Government

Wisc. Gov. Briefs National Guard About Unrest After Unions Blast Emergency Budget

New Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker admitted he had to brief the state’s National Guard last week about potential unrest after union leaders expressed anger over his emergency budget proposal. That budget would effectively end collective bargaining rights for state workers in an effort to plug a $3.6 billion budget hole.

Walker, a Republican who took office in January, said no one should be surprised by the move he will ask the GOP-controlled Legislature to approve this week given that he’s talked about doing it for two months.

“This is not a shock,” he told the Associated Press last Thursday. “The shock would be if we didn’t go forward with this.”

But union leaders were taken aback at the scope of his proposal. On Sunday, they started running ads opposing the measure:

“This is a shocking development,” said Bryan Kennedy, president of AFT-Wisconsin, which represents 17,000 workers. “It ends collective bargaining for public employees in our state, after 50 years of management and workers solving problems together.”

That led Walker on Friday to admit he briefed the National Guard about potential unrest should state workers take action, a possibility once workers realize the proposal is almost a sure thing.

That’s because Democrats are powerless to stop it. Republicans control the Assembly 60-38-1 and the Senate 19-14.

“To say it’s a power grab would be a huge understatement,” said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha. “It‘s hard to believe he’s even serious about this.”

Walker said the changes are necessary to avoid up to 6,000 state employee layoffs and the removal of more than 200,000 children from the Medicaid program.

The state faces a $137 million budget shortfall in the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Under Walker’s immediate plan, all collective bargaining rights would be removed for state and local public employees starting July 1, except when it comes to wages. But any salary increase they seek could be no more than the consumer price index, unless voters in the affected jurisdiction approved a higher raise.

Contracts would be limited to one year and wages would be frozen until the next contract is settled. Public employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues.

The proposal would effectively remove unions’ right to negotiate in any meaningful way. Local law enforcement and fire employees, as well as state troopers and inspectors would be exempt.

Walker’s plan also calls for state employees to contribute 5.8 percent of their salaries to their pensions starting April 1. They would have to contribute at least 12.6 percent toward their health care. Those two items would generate $30 million by July 1 and roughly $300 million over the next two years when combined with the other concessions.

“I got elected to deal with the problems we face in the state,” Walker said. “The two biggest problems are the economy and the budget.”

The right of private sector employees to be members of unions is governed by federal law, but state and local unions are covered by Wisconsin law. The right to collectively bargain over a broad array of issues, including salary and benefits, is granted under that law. Walker and the Legislature can add or remove negotiable issues by changing that law, the State Employment Labor Relations Act.

There’s nothing stopping Walker from proposing a law change, said Paul Secunda, a Marquette University law professor who specializes in labor law.

“But unions and public unions are very strong in Wisconsin, but if he wants to take on that he’s going to lose a lot of the support that got him here in the first place,” Secunda said.

There are roughly 175,000 public sector employees – including state and local government workers and teachers – who are union represented in Wisconsin, according to data maintained by Georgia State University professor Barry Hirsch and Trinity University professor David Macpherson. Of those, roughly 39,000 are state employees and more than 106,000 are teachers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: Business Insider)

Comments (212)

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  • Race
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:22am

    Ayup, gonna get interesting. Kudos to the guv for having some balls.

    Report Post » Race  
  • simple thought
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:21am

    glad to see someone has the balls to say enough……….

    Report Post »  
  • driver268
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:19am

    Its about time!!! Other States should take notice, the only way to solve the budget problem is to cut spending! Ask any family or company what they do when they run out of money.

    Report Post » driver268  
  • Marquis28
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:17am

    As a former resident of unionworld a was was forced to pay union wages, with no vote and no benefits as a minor. It built my distrust from that moment on. Union operations support thugs and lazy people.

    Report Post »  
  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:16am

    Fair bargaining….ha ha….more like extortion

    Report Post »  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:49pm

      The taxpayers were NEVER at the table with these folks. We found out what was in these contracts through leaks…..and even then it was a fraction (60 of 2000 pages) of the deals. We are done with that.

