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Walker drops bomb #2, this time on Wisconsin's private sector unions
Walker drops bomb #2, this time on Wisconsin's private sector unions
by Giles Goat Boy
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has a habit of telling the truth about his "divide and conquer" governing style, but only when he is talking to one of his billionaire donors (or someone he thinks is a billionaire donor.)
Two years ago, Ian Murphy from the Buffalo Beast called Scott Walker posing as billionaire David Koch shortly after Walker introduced a bill to strip unionized public workers of their collective bargaining rights. Walker, believing he was talking to the actual Koch, detailed how he had schemed to "drop the bomb" on public employees.
Walker is at it again. This time, though, it's the private sector unions, the ones he said two years ago he was not interested in dismantling.
Back in full control with Republicans taking both houses of the Wisconsin legislature after they gerrymandered state districts in time for the November, 2012 elections, Walker and his colleagues are attempting to fast track a bill that would begin the process of shrinking private sector unions.
Democratic state legislators issued a press release today describing the latest round of Walker’s attacks on labor:
- more -
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/19/1188366/-Walker-drops-bomb-2-this-time-on-private-sector-unions
by Giles Goat Boy
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has a habit of telling the truth about his "divide and conquer" governing style, but only when he is talking to one of his billionaire donors (or someone he thinks is a billionaire donor.)
Two years ago, Ian Murphy from the Buffalo Beast called Scott Walker posing as billionaire David Koch shortly after Walker introduced a bill to strip unionized public workers of their collective bargaining rights. Walker, believing he was talking to the actual Koch, detailed how he had schemed to "drop the bomb" on public employees.
Walker is at it again. This time, though, it's the private sector unions, the ones he said two years ago he was not interested in dismantling.
Back in full control with Republicans taking both houses of the Wisconsin legislature after they gerrymandered state districts in time for the November, 2012 elections, Walker and his colleagues are attempting to fast track a bill that would begin the process of shrinking private sector unions.
Democratic state legislators issued a press release today describing the latest round of Walker’s attacks on labor:
- more -
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/19/1188366/-Walker-drops-bomb-2-this-time-on-private-sector-unions
Union Busting 2.0: Wisconsin Republicans Target Private Sector Unions They Previously Praised
By Pat Garofalo
When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) initiated a high-profile effort to bust his state’s public sector unions in 2011, he said that he had no interest in pursuing similar efforts against private sector unions. “Private sector unions are my partner in economic development,” Walker has said. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that he “has consistently downplayed seeking any restrictions on private unions in public statements.”
Walker also said in December that “he wouldn’t pursue any new bills on public or private unions in the coming legislative session.” However, word evidently did not get down to his Republican colleagues, who introduced and are fast-tracking a bill to allow employers to cut hours of union workers without the unions’ consent:
The Wisconsin GOP is moving this bill under the guise of creating a “work-sharing” program, which is an idea aimed at using government support to allow businesses to cut back worker hours while not laying off employees (with the government picking up the tab for the hours workers miss). However, “in all but one of the 24 states with work-sharing laws, union representatives must agree to the reduction in hours for their members.” Wisconsin’s bill does not include a similar requirement.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/20/1614021/wisconsin-private-sector-union-busting/
By Pat Garofalo
When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) initiated a high-profile effort to bust his state’s public sector unions in 2011, he said that he had no interest in pursuing similar efforts against private sector unions. “Private sector unions are my partner in economic development,” Walker has said. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that he “has consistently downplayed seeking any restrictions on private unions in public statements.”
Walker also said in December that “he wouldn’t pursue any new bills on public or private unions in the coming legislative session.” However, word evidently did not get down to his Republican colleagues, who introduced and are fast-tracking a bill to allow employers to cut hours of union workers without the unions’ consent:
Republicans are hurrying bills through the Wisconsin Legislature that they say could prevent layoffs by allowing companies to cut back workers’ hours, but Democrats on Tuesday called them a renewed GOP attack on unions.
The bills wouldn’t require companies to negotiate with unions about cutting back hours, in contrast to almost all similar laws in other states. But a spokeswoman for the author of the Assembly version of the Wisconsin proposal said there was no intent to harm organized labor.
The Wisconsin GOP is moving this bill under the guise of creating a “work-sharing” program, which is an idea aimed at using government support to allow businesses to cut back worker hours while not laying off employees (with the government picking up the tab for the hours workers miss). However, “in all but one of the 24 states with work-sharing laws, union representatives must agree to the reduction in hours for their members.” Wisconsin’s bill does not include a similar requirement.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/20/1614021/wisconsin-private-sector-union-busting/
6 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
If they were truly UNIONS they would stand United and actually take action with the small amount of clout they still have remaining, but they are as divided as America... I think Big Business has won this round and because of that there will be no other rounds...Workers will now do as they are told and if they don't like it they can move on....
Rethugs winning the presidency, house and senate someday in the future. I can just imagine the laws they would pass. The poor and middle class wold be screwed! 
