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Wisconsinites v. Governor Scott Walker - by Stephen Lendman
Voter campaign to recall Walker gets impressive number of required signatures.
Last winter's epic battle between Wisconsin public workers and Republican Governor Walker ended badly for social justice. Nonetheless, struggling for it continues.
As issue was old-fashioned union busting. It included eroding collective bargain rights before ending them altogether. In addition, draconian wage and benefit cuts were imposed.
Brazen politicians conspired with corrupt union bosses. Rank and file interests lost out. Wealth and power ones prevailed. It's the same story nationwide at federal, state and local levels.
After draconian Wisconsin legislation passed, collective bargaining's only permitted on wage issues. In addition, health insurance and pension contributions doubled. Things got tougher for workers already hard pressed to make ends meet. Wage cuts ranged from 8 - 20% ahead of more coming.
The epic battle ended along party lines after State Assembly members passed Walker's bill 53 - 42, following the Senate voting 18 - 1 with no debate. The measure read in part:
"This bill authorizes a state agency to discharge any state employee who fails to report to work as scheduled for any three unexcused working days during a state emergency or who participates in a strike, work stoppage, sit-down, stay-in, slowdown, or other concerted activities to interrupt the operations or services of state government, including specifically purported mass resignations or sick calls. Under the bill, engaging in any of these actions constitutes just cause for discharge."In addition, the governor may unilaterally declare "state of emergency" authority to fire striking workers, and under the section titled, "Discharge of State Employees:"
"The Governor may issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the state or any portion of the state if he or she determines that an emergency resulting from a disaster or imminent threat of a disaster exists."
In other words, he can dictatorially do what he wants, especially regarding public worker rights and job security. They're gone unless resurrected by mass action, including statewide shutdowns for rights too important to lose.
Other provisions stipulated worker responsibility for half their pension contributions, and minimally 12.6% of healthcare premiums. In addition, future pay raises are pegged to annual CPI increases, a rigged index not reflecting true inflation. Greater ones may only be approved by statewide referendum. The cumbersome process takes time and often fails.
Moreover, unions must hold annual votes to let workers decide whether or not to be members, and state authorities no longer will collect union dues from paychecks.
Voter Recall Drives
Last March, voters launched recall campaigns to replace anti-union politicians. At the time, Boise State University Professor Gary Moncrief called what went on unprecedented, saying he couldn't recall a times when "pretty much everyone" was potentially vulnerable to recall.