      Report Post »  
  • smithclar3nc3
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:15am

    Fire all union employees and make the state a right to work state. There would be a line around the corner to fill every position. Abolish all public union contracts and benefits packages and give them the standard package offered by non union states.
    Basicly pull a Reagan on them….

    Report Post »  
  • amcrebel
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:14am

    Hats off to Gov. Walker. It is about time a state has stood up to Labor Unions !! The unions and their goons only KEEP people who don’t want to work working and KEEP people who want to work from working. The days of organized labor are over No more bleeding dry companies who are in business to make a profit and increase the size of their business with unsustainable wages and bloated benefits . I have been and UNWILLING union member in three different labor unions and have never reaped a return on my membership dues!! All of the companies to which I worked for went out of business or left the areas I worked in for cheaper labor costs THANKS Teamsters THANKS AFL-CIO THANKS IBEW THANKS FOR NOTHING

    Report Post »  
  • threedoor
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:14am

    Dosen’t look like it goes far enough.

    Report Post » threedoor  
  • tinydd
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:12am

    Does this surprise anybody? It’s going to be happening all over the country and the Unions are going to either live with it, or riot and end up dying for it. Either way, spending has to be controlled now, not later.

    Report Post »  
  • ofallon
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:10am

    Kudos to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He is a patriot and has my prayers for a smooth transition without the need for the National Guard.

    Report Post »  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:39pm

      As I said in an above post, there will be no unrest. Support for the unions at this point needs to be literally purchased. They have admitted that they will have very few dues payers when these proposals pass. Their own membership will not support them. Says an awful lot about the state of the union workforce in this state.Scott is doing the right thing, they are retaining a very very good deal for themselves now and into the future. In addition they are insulating themselves from layoffs,furloughs, and further abuse by the unions. One Milwaukee representative, Spencer Coggs, has called this “legalized slavery”. I don’t have the link, but the audio is priceless! This proposal will save much more than 300 million, because of the way the state pays municipalities in the form of “shared revenue”. Estimates run upwards of 1 billion…..So this is important to us.

      Report Post »  
  • coloneloliver
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:10am

    Stock up on food and amunition, its coming our way.

    Report Post »  
  • Will NV
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:09am

    Union Workers
    Americas Oxymorons.
    I wouldn’t use the two in the same sentence.
    More like useless workers.

    Report Post »  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:07am

    If this goes through, maybe the unions will finally realize what it’s like to contribute to their OWN health and retirement plans as is the case in private businesses, but I won’t hold my breath. And the matter of a cost of living increase only? They should thank their lucky stars that they even get that, once again, lots of private businesses don’t even give that due to profits of the company. Good for the Gov, I hope it passes and they hold their ground!

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
  • NICE NICE TACO
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:06am

    Support Governor Walker!!

    Republicans who don‘t support Walker’s efforts
    Monday 02-14-2011 7:58am CT

    Senator Rob Cowles 2nd District 800-334-1465
    Senator Mike Ellis 19th District 608-266-0718
    Senator Sheila Harsdorf 10th District 608-266-7745
    Senator Luther Olsen 14th District 608-266-0751
    Senator Dale Schultz 17th District 800-978-8008
    Senator Van Wanggaard 21st District 866-615-7510

    Report Post »  
    • Red Meat
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:24am

      Fire all the union goons and rehire without a contract.

      Report Post » Red Meat  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:22pm

      Thanks Taco, I have been getting polite but nervous aknowledgement all morning. Both my reps are solid. These are all outstaters, squishy republican lite types. They need assistance, support, direction….A PHONE CALL!! Get on it!

      Report Post »  
    • dawnmms
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 2:30pm

      Thanks for the numbers. Also put out the word to vote in tomorrow’s election for WI Supreme Court Justice and vote for PROSSER. If this does in fact pass, wee need to be sure that we have a court that won’t be legislating from the bench. Keep the 5-4 Conservative balance and vote for Prosser!

