The proponents of Right to Work (at your co-workers expense) legislation continually chant that it’s about freedom for workers…despite union representation being voted on by a majority of their co-workers…the individual should be able to opt out of that. But we all know it’s about union busting.
And so does House Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Scott Fitzgerald and it fairly drips from their words about the current ‘extraordinary session’ worthy Right to Work bill in Madison:
The proposed right to work bill moving quickly through the Legislature will affect only private-sector unions.
The proposal only affects workers in private businesses, both the language of the bill and comments from Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau show.
The measure would prohibit unions and private businesses from reaching contracts that require workers to pay labor dues or fees.
So police and firefighter unions in the state can still require workers to pay money to unions even if the workers choose not to join. Other public employee unions were previously barred from doing this by Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011 Act 10 law.
Fitzgerald acknowledged Friday that Republicans have considered taking this step with public safety unions as well but for now at least are not doing so.
If this were about worker freedoms…it would be available to everybody…but it’s not. It’s about union busting and the police and fire unions have been supportive of the governor and state GOP so their power and authority (and campaign bank book) must be maintained. Incredible.
We all new Right to Work for Less was coming. Walker was a Co-Sponsor of this legislation as a freshman assembly rep in 1993. Why it is coming now is because Scott Walker wants to distract us from his unpopular Budget. Walker has the state 2 billion dollars in the hole. We need to make sure we are on the offensive on his perceived conservative credentials, where we can point out that he borrows money and has given Wisconsin a deficit.
Workers rights matter and its impossible to support workers rights by taking away workers contract rights.
Democrats cannot afford to make the weakest points in what we stand for a litmus test of our candidates for office and part of public debate just because the Republicans demand it. If we want to have a great society we need to talk about it on our terms.
We all new Right to Work for Less was coming. Walker was a Co-Sponsor of this legislation as a freshman assembly rep in 1993. Why it is coming now is because Scott Walker wants to distract us from his unpopular Budget. Walker has the state 2 billion dollars in the hole. We need to make sure we are on the offensive on his perceived conservative credentials, where we can point out that he borrows money and has given Wisconsin a deficit.
Workers rights matter and its impossible to support workers rights by taking away workers contract rights.
Democrats cannot afford to make the weakest points in what we stand for a litmus test of our candidates for office and part of public debate just because the Republicans demand it. If we want to have a great society we need to talk about it on our terms.
Hmmmm…maybe the whole point of the RTW bill is to distract from just how shitty the budget bill is…and how unmanageable their self made deficit happens to be:
http://www.newiprogressive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4910%3Astate-gop-rush-to-pass-right-to-work-legislation-distracts-from-bad-budget&catid=38%3Athe-state-news&Itemid=56
Good prediction, Ed. The revenue numbers for January were dumped this afternoon, and they showed drops for both income and corporate tax revenues. The budget deficit is getting worse.
What we really need in Wisconsin is “freedom from gerrymandering.”