Scott Walker's actions left unions reeling

Milwaukee J-S ^ | 23 july 2013

[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.

[Hoodat]

I knew it was a longshot.

[lakecumberlandvet]

Similarly, if people had to write a check each month for their taxes instead of having them automatically taken out of their paycheck, we’d soon see a tax revolt.

[cripplecreek]

Well we did pass the right to work law in Michigan but it takes time for contracts to expire. Teacher’s unions are really scrambling now and its fun to watch.

[carlo3b]

All of this could have been avoided if it’s union members would have attended, or stormed, their union meetings and demanded a vote to do all of these things, but they were cowered into silence or too lazy..

[Principled]

This is the biggie! When people actually have to write that check each month it suddenly becomes real to them. Every state, every city needs to do this and congress needs to pass it for federal workers as well.

Yes this is a biggie. IF we keep the federal income tax, then this method should be used to pay taxes. Write a monthly or annual check. While that only changes the method of collection it would have game-changing effects on government spending.

[kabar]

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.

Given a choice, these former members don't want to pay union dues and be a member of a corrupt organization. What really hurt the unions was the elimination of mandatory collection of dues by the government.

[ChildOfThe60s]

A smart Pubbie would come back a couple of years later after the law had demonstrated major beneficial effects and get them included.

Incrementalism works. It’s why the Dems use it.

[Helotes]

People always talk about the demographic trends in the growth of the Democrat voter base but if the trend continues in the reduction of public sector union membership will that reduce the number of Democrat votes in the future even more?

[Godwin1]

In Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel capitulated to teachers’ union unreasonable—for a broke city—demands for a 16 percent raise over four years. Two months later. the mayor was forced to lay off 2,000 school employees, including 1,000 teachers. Strangely, we don't see local or imported mobs besieging Emmanuel. Walker furloughed no employees and was under siege for weeks.

[relictele]

FTA: "Walker can deny that he wanted to weaken public sector unions but whatever his motivation, that's what has happened."

Er, Walker has no control over union membership numbers nor does he want it.

Walker has simply demonstrated that union membership and funding is the product of coercion, a closed shop, etc.

It seems that individuals are making their own economic choices and the free market is producing a point of equilibrium - again. Naturally, this infuriates the Marxists.

[Chickensoup]

Scott Walker is the only person in the US that I can see who is qualified to be president and work on the mess left by the present administration. The ONLY person.

Cruz, Rand, Issa, Doc Carson would be a great cabinet and wonderful leadership.

But the only person I see with PROVEN qualifications is Scott Walker.

[cableguymn]

days? I’d say minutes.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I get the feeling that this one thing is going to be a major issue in Governor Walker’s re-election bid come 2014. The liberal pukes and unionistas in this state are already working overtime to defeat him.

Good Luck with that, Losers. :)

[onona]

Amazing !

Asking an entity / organization to stand on its own merits. What a concept.

No sane thinking person should be shocked by the outcome of this process. Unions are mufleeches, and this is just one more proof point.

[WaterWeWaitinFor]

A smart Pubbie would come back a couple of years later after the law had demonstrated major beneficial effects and get them included.

Incrementalism works. It’s why the Dems use it.”

Absolutely correct !!! This is how he got it passed in the first place. Divide and conquer. Darn unionistas are STILL whining here in Packerland. And I might add, it’s a beautiful sight. haa.

[0.E.O]

This is the biggie! When people actually have to write that check each month it suddenly becomes real to them. Every state, every city needs to do this and congress needs to pass it for federal workers as well.

Walker needs to finish the work and extend the same policies to the police and fire unions as well.

[SoFloFreeper]

How about a Walker-Haley ticket in 2016? Two governors, one from a Democrat northern state.....I think it has potential.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

I think you would be surprised how many actual tax-payers don’t have a clue how much they pay.

A friend of mine does tax returns for a mutual friend. This mutual friend has no real understanding as to how he may be able to reduce his tax burden. He and his wife have 2 year community college degrees, and I bet they make about 200k per year (work in IT). They just want nothing to do with politics...means they voted for Obama.

[sbMKE]

Dems are big on “freedom of choice” unless of course that freedom includes union membership or living wherever you want. The Milwaukee city council just voted to cut pay to empoloyees who move out of Milwaukee.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yes, my FRiend, think of how infuriating it is to have to belong to a union just because you have a certain job, and then they take a portion of your salary without your say so—but at worst—then spend it on policies and politicians you want nothing to do with.

Image a Wisconsin state worker from a couple of years ago, a devote Catholic, and the union is spending his confiscated money promoting politicians who are in favor of unrestricted abortion—in other words, baby killers, like Obama, who even voted against restriction for partial-birth abortion (a true horror) and letting a viable fetus die.

The only moral thing any government can do is to protect this person’s right NOT to be associated with such politics. It is, to coin a phrase from our Grand American Revolution, “Taxation (union dues taken out) without representation (high-ranking union members donating millions to Leftists, without rank-and-file agreement in any way).