Thousands protest Wisconsin anti-union bill


MADISON, Wis. — Thousands of teachers, prison guards and students descended on the Wisconsin Capitol on Wednesday to try to preserve the union rights of public employees in the state that was the first to grant collective bargaining to government workers more than a half-century ago.

The new Republican governor, Scott Walker, is seeking passage of the nation's most aggressive anti-union proposal — a plan that would all but eliminate the bargaining process for most public employees.

The sweeping measure was moving swiftly through the GOP-led Legislature and would mark a dramatic shift for Wisconsin, which passed a comprehensive collective bargaining law in 1959 and was the birthplace of the national union representing all non-federal public employees.

The Statehouse filled with as many as 10,000 demonstrators, and many Madison teachers joined the protest by calling in sick in such numbers that the district had to cancel classes.

As protesters chanted outside his office door on the second consecutive day of demonstrations, Walker insisted he has the votes to pass the measure, which he says is needed to help balance a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall and avoid widespread layoffs.

Walker said he appreciated the concerns of protesters, but taxpayers "need to be heard as well." Although he said he was open to making changes, he promised not to do anything that would "fundamentally undermine the principles" of the bill.

"We're at a point of crisis," the governor said.

A budget committee was expected to consider the proposal later Wednesday. Republicans intended to offer substantive changes, but details were not immediately available. The full Legislature could begin voting on it as early as Thursday.

In addition to eliminating collective bargaining rights, the legislation would also make public workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage — increases that Walker calls "modest" compared to those in the private sector.

'Kill this bill!'
More than 13,000 protesters gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday for a 17-hour public hearing on the measure. Thousands more came Wednesday. Some stood outside the governor's door, chanting "Recall Walker now!"

More than 1,000 protesters, many of whom spent the night in sleeping bags on the floor of the Rotunda, shouted "Kill this bill!" on Wednesday.

"I'm fighting for my home and my career," said Virginia Welle, a 30-year-old teacher at Chippewa Falls High School. She said she and her husband, who is also a teacher, each stand to lose $5,000 a year in higher pension and health care contributions.

Welle said she could never get that money back since the unions would be unable to bargain over benefits under Walker's plan.

There were some indications Wednesday that support for the plan may be waning among Republicans who control the Legislature.

Senate Republicans met in secret to discuss the bill. Asked where the GOP stood, Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse told The Associated Press, "That's a really good question. I don't know."

On Tuesday, the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reported that several members of the Green Bay Packers — who are part of the National Football League Players Association — came out against Walker's plan.

"As a publicly owned team we wouldn't have been able to win the Super Bowl without the support of our fans," reads a statement signed by seven current and former players. "It is the same dedication of our public workers every day that makes Wisconsin run. They are the teachers, nurses and child care workers who take care of us and our families. But now in an unprecedented political attack Governor Walker is trying to take away their right to have a voice and bargain at work."

Protests having effect
The protests have been larger and more sustained than any in Madison in decades. Dozens of protesters spent the night in sleeping bags on the floor of the Rotunda. A noise monitor in the Rotunda registered 105 decibels at midday Wednesday — approximately the same volume as a power mower or chainsaw.

Beyond the Statehouse, more than 40 percent of the 2,600 union-covered teachers and school staff in Madison called in sick, forcing the superintendent to call off classes in the state's second-largest district. No other widespread sickouts were reported at any other school.

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.Prisons, which are staffed by unionized guards who would lose their bargaining rights under the plan, were operating without any unusual absences, according to a Department of Corrections spokeswoman.

Walker has said he would call out the National Guard to staff the prisons if necessary. A union leader for prison workers did not immediately return messages.

Scott Spector, a lobbyist for AFT-Wisconsin, which represents about 17,000 public employees, said the demonstrations were having an effect on lawmakers.

Union representatives were attempting to sway key moderates for a compromise, but Democrats said the bill would be tough to stop. Democrats lost the governor's office and control of the Legislature in the November midterm elections.

"The Legislature has pushed these employees off the cliff, but the Republicans have decided to jump with them," said Sen. Bob Jauch, one of 14 Democrats in the 33-member chamber.

While other states have proposed bills curtailing labor rights, Wisconsin's measure is the most aggressive anti-union move yet to solve state budget problems. It would end collective bargaining for state, county and local workers, except for police, firefighters and the state patrol.

Protesters targeted the budget committee's public hearing Tuesday to launch what Vos called a "citizen filibuster," which kept the meeting going until 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Two floors below the hearing, dozens of University of Wisconsin-Madison teaching assistants and students poured into the Capitol rotunda late Tuesday evening, putting down sleeping bags and blankets. Many were asleep on the floor when the hearing ended.

Workers' rights part of state history
Wisconsin has long been a bastion for workers' rights. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was founded in 1936 in Madison.

But when voters elected Walker, an outspoken conservative, along with GOP majorities in both legislative chambers, it set the stage for a dramatic reversal of Wisconsin's labor history.

Under Walker's plan, state employees' share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent. The changes would save the state $30 million by June 30 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Unions could still represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

In exchange for bearing more costs and losing bargaining leverage, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Walker has threatened to order layoffs of up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

Wisconsin is one of about 30 states with collective bargaining laws covering state and local workers.

