Governor Scott Walker is afraid. He’s so afraid that he’s talking about the National Guard to put down what he thinks state workers’ reaction will be for his attempts to pay for his tax breaks for millionaires by gutting their pensions, cutting their benefits, and forbidding them their right to bargain collectively. What worries me most is that US National Guard troops have not always shown the same restraint Egypt’s military recently has. Do you remember Kent State? If killing government workers will help the rich, that’s OK with the Republican leadership.
Last month, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said that if employees strike, “they should be fired,” and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) wrote in an op-ed that the moral case for unions “does not apply to public employment [Murdoch delinked].” Now, facing a $137 million budget deficit, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has proposed a “budget repair bill” that would severely limit collective bargaining, eliminate the right of unions to negotiate pensions, retirement and benefits.
Walker is facing fierce criticism for this all-out assault against state workers, especially after he insisted that the “National Guard” will be used against a walkout:
When asked by a reporter what will happen if workers resist, Walker replied that he would call out the National Guard. He said that the National Guard is “prepared…for whatever the governor, their commander-in-chief, might call for. … I am fully prepared for whatever may happen.”
Traditionally, the National Guard is called to assist Americans in times of crisis; so Walker’s attempt to use the National Guard as a tool to suppress dissent is particularly deplorable… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Ed Schultz covered this story very well in two segments of last nights show. In the first, he gives an overview and interviews two school teachers.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
In The second, he interviews Wisconsin AFL-CIO President, Paul Neuenfeldt about union busting through budget cuts.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Wisconsin is just an microcosm of Republican union busting strategy nationwide, and it seems they are willing to enforce their abuse of power by force.
10 Responses to “Wisconsin GOP Declares War on Unions”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Folks are fighting back here is Wisco….. Walker has also proposed new laws that add excessive restrictions that would all but eliminate our growing green Wind Energy industry AND reclassify certain wetlands so that a political crony can build a big box retail store. He has leased a NEW Yukon ?SUV for his personal use and has increased his own personal security force. Scott is one weird fuck. (also a college drop-out) 🙄 Fighting Bob LaFollette is rolling in his grave.
Jim, he sounds like a real piece of work.
KASICH should be fired, and Thomas is an idiot who SHOULD be struck against! This is a typically fascist ploy union-busting GOP officials are attempting to use. Reagan established the very unethical practice of firing public workers if they strike. Pawlenty especially, but all the others as well, need to be reminded that working for the government does not constitute the surrender of one’s civil rights. Workers’ rights are NOT arbitrary, to be defined as a GOP officeholder sees fit! This is an all-out attack on working people. I certainly hope the unions will fight back with all the might they can muster!
Jack, the union busting is about 2012.
Another chapter in the assault on workers and unions ; Union busting at its most flagrant;
They want to make kill unions to get union’s out of elections.
How about asking the CEO’s of these companies to cut their salaries to say, oh, 40 times the rate of the lowest paid worker? Wouldn’t THAT be ENOUGH? How about working on THAT douche-bag Walker? 👿
That would be a 90% cut for them.
This piece of shit does not need the National Guard when Bush put The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team under NorCom control for use in case of natural disaster and PUBLIC UNREST. Obama signed them into a permanent stateside force November 1st 2010. I am sure that with Wisconsin being a swing state and all and the president now openly pandering to all sides…
Fuck Posse Comitatus and the rest of the constitution these bastards all have turned it into another useless document.
Good point, Mark.