      Report Post »  
  • xm-1774u
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:06am

    i hate being right .dark days ahead

    Report Post »  
  • Lantern
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:06am

    This is happening in Ohio, also.
    http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/10/copy/unions-in-a-fight.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
    Not sure if we will need the National Guard or not, yet.

    Report Post » Lantern  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:29pm

      went to that link. it appears the unions do not get it. the vast majority of the posts are in favor of the bill in the Ohio congress.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • dlmarsh
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:03am

    It’s about time, the unions want to share the wealth through forced redistribution of income. Kind of like the Progressive, Graduated income tax which is supposed to make it fair even though there are at least 40% of Americans that pay no federal income tax and 40-50 million Americans that don’t even file income tax returns according to the IRS.
    Not have the unions share the pain too, they haven’t had to before. Hopefully alot of states will follow the lead of Wisconsin and the roll towards States rights and the 10th Amendment will continue onward.

    Report Post »  
  • constitutionaldirective
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:02am

    ““It ends collective bargaining for public employees in our state, after 50 years of management and workers solving problems together”..

    I’m SURE he meant to say: …after 50 years of DRIVING OUR STATE TO BANKRUPTCY…

    IF YOU CONSIDER STATE SOVEREIGNTY A PROBLEM, then you could say they “solved” something!

    Report Post » constitutionaldirective  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:16pm

      Bad fact, collective bargaining is only 40 something. They have done this much damage in 20% less time than they thought.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:01am

    .
    Unions members with protest signs vs. National Guard with M-16′s? I wonder who will win?

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • PatriotDaze
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:06am

      why don’t you ask the Egyptians.

      Report Post » PatriotDaze  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:22am

      I dont know.

      Who has the most rocks?

      and will there be camels involved?

      Report Post »  
    • whereareyourbrains
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:26am

      The egyptians are not winning. They are going to be controlled in a different way.

      Report Post » whereareyourbrains  
    • PatriotsCause
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:40am

      “Unions members with protest signs vs. National Guard with M-16′s?”

      And if just one of those Troops with that M-16 were to fire upon the crowd it would be the Left’s “best dream come true”…

      Imagine the following headline: “US Military Fires Into Crowd Of American Citizens Peacefully Trying To Save Their Jobs”

      You know that MSM would “spin” the facts, but what if it wasn’t really a Troop with the M-16 that fired but yet a “plant” from the Left to help further their cause.

      Top down, bottom up, inside out!!!

      Do you wonder who would win now???

      Report Post » PatriotsCause  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:00am

    Good for Wisconsin…. Maybe now, other states will follow Wisconsin’s lead.

    Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:26am

      hopefully here in Ohio

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • bhscpa
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:45am

      Second the motion – Ohio should do the same!

      Report Post »  
    • Down2TheC
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:50am

      Not here in IL. Quinn’s solution is to spend more, tax more, borrow more. Now there’s a winning strategy… I may have to move to the other side of the Cheddar Curtain.

      Report Post »  
    • stanleythemanly
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:00pm

      I live in Wisconsin and we are fighting the progressives … it is an uphill battle! Collective Bargaining is NOT a right in our State Constitution.

      Report Post »  
    • 8jrts
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:24pm

      There are other states trying this type of thing out. My Governor (Christy) is fighting unions and it is always an up hill battle! No one wants to pay any %s into their pensions or heath care. They want it for the rest of their lives on taxpayer dime. Can’t be done! That simple, can’t be done. Christy is making them pay into it. Like it or not. May not get him elected again in NJ, but it may get him elected POTUS.

      Report Post » 8jrts  
    • 8jrts
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:26pm

      Another blond moment….my best friend is Christy…I meant to type Christie….Ooops!!

      Report Post » 8jrts  
    • Lantern
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:57pm

      STOIC and BHSCPA
      http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/10/copy/unions-in-a-fight.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

      Report Post » Lantern  
    • mwconservative
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 8:48pm

      i’m proud to live in WI. Go Walker!

