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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Things are getting ugly for public employee unions

Like many states around the country, Wisconsin has a big budget shortfall, more than $3 billion over the next two years. Republican Gov. Scott Walker has a radical proposal to cut costs: he wants to essentially eliminate the unions that represent state workers. Walker says the move would generate $330 million in the first two years.

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.

We've noted before that the economic climate is putting pressure on public sector unions to make concessions. Walker's legislation is probably the most far-reaching proposal being considered at any level of government. If it's successful -- which seems likely since Republicans control the Wisconsin legislature -- it would fundamentally change the relationship between state workers and state government. It also has the potential to remake the political map in Wisconsin, because the unions representing state workers have provided a lot of support to Democratic candidates in recent years.

Here in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Corbett is also pushing proposals that would reduce the influence of unions. But he appears to be taking a different approach than Walker. Instead of directly going after collective bargaining, Corbett is backing several proposals that would diminish the power of organized labor. They include privatizing state liquor stores and allowing low-income parents to use vouchers to enroll their children in private schools. Both moves would shift services from being provided by public employees to workers in the private sector.

Like Walker, Corbett has to sell his ideas to a Republican-controlled legislature. That means his proposals are also likely to pass, although the Pa. AFL-CIO has pledged to fight back against both the liquor store privatization and vouchers. One thing is for sure: It's a tough time in state capitols for public sector unions.

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Posted by Ben Waxman @ 9:45 AM  Permalink | 2 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:21 AM, 02/17/2011
    Things should be getting ugly. My mind could be changed if the Teachers Union ponies up about a million and a half dollars to provide for my retirement pension and health benefits as taxpayers pay for each teacher. Fair is fair.
    — tr88
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:50 PM, 02/19/2011
    Yes, tr88, fair is fair...so, once you agree to bring home less in your check to have $ go into a pension fund then you'll get one. Oh, or do you already have a 401k program?

    Once benefits are taken into account, public employees are paid around the same or less than private sector.

    If it weren't for unions...especially public unions...we wouldn't have the weekend and other things us private sector folks take for granted now. Unions help everyone - even non-union workers.
    — knon


2 comments
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Every year, city government spends slightly more than $4 billion. Where does all that money come from? More importantly, where does it go? Are we getting the most bang for our tax buck? “It's Our Money” is a joint project between Philadelphia Daily News and WHYY, funded by the William Penn Foundation, designed to answer these questions.




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