an unusual move, he would require secret-ballot votes each year at every public-sector union to determine whether a majority of workers still want to be unionized.

And in case that wasn't quite enough, Walker then added that union members would no longer be allowed to negotiate for better pensions or health benefits at all.

The governor is working with a newly-elected Republican-led legislature, and he's expecting lawmakers to pass his anti-union plan quickly.

In December, after Walker deliberately rejected federal funds to improve Wisconsin infrastructure and create thousands of jobs, I wondered whether this is what state voters had in mind on Election Day. I'm wondering the same thing now."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive...hp#1899549

WhoTheFuck does he think he is? He's doing this to all the State Unions except the jPolice and Firemen..did he think they'd turn on him?

Backlash against rw Gov Walker at the voting booth in 2012?

[RoyGBiv]

My favorite part of the whole thing is his promise to call out the National Guard. I guess clerks and secretaries at the DMV are a distinct threat to state security.

Problem is, he's already won. 2012 won't matter. Once this goes through -- and it will given that he's got all the support it needs in the legislature -- he will have effectively busted the unions. It takes years to establish the infrastructure necessary to form and maintain strong unions. The unions are already weak. This will make the unions targeted cease to exist in the state. It will take far, far more than simply overturning any plan he puts into place to reform them.

And here's the hell of it ... the reason I say he's already won. Most of the people affected will see union dues no longer being taken from their paychecks and think the governor was responsible for giving them a pay increase, and they'll be happy about it long enough that it won't matter when they finally figure it out.

[Velleity]

I am a little surprised that the unions have allowed this to happen. It seems to me that the writing was on wall with manufacturing and that they would have expanded into the service sector more aggressively.

Of course that's easy for me to say. Maybe they did the best they can do? I don't know.

[Cha]

Yeah, I see your point and it's a bummer. I was just thinking the backlash might be if Walker's other methods for cracking down on people instead of creating jobs might bring people out to vote for the President?

Wild thought I know..be one for political junkies to watch for sure. I can only imagine how true Progressives must feel with all this going in their state of Wisconsin.

[jaxx]

Is it legal to destroy a signed contract with workers? Can't they fight this in court? I think the guy is an asshole, calling out the National Guard....big chicken.

[NJMaverick]

This is a serious threat to our freedoms. It's what the Tea Party claimed they were fighting to protect us from.

[Cha]

(02-14-2011 01:33 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:  This is a serious threat to our freedoms. It's what the Tea Party claimed they were fighting to protect us from.

Only they're world class ignorant hypocrites so I don't see them protesting against the nasty Gov of Wisconsin.

After all the Koch bros are reported to have started the teabaggers..no way would they allow that. They stand with Gov Walker in Union Busting.

[nofurylike]

(02-14-2011 11:59 PM)Cha Wrote:  Only they're world class ignorant hypocrites so I don't see them protesting against the nasty Gov of Wisconsin.

After all the Koch bros are reported to have started the teabaggers..no way would they allow that. They stand with Gov Walker in Union Busting.

very well said, Cha.

[nofurylike]

thank you for posting this piece, Cha - as outrageous as it is.

"WhoTheFuck does he think he is? He's doing this to all the State Unions except the jPolice and Firemen..did he think they'd turn on him?

"Backlash against rw Gov Walker at the voting booth in 2012?"

Hear! Hear!