According to a press release issued yesterday by Democratic State Sens. Julie Lassa and Chris Larson and State Rep. Sandy Pasch, Republican legislators Paul Farrow and Ed Brooks are prepared to “drop the bomb” on private sector unions in the form of legislation that would allow employers to reduce the hours of their union-represented employees without the union’s approval.
According to Lassa, Larson, and Pasch, the measure to allow employers to reduce the hours of their union-represented employees without union approval could very well be the first blow in an effort to scale back private sector employee bargaining rights.
“Republicans began their war on bargaining rights with Act 10, and with this bill they have now turned their attention to private sector unions,” Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) said. “This bill is a clear opening shot at undermining private sector unions.”
“This is the beginning of ‘divide and conquer’ part two,” said State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point). “The Farrow-Brooks bill says that private sector unions shouldn’t be able to negotiate for their members. It’s one more step toward their goal of ending the right of Wisconsin citizens to have their voice heard in the workplace.”
Senate Bill 26 and its companion, Assembly Bill 15, were introduced on Friday and could come up for committee votes as soon as Thursday.
Keep in mind that while Republicans may deny these bills are part of a larger effort to weaken private sector unions, it was Gov. Scott Walker himself who said he wanted to make Wisconsin a “right to work” state by working to “divide and conquer” unions, starting with removing collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin.
Unions are a pain-in-the-neck, but “collective bargaining,” is the only counterweight the middle class has against the 1%. Hope the police and fire unions start paying attention.
Cheer up John, the good news is the weather will soon be warming up around the Capitol so we all can make an early spring visit “mingling” with our representatives.
I look forward to seeing the closest thing Wisconsin has to a prehistoric figure, homininae, with a smaller brain, the Glen Grothman.
If a law interfering in the ability of unions to negotiate contracts is passed and then upheld by the Prosserized Supreme Court, this may set a legal precedent that permits future legislatures to interfere in the operations of other organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, employers’ associations, country clubs or even corporations. When you take an axe to the rule of law there are often unintended consequences. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Do any legal beagles have an opinion on this?