Governor Walker is preparing to call in the Wisconsin National Guard to defend his plan to take away nearly all collective bargaining rights from state nurses, teachers and other employees. With virtually no public input, discussion or debate with affected workers, Governor Walker is briefing the Guard and state agencies to prepare for a disaster that he might cause. The Governor should not threaten to use the National Guard against Wisconsin public workers!
http://www.notmywisconsin.com/
Robin: As you were entering your comment, I was entering mine and it so happens to be the answer to the question you posed...
William: From your article:
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin unions geared up Wednesday for a second day of powerful protests designed to pressure lawmakers to halt a sweeping anti-labor bill that would essentially strip workers of their collective bargaining rights so Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature can control the state budget.
There is lot of info on this now. Either way you cut it, it's real bad news. If it succeeds, it will spread like wild fire.
Mirela,
No one is disputing what they propose.
The article goes on:
"...so Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature can control the state budget.
Thousands of students, teachers and other workers clogged a hearing for hours and camped out at the Capitol overnight, and so many teachers called in sick that the Madison public school district had to cancel classes Wednesday.
While other states have proposed bills curtailing labor rights, Wisconsin's measure is the boldest step by a new Republican governor and Legislature to solve budget problems by confronting organized labor. It would end collective bargaining for all state, county and local workers except for police, firefighters and the state patrol..."
Again I ask:
What good is a union job if the employer can't afford to pay?
William
William: While your question is a good rhetorical one, this fight is about so much more: this is a radical proposal to strip state and local public employees of their rights to organize and collectively bargain. Penalizing the teachers and firefighters for the government's mismanagement is definitely NOT the answer!
The following statement can be attributed to Mary Bell, a teacher for more than 30 years and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council:
“We know these are tough times and we have made it clear to the governor and legislators that we are prepared to do our part to help our state recover. This isn’t about protecting pay and benefits – it’s about protecting the right to collectively bargain. That’s what’s being stripped away here – the rights to be represented.
Posted: 2/16/2011 8:27:00 PM
Yet, in the face of that, Walker threatened to call out the state's national guard. But union-busting is only the beginning.
Walker is also aiming at a massive extension of power over the state's health programmes, covering more than 1 million residents. Cuts are likely to aim at nursing homes, medical care for children and prescriptions for the elderly, among other targets. Walker and the Republicans also plan changes to Wisconsin's electoral laws: scrapping voter registration on election day and tightening photo ID rules. Traditionally, such measures hit at Democratic-supporting low-income groups, students, minorities and the elderly. Now they have power, Walker and the Republicans want to cement it.
With crisis budget situations at all levels of government, it's only fair that these union workers pay their fair share of insurance and retirement costs. The country needs EVERYONE to do their part and unions which refuse to budge on sweetheart deals that give their workers healthcare or retirement that is entirely taxpayer funded need to step up and do their part. When they refuse, it is just and proper that they be removed from the equasion. If the unions are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem.
Drick: Delving into the pocketbooks of our public servants, cutting their insurance coverage and taking away their rights to assemble is not how I'd like to see the budgets balanced. How about making the corporations pay their fair share? Do you know that Exxon paid less in federal income taxes in 2009 than you and I did? That's happening across the board at the federal and at the state level. The corporations own the politicians, so they get the tax breaks. Now they want our teachers, our firefighters, our policemen to take the brunt of what all those tax cuts have done to our coffers... It's shameful!
It's just not fair for the teachers and public servants to get a free ride while their private corporate employee counterparts have to pay a portion for their healthcare and retirement benefits. They are only being asked to pay their fair share - no more free ride for them. Don't compare them to Exxon it's apples and oranges. Teachers are only being asked to deliver results for tenure and continue the results to keep the job - it's only fair. Other workers don't get to slack off, not contribute and still get a free ride. Wisconsin is doing the right thing, hopefully other areas will follow.
Drick: I hardly think teachers, firefighters and police officers are getting a free ride. Come on now! This is not the issue of private workers having it so bad, so public workers should have it equally bad. I think you're focused in the wrong place. Instead, why not ask why the cuts are taken on the workers, while the CEO's and their brass are getting billions in bonuses... Our politicians and regulators are getting wealthy, the corporate brass is getting wealthier than ever, while the people carrying them all are doing worse than ever.
...And don't worry: if Wisconsin succeeds, other areas are sure to follow...
Don't forget to register and join us in Columbia, SC on Tuesday. The bus leaves the association office at 7:15 am. We are in big trouble here in SC and we need to begin our own Revolution. Many things need changing and we need your help. You are the missing link we have been looking for.
Sig
Sig, I'll be there!
Please don't forget to send me that info on the CCIM Class!
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Mirela: I am so PROUD of what all those men, women and families are doing in Wisconsin... protesting for their rights against the dictator Governor Mubarak Walker... who is trying to bust the unions. We have sent millions of dollars to Egypt in support of their quest for freedom. Now that they are on their way... hopefully... maybe we can get some of them to come here and show us how they did it. Wisconsin's governor seems to be following in deposed "President" Mubarak's footsteps.
I am so ashamed of what HE is doing... and again, so proud of the Democratic legislators who finally have grown a set of "brass ones" and have left the state... rather than to allow Dictator Governor Walker to bully his way.
Keep posting, Mirela. I will check back and support you with additional comments. Take care...
A WI HISTORY teacher needs to GOOGLE PATCO and Reagan and see what their future might be....I L♥VE the thought of WI Gov withholding the AWOL Dem senate members' pay checks....HeHeHe!
As more US voters see the actions of union members, they will see that they need to be curtailed....FAUX doctors notes? Not a good example for students.
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