Walker has argued that the concessions are moderate compared with those suffered by many other Americans during the recession. Democratic opponents and union leaders say his real motive is to strike back at political opponents who have supported Democrats over the years.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41624142/ns/politics-more_politics

I'm not a big fan of unions, I know some people who are in construction and trucking and the unions to me seem pretty useless. The union decides to go on strike so you are not working all the while you are still responsible for paying your dues. Just me, but I don't like em.

I wish they would have put in the report that the state employees pay next to nothing for their pension and healthcare. This bill will require them to pay a portion of those just like the rest of us who don't work for the state.

It also doesn't report the fact that the amount these employees will have to pay will still be less than 50% of what those in the private sector pay for their healthcare and retirement.

Labor unions are one of the tripartite reasons why manufacturing business fled America!

I think you're putting the cart before the horse.

I say the labor unions were the largest obstacle facing globalist toward making globalization a reality.

Unions were a great thing at one time.

Now, the unions are just Trojan Horses filled with fat jackasses. They use up more energy than they put out.

This is happening everywhere cities are going bankrupt just trying to pay these pensions. Something has to give.

this goes against things said by the union leaders themselves...

They have been trying to usher in globalization for years now BY THEIR OWN WORDS...

as far as those teachers and other unions that are 'striking' to continue the outrageos control Unions have on politics...

what will they do when the rank and file of american citizens answers their silly little tempertantrum? with anti-union protests...?

It will happen if they continue trying to steal from the taxpayers...

There are a lot more people that are NOT sympathic to the Unions then there are in the Unions...

Protests are a two edged sword...

Unions have used that weapon way to often, they must realize that at some point other groups would pick it up and use it against them.

Bring on the Union bashers, the only group that actualy tries to improve the american standard of liveing. News Flash.... Unions have been in the minority for decades now and manufacturing has still fled the country. Nothing has improved by the demise of the Unions in fact it has gotten worse. good luck umerika your getting what you deserve.

This is just another example of the domestic threat which threatens the American standard of living.
Another example of the Republican Party taking the side of corporations over the people.

Supporting Hussein is supporting the Corporation.

haha..

These are government employees. They are paid by the state of Wisconsin, meaning... the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

God forbid a state government make any decisions that benefit the rest of the taxpayers that don't have the luxury of working for the government..

When the Union's started they were a necessary function to improve the standard of living... I agree here.

However the Union's are now 'clamped' upon by parasites... What good to get a 5 dollar raise if 4 of it gets sucked down by the 'organization' that got it for you... Where then is your benefit?

and...

The Unions may be 'smaller' than they used to be (that I will have to check on)... However the DAMAGE they did to the laws and systems in this country is still here...

If I was a teacher in the Wisconsion Union I would not be protesting a cut back by a broken cash flow system... I would be protesting to get my 'dues' applied to the pension I was promised... Since I am smart enough to realize cut backs are needed I would be pissed that the 'bosses' of that Union could continue to rake in those dues.

If you think the situation in the States is bad check this out...

My source is the CBO, the BLS, and OPM. (all US Government agencies).

Federal employees are a bit more than 4 Million.

Federal compensation package is roughly 30% better than the average compensation package in the non-government workforce.

Because of the baby boom situation roughly 15% of the Federal workforce will be retiring in 2011-2014 time frame. (With larger percentages retiring in the years after 2014).

They have also Union negotiated retirement packages that are payed for by OUR taxes.

not only will the Fed have to hire a new worker to replace them... We will be paying them to retire out of our taxes.

but we are also carring a large federal debt.

you do the math...

shouldnt citizens opt to be treated BETTER not worse

instead of why are the government employees able to receive FAIR compensation,,,how about why arent PRIVATE employees able to

answer: Private employers are free to COMPETE for the best price, which means employees get SCREWED by having to settle for the lowest accepted bid

In Wisconsin in the last couple years we had Harley, Murcury Marine, and a couple other companies Where the employees took pay cuts and contribute more to their health care. If these steps weren't taken the companies would have moved out of the state.
The situation with the state workers Is about the same. If they do not Take what's being offered then up to 7,500 will be laid off. If people would read the bill they would understand that these are not the only things being done to balance the budget.

Like I said before. What the employees Will be paying for their health care and Pension is still less than 50% the national average of what others pay for it.

This discussion is comparing apples and oranges.

Public employees unions have a huge advantage because they are negotiating with the government. The government doesn't produce a product that has to compete against foreign companies that pay their workers $2 a day.

Should the entire state sink because 117,000 union employees won't pay some of their own money into their retirement or health care costs?

The people of Wisconsin made a statement in November that they wanted changes and a more fiscally sound government.

This is part of it. When the next election for Governor comes around if they want to go back to old ways they will elect another democrat.

What did Obama say... "I won the election and elections have consequences". Or something to that effect..

I think you have that backwards. Private has to compete so they will offer competitive pay and benefits. You only have to be a desirable employee.

Perhaps a bit of deeper digging is necessary...

Perhaps the teachers unions are being used to stop the legislation because their is something else in it that would have an effect on the political balance...

Or the status quo in other areas then Unions.

What is in this piece of legislation in Wisconsin? What is so important that someone has 'activated' the unions.

(prepared signs means preparations were made long before the 'protest' hit the streets... takes time to print up that many signs)