      Report Post »  
  • robertbennet
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:00am

    Unionization itself is a threat itself, Trust me I know a union top official and they love talking about strikes and chaos

    Report Post »  
  • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 10:59am

    Being in charge is a tough position for anyone who really wants to fix the problems. Those who have been on the gravy train for so long are going to go crazy once the new ways take effect……….the unions have out lived them selves and yes I was once a UMWA member back in the day. I saw then the way member’s used the union to there advantage while screwing the company every chance they could……….seems everyone seems to think the pot will never run dry…………BEWARE BAD TIMES ARE COMING TO CITY NEAR YOU…BE READY!

    Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
    • Uncurable wound
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:30pm

      Isnt union another word for gang?

      Report Post »  
    • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:39pm

      I have to say that back in the early 1900′s at least in the coal industry the owners were real killers. The union then did help get at least livable conditions. But as time went by and the Government added programs to help protect workers the unions were not needed. BUT they still went on and yes they have become a gang type organization in my opinion…………

      Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:11pm

      “I saw then the way member’s used the union to there advantage while screwing the company every chance they could…..”

      And these same geniuses then wonder why the owner’s took the jobs, their jobs, overseas
      where most people are just HAPPY to have a job.

      Wait until these ‘Americans’ have to get by on $2.00 a day…
      like most of the rest of the world does…..

      “Workers of the world, unite! It’s not just a slogan any more!” – Andy Stern

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
    • Kpax
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:42pm

      When I was in high school I worked part time in a grocery store. The union wanted me to join I refused. When I refused they badgered me. When the union went on strike I went to work. They threatened me. After the strike was over they all wanted to have a kumbaya moment. Many union workers said they had respect for me because I stood my ground but it was too late because I had lost all respect for them.

      Report Post »  
  • robertbennet
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 10:58am

    You Watch more fuel for the libs, Fire just another Excuse for Revolution on their Part, Little do they know that Finaly there is some Brains running things in their state !

    Report Post »  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 6:20pm

      They might be coming on with their revolution, but as the great Ash once said “I’m the one who has the gun.” I wonder if the traitors remember who has the firepower in the equation?

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • davy440
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 10:56am

    Like i’ve said before, the public sector should not of been aloud to unionize. they are a threat to our states and federal economic security

    Report Post »  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:01am

      Could not agree more!

      Report Post »  
    • Deda1
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:03am

      Deunionize them now.

      Report Post »  
    • Steve Martin
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:33am

      Put a stop to these unions

      Report Post » Steve Martin  
    • uzi4u2
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:02pm

      I agree. NO employee that is paid with taxpayer money should be allowed to unionize. I think they should wait for ALL the current contracts with unions to expire and tell those workers if they want to keep thier jobs,fine, just dump the unions. They can fire those that don’t want to. I’m sure there are ALOT of people to fill those jobs without a union.
      GO GOVERNOR!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • trilateral-my-ass
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 2:55pm

      Plus… how can teachers who depend on the Socialist Unions teach anything good about the Free Market Capitalism…?
      Closing teachers Unions must be the first and foremost step in restoring America!

      Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 7:36pm

      DEDA1, “Deunionize” them? Wow, you must be a labor-law attorney. Impressive!

      broker0101  
    • Dexter Alarius
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 12:32pm

      “…should not of been aloud …”
      Good Lord. I agree with your sentiment, but, for crying out loud! Can you work on your spelling?
      “… should not have been allowed…”
      Yes! Unions exist(ed) to protect the workers from abusive exploitation by management. Who is the union protecting these workers from? Government workers should not need to organize!

      Report Post » Dexter Alarius  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on February 14, 2011 at 10:55am

    Riot like an Egyptian…

    UlyssesP  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:00am

      Is that a new song by The Bangles?

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Lana40
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:00am

      I don‘t think we’ll have to worry about the ‘Unions’ taking over our country. Too many Patriots standing watch. :)

      Report Post » Lana40  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:04am

      I got a facebook message from a relative in Wisconsin this morning about this. It was a radical message from the union saying that the state was attcking families. Just another tactic used by unions.

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the union tactics video

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • beckisnuts
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:07am

      This more of the fear mongering Beck has grown famous for. Glenn does deserve some credit however. he has succeeded in bringing people from the entire political spectrum together in agreement that Glennis the Meance is on very thin ice with his theories about the “Coming Insurrection” and the demise of the West.

