Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Bully Tactics Exactly Why We Still Need Worker Protection

Suppose you had a boss that demeaned you in public? Accused you of being greedy when you just wanted to make a decent wage to support your family? Threatened to fire you, lay you off, or cut your wages and benefits? Who saw no value in your service to the public, and who accused you of bankrupting the state and even causing the country's economic recession? Who finally, along with his cronies behind closed doors, and without any input from you, shredded your and your fellow employees' contracts to bits?

This is essentially what Governor Walker and fellow Republicans did in a secret meeting on March 9, when they "voted" to eliminate most union collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin public employees. The vote was held behind locked doors, with only one Democrat present, and no notification to the public as to the new bill's contents.

Walker had previously stated that he was only interested in getting the state budget balanced by asking for union pay and benefit cuts, as well as repeal of collective bargaining rights. Walker, however, had recently passed several tax cuts for businesses--including allowing new businesses in Wisconsin state to pay no taxes for two years--which were estimated to cost the state a severe loss in tax revenues in the future. Unions had also agreed to previous pay cuts and reductions in future pay, as well as higher contributions to health and pension plans, and were offering to do so again.

Yet Governor Walker was not satisfied with mere taxpayer savings, and held out for repeal of state workers' collective bargaining rights. Democratic lawmakers meanwhile had fled the state to stall his bill, and loud protests against the union-busting portion of the bill had gone on for more than three weeks in the state capitol. In a sudden surprise move, Walker and fellow Republicans took the budget portions out of the bill, and in a secret closed session voted for the revised bill which would eliminate collective bargaining rights. Walker asserted that they didn't have to have any public input on the bill, or have Democrats vote on it, because the revised version no longer contained any budgetary items.

Walkers' and fellow Republicans' bully tactics and disrespect for the democratic process demonstrate exactly why we still need worker protections. Public employees contribute much to this society, and deserve more respect. They are teachers, public health nurses, food safety inspectors, librarians, and street and parks maintenance workers--among many others. They work hard, and have already made many financial concessions in Wisconsin and many other states. They've taken pay cuts, wage freezes, and are being asked to take unpaid furloughs, as well as contribute more to retirement and health plans.

They do not, according to recent statistics, make more than the average non-union private employee.

And they did not--contrary to some efforts by Republicans to divert the real blame from shameless crooks in banking and on Wall Street--cause the economic melt down. They're just working and middle class people like you, trying to get by in this never-ending economic downturn. Some day Americans will wake up and realize this, and Republicans and Tea Party activists should think long and hard about kicking the working class when they're down--it's bound to come back to haunt them some day.

While Governor Walker did sign the anti-union bill into law on March 11, on March 18, Dade County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi entered a temporary restraining order against it, saying the original secret committe vote violated Wisconsin's open meeting law.

Efforts are also under way by some to recall the Republicans who voted for the union-busting bill http://www.recalltherepublican8.com/ But whatever happens in the long run, it appears there are many people who will continue to fight for fair democratic process--as well as the rights of America's working class and middle class citizens.