The stakes in Wisconsin

[Babylonsister]

The stakes in Wisconsin
By Greg Sargent


It's worth stepping back and trying to appreciate how big the stakes have become in Wisconsin for public employees and for organized labor in general.

Union officials say they're investing a surprising amount of energy in trying to defeat the push to strip public employees of their bargaining rights because they view this as a precedent setter for a whole range of other coming battles against anti-labor proposals in other states. If labor can defeat this proposal, it will put other GOP-controlled state governments on notice that if they move forward with similarly aggressive proposals targeting public employees, they can expect to have a massive fight on their hands.

At the same time, there may be bit of a potential downside in turning this into an opening skirmish in a much larger war, one that's now unfolding in the national media spotlight as national unions send operatives into the state. If labor loses after staking so much on this battle, other state governments may feel emboldened about forging forward with their own efforts to weaken municipal unions.

Why is this particular fight such an important precedent-setter? Wisconsin governor Scott Walker insists his proposal is all about fiscal austerity. But as Brian Beutler notes, it actually goes far beyond this: Scaling back the bargaining rights of public workers doesn't save money by itself. It knocks down a barrier in a way that makes cutting into workers' benefits generally easier, and strikes at a core set of rights that labor stands for.

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-li...sin_1.html

[Andy823]

(02-17-2011 04:07 PM)Babylonsister Wrote:  The stakes in Wisconsin
By Greg Sargent


It's worth stepping back and trying to appreciate how big the stakes have become in Wisconsin for public employees and for organized labor in general.

Union officials say they're investing a surprising amount of energy in trying to defeat the push to strip public employees of their bargaining rights because they view this as a precedent setter for a whole range of other coming battles against anti-labor proposals in other states. If labor can defeat this proposal, it will put other GOP-controlled state governments on notice that if they move forward with similarly aggressive proposals targeting public employees, they can expect to have a massive fight on their hands.

At the same time, there may be bit of a potential downside in turning this into an opening skirmish in a much larger war, one that's now unfolding in the national media spotlight as national unions send operatives into the state. If labor loses after staking so much on this battle, other state governments may feel emboldened about forging forward with their own efforts to weaken municipal unions.

Why is this particular fight such an important precedent-setter? Wisconsin governor Scott Walker insists his proposal is all about fiscal austerity. But as Brian Beutler notes, it actually goes far beyond this: Scaling back the bargaining rights of public workers doesn't save money by itself. It knocks down a barrier in a way that makes cutting into workers' benefits generally easier, and strikes at a core set of rights that labor stands for.

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-li...sin_1.html

I agree, if they get away with this in Wisconsin it will open the doors in other states where republican governors will try the same tactics with their state employees!

Republicans are scared of the unions because they help get democrats elected. If they aren't stopped it will spread workers rights all over the country will be affected.

[SeattleGirl]

Pardon my complete ignorance here, but if unions are legal entities, how can someone just come along and wipe away the rights of people who belong to them?

Gad, I wish my mom were still here. She was a strong union member, and for years was shop steward for her union at the hospital where she worked. I'd love to get her take on all this.

[CTLawGuy]

(02-17-2011 04:37 PM)Punky Wrote:  Pardon my complete ignorance here, but if unions are legal entities, how can someone just come along and wipe away the rights of people who belong to them?

Gad, I wish my mom were still here. She was a strong union member, and for years was shop steward for her union at the hospital where she worked. I'd love to get her take on all this.

The government can take away any right of yours it wants to, as long as it is Constitutional to do so. Whenever they make any act illegal, they do just that.

[Capn Sunshine]

Even worse, but not unexpected, Scott Walker basically created this whole fiscal crisis HIMSELF. The state's fiscal bureau -- the Wisconsin equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office -- concluded that Wisconsin isn't even in need of austerity measures, and could conclude the fiscal year with a surplus. In fact, they say that the current budget shortfall is a direct result of tax cut policies Walker enacted in his first days in office."Walker was not forced into a budget repair bill by circumstances beyond he control," says Jack Norman, research director at the Institute for Wisconsin Future -- a public interest think tank. "He wanted a budget repair bill and forced it by pushing through tax cuts... so he could rush through these other changes."