       
    • hickoryrat
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:20am

      Scott Walker is a true patriot.Its about damn time someone stood up to the unions that are the rot of America.

      V

       
    • fulcrum
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:20am

      Unions are very self serving and descriminatory against their own members.
      They will throw anyone under the bus to save the senior members of the union which happen to be the ones that keep the union alive.
      I ought to know I was thrown under the bus by my own union just to satisfy the personal needs and interest of three individuals on the officers board under the “seniority has privilages BS” they feed to everyone.
      The seniority BS in nothing more than a descriminatory policy based on an entitlement created by the oldest members not based on merit by based on time on job which in the private industry only means you been there longer but not you’ve worked harder or are a more valuable employee.
      If you think about the union policies and the logic behind them, you’ll realize that union is only interested in more members which represent more dues, the more workers they add to a prticular job the more dues they get!!
      But how does that affect the union worker, is that good or bad for the worker, let’s analize???
      The less you know the less valuable you are to the company as an employee thus making you more expendable, the more you know the more valuable you are.
      The unions try to appeal to everyone’s sense of lazyness by telling you you are being overworked and there should be more people assigned to do one job that can very easily be done by one person which means more members and more unions dues, but also means you are now more expendable and less knowladgeble.
      They also ask you and all members to pay a flat due or a precentage of your wages, but they tell you that you will not have the same rights or privilages as those who have been there longer than you.

      Shouldn’t those that enjoy more protection pay more???

      Shouldn’t everyone that pays the same dues be treated with the same dignity and respect???

      Or does fairness and equality only applies to the senior members of the union?

      Also those on top that are usually elected get corrupted very quickly and soon start learning how to manipulate union rules to their advantage and own personal privilages under the banner of SENIORITY!!!
      The unions are the bigest scam going at the present time next to global warming!!
      Keep drinking the union kool aid and keep giving your money to corrupted officials that all they do is buy politicians for their personal gain and power, look at Andy Stern!! Nice cushy job working for Obama and guarantee you he alrady has a job lined up making 2-3 times what he was making for the AFL-CIO.
      Trumka is on video claiming he didn’t join unions to negotiate wages

      fulcrum  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:29am

      @beckisnuts – Liberalism will never cease to amaze me. I couldn’t imagine spending 5 minutes on the huffington post site, yet liberals will camp out all day on a conservative site where they agree with nothing that is said. And Beck is the one who is nuts?

      lovenfl3  
    • GODSAMERICA
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:09pm

      @TexasCommonSense

      Nope, it sounds like an old song by the unions. Go Governor Go!!!

      Duct Tape – works over the mouths of union thugs!

      GODSAMERICA  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:12pm

      There you have it. Wonder who will be rioting in the streets? Just try and take away freebies from the sponges or in this case cut the gravy train from the unions in our society and their answer is civil unrest i.e. protest and demonstrations. Basically a bunch of grown up children pitching a temper tantrum because they can’t get their way. By all means, marshall the Guard and take the fight to the whiners and cry babies if they get unrulely. Do not confuse my comments for not being in favor of legitimate protests. But these folks are just pissed because they are basically going to have to live within their means with potentially a bit less at pay day. We all have to do that. So spank them good if they start pitching a fit. ITS WAY PAST TIME.

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:35pm

      @Lana40

      A true patriot stands with his union brother not his corporate master.

      Report Post »  
    • mcfinch
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:49pm

      We have to do something that is all I know.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Video Website

      Report Post » mcfinch  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:56pm

      Scott Walker is doing what he promised in the campaign. If I could get the deal these folks have….believe me I would do it in a second. They are still going to far exceed the private sector in pay and benefits. They wanna riot? I will personally volunteer to bust the first dozen heads. Isn’t gonna happen. The rank and file know they are plums. Outrage will need to be purchased, payment of dues will now be voluntary. Not gonna be many dues paying members left! If you stop paying your dues, these “cuts” actually arealmost neutral to the employee. In some cases they come out slightly ahead. No more furlough days…..3%raise right there. Quit whining and realize you ain’t no better than anyone else, we(the taxpayers) are done being abused. If they feel this is “legalized slavery” than I hereby emancipate you! Go out into the free world and seek non slave employment. I dare you.

