Walker Strikes Another Blow Against Organized Labor

Newser ^ | 03/09/2015 | Newser Editors and Wire Services

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signs a right-to-work bill into law Monday, March 9, 2015 at Badger Meter in Brown Deer, Wis.

(Newser) – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a right-to-work bill into law today, striking another blow against organized labor four years after the state effectively ended collective bargaining for public-sector workers. Walker, a likely presidential candidate fresh off a weekend visit to Iowa, signed the bill affecting private-sector employees at an invitation-only ceremony at Badger Meter, a manufacturer north of Milwaukee. The company's president was one of the few business owners who publicly supported the measure, which rocketed through the Legislature in less than two weeks. His sleeves rolled up and his suit jacket off, the Republican governor sat at a table with a banner that said "Freedom to Work" as he signed the bill that makes it a misdemeanor to require workers to pay union dues.

Just before the signing, Walker said the new law "sends a powerful message across the country and around the world." Supporters have argued the law will help keep and attract new businesses to the state who were wary to spend in Wisconsin before. But opponents say it will drive down wages and make the workplace less safe. A coalition of more than 400 businesses formed to oppose the bill and upward of 3,000 union members and others gathered at the Capitol in a failed attempt to block its passage. The new law, which takes effect immediately, makes Wisconsin the 25th right-to-work state. "By signing Right to Work into law, Gov. Walker continues his crusade on the hard-working, middle-class families of Wisconsin," said Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO in a statement.

[4Liberty]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoConPubbie]

Lest we forget, Walker walked away from this fight originally.

This bill is on his desk ONLY BECAUSE, his GOP Legislature ignored Walkers pleas to leave this issue alone this session:

Walker Says Legislature Shouldn't Focus On Right-To-Work Bill Next Session

The real credit goes to the Wisconsin Legislature that bravely ignored the advice of their chief executive, Scott Walker, and did the right thing.

[Parley Baer]

Good news indeed.

[bigbob]

What a shallow understanding of politics...

[grania]

It makes no sense that union dues that people are forced to pay could be used for political donations. When unions started influencing campaigns, they lost sight of (1) their members and (2) their purpose.

This isn't the end of unions. It's an opportunity for unions to truly represent what's best for workers, so they'll want to join.

[11th Commandment]

This also send a message to Union members from Union Leaders... Union leaders and democrats leaders will go to the ends of the earth and spend millions of dollars to protect government unions, but barely yawns at right to work.

[MasterGunner01]

It is long overdue that the incestuous bond between coerced union membership and employers be at will. The public service unions and government entities is especially galling. This needs to be stopped and the government unions abolished. BTW, did I say I greatly dislike unions? I was forced to join a UAW local that assured: (1) they collected dues and a one time “initiation fee”, (2) I had no seniority so “last in, first laid off” applied, (3) I qualified for no “protection” from the union because my job was over before I completed the 6 month probationary period. Unions suck.

[i_robot73]

Please, enlighten us.

As the posted noted, it was wished to be placed on the back-burner as Walker is vying for the Presidential seat....That’s the only way *I* see it; running to the Center.

[Elsiejay]

” . . .effectively ended (COMPULSORY) collective bargaining (UNION MEMBERSHIP) for public-sector workers. ..”

[FlipWilson]

Meanwhile, the GOP Leaders in Washington and the GOP-e favorite candidates sang another missive about “reaching across the aisle” and not “shutting down the government or causing the U.S. to default” or some such.

[laplata]

You seem to be scared of Scott Walker.

I like Cruz a lot but prefer Walker. But I don’t attack or nit pick at Cruz.

[ex-snook]

" "By signing Right to Work into law, Gov. Walker continues his crusade on the hard-working, middle-class families of Wisconsin," said Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO in a statement."

Let's get more of the exported jobs back. That's the way to help the middle class.

[SoConPubbie]

You seem to be scared of Scott Walker.

I like Cruz a lot but prefer Walker. But I don’t attack or nit pick at Cruz.

Naww.

Just concerned with dealing with the truth, vs. the campaign rhetoric.

If he is going to campaign as the conservative candidate for POTUS, he needs to act as a conservative.

I don't like people who pretend.

[erkelly]

So if Walker hated the thing so much, why did he sign it? And by the way, Cruz is not a natural born citizen so, constitutionally, he cannot run for president. I think in the future after the Obama fiasco is finally over, the dust settles, and everything is thinking clearly, that a future congress is going to address this natural born issue and make sure that an Obama never runs again, which unfortunately means that a Cruz cannot run either — just as a few congressional cycles after FDR’s death, the issue of 2 terms only for a president was settled into law. I agree, Cruz is wonderful; he would make a great Supreme Court Justice someday!

[laplata]

That’s your prerogative. Nothing more.

Would you vote for Walker vs Warren or Hitlery? I bet you’d sit it out.

[so_real]

Nope, nope, nope. I'm sitting here in Wisconsin disagreeing with you on that one. This was perfectly executed. Last time around, when the Governor hit the public sector unions head on, we ended up with our capital building vandalized and smelling like dirty socks for months from a throng of drum-playing, red-shirted, fist-pumping, "solidarity" socialists. This time around ... no such problem. Well executed. Brilliant even. Presidential. I do agree with you, however, that our legislature indeed deserves high-praise for taking point and moving this endeavor forward. We are absolutely grateful to them. A job well done.

[laplata]

Well said. Thanks for your honest and accurate appraisal.

[BatGuano]

I'm glad that this went down so easily. The push against “right to work” laws is weak. It should carry on to many other states. Some die-hard lefties moan about it but can't come up with much more than calling it a “right to fire Law.” My answer to them is, “SO?”

[laplata]

Some die-hard lefties moan about it but can’t come up with much more than calling it a “right to fire Law.” My answer to them is, “SO?”
—

You nailed it. SO do your damned jobs. That’s typical Union mentality-—weak.