‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Walker Recall Taking a Toll on Big Labor
- Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:54pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett faced off in their second and final debate before the state’s labor union-induced recall election this Tuesday. During the debate Walker defended his reforms to public sector wokers, saying his decision to curb collective bargaining for most public employees was working for taxpayers and that he deserved his full term. Walker defended the approach which he says led to more than $1 billion in savings and was the only way to fix the state’s budget without significantly raising taxes or damaging services. Walker has held a solid lead over his Democratic challenger in the week before the election, but Barrett come out aggressively Thursday night, calling attention to investigations stemming back to Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County executive. While some suggest Barret may be closing the gap, the governor’s reforms and hyper politicization in the state since 2010 looks to have had a toll on labor regardless.
A Wall Street Journal report this week finds that public sector unions in Wisconsin have seen a dramatic drop in membership since the Walker reforms were enacted. With Walker up seven points in the most recent polling, many observers are now wondering if a Walker win will mean the end of big labor as we know it.
Michael Lotito, a San Francisco attorney who represents management in labor disputes and has testified on labor issues before Congress, told the WSJ that a victory by Walker “will be a dramatic signal to local and state politicians they can, in the name of fiscal responsibility, tell unions…to come into parity with private-sector workers, especially on benefits.”
Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, joined “Real News” Friday to discuss the effect of the Walker reforms on the decline of membership in the state’s public sector unions, whether or not collective bargaining is really even is a right, and the national implications a Walker win could have on austerity and labor.
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trotula
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 1:08pmThere is something so basically UN-American about this scheme: Public employees being FORCED to join unions, get their dues (which remember, was OUR tax money) siphoned off their checks, and then get re-funneled back to Democrats. That’s just plain corrupt.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 1:43amThey need to do something in Florida about those people trying to steal the election. They need to recall that Judge and see is he is politically inclined towards leftist leanings. These people are destroying our country. Had they had time to take the internet out, there would hardly have been a whimper. Surely those people in Florida will not stand for this. They are losing their vote and it will be lost by being cancelled out by those not legal to vote. There will be all kinds of voting irregularities going on. This has been in the works for quite a long time. Florida had better do something about that ignorant Judge and find out what his story is. He had no right to do that to the people.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 1:38amWhy should Unions azz be supported off the backs of working America? Why should those people who collect our taxes be paid more benefits than the Americans who are paying their azzes? Why do we need to pay humongous salaries for people in Congress and retire them on more than 10 ordinary people make out here doing manual labor and working by the sweat of their brow. This is what they have brought us: Obama and a bunch of thugs throughout our government. Let’s start this mess from scratch. These people have used our money to enrich themselves and think they are better than the people they have bled dry. They are destroying our Military, our Republic and the American people are being led down a path to lose their freedoms to even choose what they eat by a bunch of thugs, drug users and leeches. It must stop now. They are even trying to allow illegals to vote and steal our very right of voting from us by cancelling it out by illegals voting. They have no right to vote in this country. This is our country that our forefathers fought and died for. Run their azzes out.
Report Post »boverst7420
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:38amScott Walker I wish you a winning hand. you did what you were elected to do. Its time for the unions to go back to the hole they crawled out of.. Its hard to imagine a group being allowed to tell people they have to pay dues or not work. The thing that makes me the maddest is promoting a candidate you would not vote for and using workers money to do it. Wake up WI. vote for someones thats on your side.
Report Post »Titainiumman
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 5:40pmWith unions you have the worst worker making the same as the best.
Report Post »Titainiumman
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 5:37pmThere needs to be a federal law that prohibits uions from having due through automatic deductions,Once a person has to sit down and write the check they can usually find a better use for it.
Report Post »There also needs to be a law so your can get out of the union anytime you want,most people don’t realize that when employed in a business that has a union you can join anytime you want,but you can only get out during a small time window that is near the contract negotiation date.
deerfawn
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 1:27pmhttp://www.franklincenterhq.org/5600/pro-walker-protester-gets-in-the-mi-at-clintons-barrett-rally/
another reason why unions should go. Don’t forget to watch the second video where he gets arrested for peacefully protesting the unions
Report Post »deerfawn
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 1:05pmmy husband works under union contract (he is not a member, thank you Texas for being a right to work state) However every thing is about seniority not qualifications or work ethic. Right now they have someone moving up into his section, not because he is qualified, but because he is next in line. There are several people who are qualified but don’t have seniority .
Unions are a joke in my book. Wish they’d all go by the way side.
Report Post »Vrilgesellschaft
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 11:35amThis can be seen as the death throes of “big labor”. Actually, labor hasn’t been big since about 1978. Of course they want you to think they are huge. Only their egos are huge. Within twenty years, they labor movement will consist of hairy-eared geezers who used to screw on lug nuts at GM in the eighties. They will be like the old geezers you see in Red Square holding photos of Stalin. Their cause crushed, they wander about, watching history roll by.
Report Post »inblack
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 2:26pmDon’t kid yourself.
Walker will be out and Big Labor is 1st in line at Obama’s table.
Labor will not go easily and the repubs have blown it in Ohio already by not taking them seriously.
