Gov. Walker’s labor reforms saving millions – desperate unions fight back

April 4, 2012 06:41


The unions aren’t done yet: they’re now trying to recall Walker from office. To do so, they will try to convince Wisconsin voters that Walker’s reforms have rendered the state ungovernable. But the evidence, so far, contradicts that claim—and Wisconsinites seem to realize it. – City Journal

 

 

By Christian Schneider at City Journal


EXCERPTS:

Back in 1959, Wisconsin became the first state to let public employees unionize. The unions spent the next half-century productively, generating lavish benefits for their members.

 

…two changes, Walker estimated, would save local governments $724 million annually, letting him cut state aid to localities and reduce Wisconsin’s $3.6 billion biennial deficit.

 

These measures angered unions, but Walker’s other moves were even more controversial. One was to allow government employees to bargain collectively only when negotiating wages; in other areas, collective bargaining would no longer be part of the contract-making process. The unions screamed bloody murder, decrying the loss of what they called their “right” to collective bargaining.

 

Walker’s reform meant that government workers could now opt out of paying these dues …. The unions knew that, given the option, many of their members would indeed choose not to write a check—and that this would strangle union election spending.

FULL ARTICLE



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