"The state of Wisconsin has not reached the point at which austerity measures are needed," Norman adds.

So , Republican Gov crams through tax cuts for the wealthiest in Wisconsin, then expects working men and women in Unions to pay for it with a 20% pay cut. Free Market and all that.

Where have we heard this story before?
Oh Yeah.

[SeattleGirl]

(02-17-2011 05:26 PM)Capn Sunshine Wrote:  Eevn worse, but not unexpected, Scott Walker basically created this whole fiscal crisis HIMSELF. The state's fiscal bureau -- the Wisconsin equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office -- concluded that Wisconsin isn't even in need of austerity measures, and could conclude the fiscal year with a surplus. In fact, they say that the current budget shortfall is a direct result of tax cut policies Walker enacted in his first days in office."Walker was not forced into a budget repair bill by circumstances beyond he control," says Jack Norman, research director at the Institute for Wisconsin Future -- a public interest think tank. "He wanted a budget repair bill and forced it by pushing through tax cuts... so he could rush through these other changes."

"The state of Wisconsin has not reached the point at which austerity measures are needed," Norman adds.

So , Republican Gov crams through tax cuts for the wealthiest in Wisconsin, then expects working men and women in Unions to pay for it with a 20% pay cut. Free Market and all that.

Where have we heard this story before?
Oh Yeah.

I was watching Ed Schultz's show last night, and that's basically what he was saying; that the "crisis" is made up, and that the governor is responsible for a lot of wasted money. Love him or hate him, one thing about Ed is that he really stands with the everyday worker.

[RoyGBiv]

(02-17-2011 05:26 PM)Capn Sunshine Wrote:  Even worse, but not unexpected, Scott Walker basically created this whole fiscal crisis HIMSELF. The state's fiscal bureau -- the Wisconsin equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office -- concluded that Wisconsin isn't even in need of austerity measures, and could conclude the fiscal year with a surplus. In fact, they say that the current budget shortfall is a direct result of tax cut policies Walker enacted in his first days in office."Walker was not forced into a budget repair bill by circumstances beyond he control," says Jack Norman, research director at the Institute for Wisconsin Future -- a public interest think tank. "He wanted a budget repair bill and forced it by pushing through tax cuts... so he could rush through these other changes."

Could you find me a link/citation for those quotes?

[Julie]

(02-17-2011 05:26 PM)Capn Sunshine Wrote:  Even worse, but not unexpected, Scott Walker basically created this whole fiscal crisis HIMSELF. The state's fiscal bureau -- the Wisconsin equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office -- concluded that Wisconsin isn't even in need of austerity measures, and could conclude the fiscal year with a surplus. In fact, they say that the current budget shortfall is a direct result of tax cut policies Walker enacted in his first days in office."Walker was not forced into a budget repair bill by circumstances beyond he control," says Jack Norman, research director at the Institute for Wisconsin Future -- a public interest think tank. "He wanted a budget repair bill and forced it by pushing through tax cuts... so he could rush through these other changes."

"The state of Wisconsin has not reached the point at which austerity measures are needed," Norman adds.

So , Republican Gov crams through tax cuts for the wealthiest in Wisconsin, then expects working men and women in Unions to pay for it with a 20% pay cut. Free Market and all that.

Where have we heard this story before?
Oh Yeah.

Very interesting! I've only just started to really follow this so I am glad you posted this info Cap'n. Don't these guys ever learn?? I am so glad that so many in WI are throwing down on this!

Rock on Wisconsin!

Julie

[Capn Sunshine]

How I wish Big Eddie understood more what we're trying to accomplish in DC.