      Report Post »  
    • Pocono Countryboy
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:57pm

      “encinom
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 12:35pm

      @Lana40

      A true patriot stands with his union brother not his corporate master.”

      ********

      The unions are one of two roots of the destruction of the manufacturing base in this country. The second part of the root is “Free Trade”

      Report Post »  
    • Xcori8r
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:05pm

      OMG.. First Indiana, now Wisconsin. They are closing in on us. Those of us in Illinois fear that this senseless wave of fiscal responsibility and prudence will infect the governemts in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois. — NOT… We got our home boys in the drivers seat, and they are building a caliphate in Chicago.

      Report Post » Xcori8r  
    • ilovethiscountry
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:09pm

      When I worked for the state I only paid 1% toward my pension. I thought that was very low. 5.8$ is still low. It could reasonably be higher than that,

      Report Post »  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:25pm

      Go Scott Walker!

      Unions are unConstitutional because there are no group rights. “All men are created equal” means that each individual should be treated without favoritism.

      Report Post »  
    • Hoosier Daddy
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:31pm

      The union does not give a rat’s a$$ about the individual union worker as long as they retain their control over whatever workers are left once the layoffs take effect. Whatever unions started out to be, they now exist solely to empower and enrich themselves (union leaders). Union workers are disposable pawns. Too bad they’re too stupid to recognize it.

      Report Post » Hoosier Daddy  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 2:28pm

      Wow how can the Gov attack the poor innocent union families by not continuing to steal money from other segments of poor innocent private familes. About time we have awakened enough to see the heist has been ongoing for years and the rules have been written to continue the heist until the pensions are paid? No more unions being able to demand money thru taxes from other needy working familes have earned. They can go make their own and hopefully not let another politician promise to give theirs away.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • american1st
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 2:40pm

      collective bargaining by state worker unions has killed thee state of California, but there is no chance we will be taking them away here, Jerry Brown was the one who gave them those rights back in the 70′s

      Report Post » american1st  
    • IntheKnowOG
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:02pm

      encinom

      Corporate master…LOL, that’s rich! Says the libolouge who supports “o”. You idiots are funded by the corporate giants you profess to hate. Why don’t you ask GE about all those union jobs in China? You know, the ones funded by American taxpayer’s “porkulus” dollars?

      Report Post » IntheKnowOG  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:25pm

      right on pocono

      Report Post » riseandshine  
    • docvet
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:45pm

      @CORA BLUE
      Very astute and accurate. And don’t forget the unions may take a cut in their political action funds.

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 3:50pm

      @Enicom – when your union brother starts creating jobs and offering employment for you and your neighbors, let me know. Without those evil Corportations and small businesses, you wouldn’t have a pot to pi$$ in.

      Or more accurately, you wouldn’t have people paying taxes to fund your welfare checks.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • Sergio Q
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 5:13pm

      ROCK ON GOVONOR !!!! ~Luv It!!!~
      …it’s getting closer and closer to the time when the greedy ,corrupt ,shisty unions get busted & banned …soon enought the ShareTheWealth garbage will (I HOPE, I HOPE!!!) be squelched & buisnessmen can actually open &/or run ther buisness without thuggs demanding what they have not earned.
      WORK – EARN -SAVE – BUY ..what is within you pricerange

      Report Post » Sergio Q  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 7:33pm

      No chance of riots here, ULYSSESP, because the people who want riots are too damned LAZY to actually get out and do it. In fact. In fact, you could be their Poster Boy. Don’t worry, you won’t have to leave your chair.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • My Sacred Honor
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 7:46pm

      beckisnuts
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 11:07am
      This more of the fear mongering Beck has grown famous for. Glenn does deserve some credit however. he has succeeded in bringing people from the entire political spectrum together in agreement that Glennis the Meance is on very thin ice with his theories about the “Coming Insurrection” and the demise of the West.

