Starving Wisconsin's unions (WaPo's Eugene Robinson)

[chimpymustgo]

By Eugene Robinson
Monday, February 21, 2011; 8:00 PM

Let's be clear: The high-stakes standoff in Wisconsin has nothing to do with balancing the state's budget.

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It should be noted, however, that those generous deals were not ordained by Divine Providence. They were negotiated, which means that state and local officials agreed to the contract provisions now deemed so excessive. It has long been common for unions to accept better health and pension benefits in lieu of higher salaries - in effect, taking the money later rather than sooner. Now that these IOUs are coming due, Wisconsin wants to renege.

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Union leaders have announced that they are prepared to accept Walker's proposal on health and pension contributions. In other words, money is no longer an issue.

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Unions have been a reliable source of political support for the Democratic Party, including campaign contributions. Over the past few decades, union membership has declined sharply; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who belong to a union declined from 20.1 percent of the workforce in 1983 to just 11.9 percent in 2010.

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This is pure, unadulterated union-busting - not with goons and brickbats, but with the stroke of a scheming governor's pen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/21/AR2011022103778.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[FreakinDJ]

1. Now that these IOUs are coming due, Wisconsin wants to renege.

says it all right there