Report Post »Truthnotpolitics
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 10:50amI’ve seen first hand how union thugs operate. If you go to a tradeshow as an exhibitor in some states, you must sign an agreement to allow union labor, and be billed accordingly. Want to plug something in? Gotta have a union electrician…”oh thank you sir, I don’t think I could have plugged that three prong receptacle in without your expertise”. Need to carry something in? Must hire a union laborer. Hang a sign? Same thing. I’ve seen exhibitors who break these rules have their booths vandalized by union thugs. I’ve been in some companies where union representatives actually said they were there to stir things up, and was proud and arrogant when they said it. I hate unions….many are extortionists.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 3, 2012 at 2:45pmThis should be illegal. They are controlling commerce within the United States. These people should be looked at for obvious conspiring to stop trade and productivity. It is called extortion.
Why should America be held at the mercy of Unions? This is our country, and people should have some organization, but they are hogging all the money and benefits. They try to suck up to cops, firefighters, teachers and those who they are taking dues from. Those who make more than the average person are keeping it going for themselves and help they in turn sway political parties who will keep them as they keep left in political power. These sorry people keep their sorries people in teaching positions indoctrinating the youth with this leftist rhetoric for it is job security for them. Throw the bums out. They have feed at the public trough long enough.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 9:38amThey are going after Jindal now and they have several other states they are targeting with the same intimidation and fear mongering tactics! It’s like we live in a country with a dictator. CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THIS REGIME IS GONE.
Report Post »Arizona Don
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 9:34amGovernment and unions are both corrupt. Both are also the reason so many jobs have gone overseas. If the corruption of both is not soon curtailed it will cause the destruction of this country.
Report Post »ALL4FREEDOM
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 7:25amWhat is the difference between organized labor and organized crime? There isn’t any. Union leaders are no better than parasites, living oof their hosts (the membership) and giving back nothing productive in return. The likes of Richard Trumka and Andy Stern are no better than bedbugs.
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 6:44amHaving been a manager-leader in getting a maritime union “decertified” from a tug boat operation, I can tell you that the only goal of unions is the perpetuation of the unions; namely, their pension and welfare funds. Real talent is stymied by seniority by work rules.
Need to lower hourly wages? No problem, just don’t touch those funds!
Corruption on an unprecedented scale.
Report Post »RebelPatriot
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 4:10amThe fact there is even a recall election shows just how crooked and underhanded the progressives have become. Just because you don’t like a candidate doing what he said he was going to do, doesn’t mean you should be able to recall his appointment.
If that’s the case we should recall King Hussein, he promised hope and change and we are still hoping things are going to change.
Let’s recall King Hussein, he probably didn’t even deserve to be in the WH to begin with, being born in Kenya and all.
Report Post »centerright2
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:30pmStand tall Wisconsin! We are counting on you!
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:19pmStand against the union goons. Unions have become the leachs on this economy. We are dying as a nation by this cancer that was supposed to protect us. Run the unions out of your state do not let them get a foot hold.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 9:32amThe fact that union membership has decreased means that there are several large issues, such as the fact that many people are realizing that they:
1.) still have their jobs
2.) can pay their taxes
3.) can feed their families
4.) still have access to services needed, such as schools for their kids.
They are also probably still remembering how the union members trashed their State Capitol building and how Tea Party Members volunteers went in to help clean up.
http://scaredmonkeys.com/2011/03/05/clean-up-day-in-wisconsin-tea-party-members-plan-%E2%80%9Cit%E2%80%99s-time-to-take-out-the-trash-day%E2%80%9D-at-wisconsin-capitol/
The original estimate for the clean up was 7.5 million. Later the unions re-calculated the amount and came back with a lower figure. Wonder why? Oh, yeah, and let’s not forget…. after the Tea Party members stepped forward to help, the unions scrambles in line behind them, shouting “Me, too! Me, too!”
Report Post »rpeggy39
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:27pmUnion Goons have long outlived their original purpose and have become legal Extortionists. It’s time for them to go.
Report Post »Tree_Butcher
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:45pm…but the problem is that they ARE going and they’re coming here to Texas. i have been seeing more and more Michigan and Wisconsin plates down here.
I do hope they realize that if they try to make Texas like the states they just left what the reaction will be…
Report Post »subsailor
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:23pmI believe Gov Walker will win in a decisive victory. He has shown the people in WI. that reform is possible, and budgets can be balanced. Most taxpayers are tired of public employees having cream filled twinkie jobs while they have to make do with beans and franks. Despite big labor pouring millions of dollars in advertising into the campaign. They will lose big time.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:11pmUnions are organized bullies with lotso mulah they collect from decent but ignorant to the facts people.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:04pmThe Unions do not fear… for Big Brother Obama is here!
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:04pmI think labor heroes like Michael Moore should join with Willie Clinton and Willie Nelson and drive this baby home! Glenn, Sean and Bill are card-carrying union members, and they know in their hearts that their current and former Fox employees will eventually suffer if Walker squeaks through.
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:12pmThey are union members because the corrupt actors guild forces them to be. I bet Glenn isn’t going gto renew his when the time is up.
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