Posted on 07/23/2013 5:07:35 AM PDT by rellimpank
Wisconsin's public employees are leaving their unions in droves, which should be no surprise: With passage of Act 10 in 2011, public unions in the Badger State lost many of their reasons for being.
The "budget-repair bill" pushed through the Legislature by Republicans and signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker limited bargaining to wages only, and then only up to the cost of living; it also required unions to recertify each year and barred the automatic collection of union dues.
Relying on federal financial records, the Journal Sentinel's Dan Bice found union membership has declined by 50% or more at some unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 48, which represents Milwaukee city and county workers. It has gone from more than 9,000 members and income exceeding $7 million in 2010 to about 3,500 members and a deep deficit by the end of last year.
Walker inherited a budget mess from the administration of former Gov. Jim Doyle. He was facing a sizable deficit and entrenched public sector unions that had big political power bases that they used to protect their members. That often put them at odds with both good government and overburdened taxpayers.
It was necessary to ask more of public workers — to have them pay a larger portion of their benefits. In particular, Walker needed to get control of spiraling health care benefits. But requiring annual certification and cutting out the payroll checkoff? That wasn't about fiscal issues. And if that wasn't political enough, the governor exempted police and firefighter unions from the act's strictures. Public safety workers often are the biggest cost for municipalities. Those unions, not surprisingly, were supporters of the governor.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
It’s no less than Tyranny for those workers—especially those who disagree with the union’s politics and political donations. Walker’s turning off the coerced dues is no less than Liberty for them.
No American should support coerced dues—unless the union is prohibited from politics completely.
Well said.
true.
(but I bet he won’t.)
We don’t have to wait to see the results - look at Detroit, there’s your answer!
...the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 48... has gone from more than 9,000 members and income exceeding $7 million in 2010 to about 3,500 members and a deep deficit... Walker inherited a budget mess from the administration of former Gov. Jim Doyle... Walker needed to get control of spiraling health care benefits... the governor exempted police and firefighter unions from the act's strictures. Public safety workers often are the biggest cost for municipalities. Those unions, not surprisingly, were supporters of the governor.
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