In the continued discussion around the Right to Freeload bill expected to come up for discussion in Madison this January, when the topic of worker freedom gets bandied about…no one from the right ever seems to suggest that an anti-union employee has the right to find a job in a non-union shop…and there are more non-union shops in Wisconsin than union shops.
And can you guess why? It’s because they KNOW that union shops provide better wages, better benefits, better working conditions and safer working conditions…they’d just rather be takers and not earn their rights to better conditions.
Today I heard a radio commercial from the electrical engineers touting the benefits of unions, such as how unions promote well-paying jobs, and how those wages flow into and benefit the community as workers buy groceries, gas, clothing, cars, eat at restaurants, etc.
All good points – but where were these guys in 2011 when Act 10 was enacted? Or during the 2012 recall election? Or during the 2014 gubernatorial election?
Walker’s anti-union agenda will continue with introduction of the misnamed and deceptive GOP legislation titled “Right to Work.” In fact, it is a war on workers, a war to further the income disparity between labor and capital, a war to return to a modern day version of serfdom renounced in 1891 with the Catholic teaching “Rerum Novarum” (of new things) which advocated the right of workers to form and join unions. And which has been reaffirmed by all Popes including the current Pope Francis. http://w2.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html
Coincidentally and somewhat related to this topic, David Zweifel in today’s madison.com muses, “If only peace on Earth were a realty” http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/plain-talk-if-only-peace-on-earth-were-a-reality/article_885a2b5d-c1a8-5871-86f2-6e016757beaa.html#utm_source=host.madison&utm_campaign=/email/captimes_news/&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
I replied in a comment that as long as Walker was governor, there would be no peace possible in Wisconsin, at least between labor and capital.
“Is not a “divide and conquer” strategy advocated by a state’s governor a call to make social and economic war, not peace? And is not such conduct by a governor immoral? And finally,is not such hostility and divisiveness, enabled and espoused by a governor, in violation of most religious and moral principles?”
Yes, Walker is waging war against Wisconsin workers and their families with his anti-union legislation. Capital is and has been rewarding him for his war effort.