Union Busting: Wisconsin governor signs bill restricting public workers' rights

Wisconsin governor signs bill restricting public workers' rights


Raises would be tied to the rate of inflation, unless state voters approve an exception. The legislation also requires unions to hold a new certification vote every year, and unions would no longer be allowed to collect dues from workers' paychecks.

Some weeks ago when this affair began Mr. Walker, the governor, repeatedly said that this was about the Wisconsin budget deficit, a deficit that he helped create.  Unable to pass a budget bill because the minority Democrats in the state senate left the state and the senate couldn't muster the quorum needed to pass a spending bill, Mr. Walker and his Republican partisans removed the spending measures and passed a union busting bill.

First, this was never really about spending.  Rather it was a mean spirited move to break the state employees union.  While Common Sense is not a great fan of unions, this bill with its requirement for yearly recertification is simply wrong.

Second, it is not plainly clear that Mr. Walker is more concerned about idealogical purity than the Wisconsin budget.  Throughout the process the union indicated a willingness to compromise on money.  As things now stand Wisconsin's budget issues have not been addressed and the state employee's union is justifiably outraged.   It appears that many of the state's voters are likewise disgusted with the blatant hypocrisy  displayed by Mr. Walker and his radical Republican cohorts as evidenced by several recall petitions.

In Common Sense's view this is not the politics of democratic common good.  Rather it is a sad example of radical ideological purity perverting government.  When a majority disregards the legitimate concerns of a minority democracy is simply mob rule.  When a majority is unwilling to negotiate with those that disagree with them based on ideological purity then democracy has been replaced by religious rule.  This is a sad case study in what is wrong with American politics and a wakeup call for serious reform and the need for a centrist political party.