      LMAO. Even though Beck was no where NEAR this story, and the whispers in the wind suggest the need for the Governor to brief his National Guard, you still say the same silly “cut-n-paste” lines.
      Pretty desperate attempt at attention.
      good luck at real life.

      Report Post » My Sacred Honor  
    • My Sacred Honor
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 7:53pm

      Xcori8r
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 1:05pm
      OMG.. First Indiana, now Wisconsin. They are closing in on us. Those of us in Illinois fear that this senseless wave of fiscal responsibility and prudence will infect the governemts in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois. — NOT… We got our home boys in the drivers seat, and they are building a caliphate in Chicago.

      i have been back in Indiana for almost a year now….what happened? did I miss something???

      Report Post » My Sacred Honor  
    • DisillusionedDaily
      Posted on February 14, 2011 at 9:53pm

      I hope the governor has the gumption to stick with it. The unions can be a formidable opponent. As an ex union worker I can attest to the favoritism and corruption in the unions having been pulled from a job and sent to a lower paying job so the nephew of the local’s steward could be placed in the position I was removed from. What sucked about the whole thing is that I had senority over the nephew in the union, but I did not have any senority in his family. If the union members take to the streets, call out the Guard!

      Report Post » DisillusionedDaily  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 1:53am

      Power grab? Give me a break, it’s not a power grab, it’s economic survival for the state and still the Unions simply DO NOT CARE! Maybe we should outlaw Unions. OK, I know its a bit much, but its not so bad if you read the rest of my wish list.

      http://tinyurl.com/4rv8xsm

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on February 15, 2011 at 2:07pm

      @fulcrum…I can see some of your points but UNIONS were first started because COMPANIES did NOT provide a safe working environment many times..IF you think wages are bad now.. there was no such thing as a raise.. the conditions where people worked were so dirty you didn’t even want to use the bathroom ( which IF you worked packaging food could be bad for customers too) ..A worker had NO where to go to go or anyone to tell IF you saw say RATS being processed in your food.. Senior members got canned when they became to old to keep up with the younger workers and there was no pension or health insurance in more than a FEW companies.. HOWEVER.. now we have OSHA, for working conditions, board of health, and LABOR laws..SS and OBAMA care.. just to name a few.. Now there were and still are COMPANIES who offered pensions, healthcare (at a partial cost to workers).. they also give workers raises on a regular bases.. however.. they are few and far between.. Many union members do NOT agree with their union bosses.. actually 50% of union workers are CONSERVATIVES.. Fact is that in MOST companies (or at least good ones).. they use SENIORITY to layoff and fire employees.. USUALLY they will offer workers who have been with them a long time a BUY OUT..IF they want them to go.. this is something they do when they buy and sell companies sometimes it works out well for them however… it’s been know to backfire and the newly acquired companies have NO really experienced workers when they owners take over..LOL… MANY places that are NON union still use the last to be hired the first to be fired method.. this would make sense since they DO have more knowledge and IF there were no loyalty between the worker and employer WHY would anyone bother to LEARN to do more than one thing?? Many times it’s NOT the unions but OSHA that designates how many people it takes to do a job.. the unions do however enforce OSHA’S rules.. Where I use to work the shop was union.. every time OSHA came in they laid down MORE restrictions.. and the WORKERS started complaining to the union when the company made the workers follow them.. since the workers found MOST of OSHA’S rules and regulations made their jobs HARDER and more cumbersome to do.. I do know that SOME unions like the teamsters shook down their members for MORE money when OBAMA was running to donate to his campaign OVER their regular dues, even had them sign a paper saying how much MORE and hour they were willing to give and IF the members said NO well lets say the worker who said NO no longer has his job.. the worst unions (because the unions not the company has control) are TEAMSTERS, SEIU (which covers government job and includes teachers) ACLU, and the automotive unions.. those are TOTALLY in bed with government and in fact gets much of it’s funding from government..and NOT one of those jobs are high risk..

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
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