Posted on 05/31/2012 5:36:47 AM PDT by sgtyork
Public-employee unions in Wisconsin have experienced a dramatic drop in membership -- by more than half for the second-biggest union -- since a law championed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker sharply curtailed their ability to bargain over wages and working conditions. Now with Mr. Walker facing a recall vote Tuesday, voters will decide whether his policies in the centrist state should continue -- or whether they have gone too far. The election could mark a pivot point for organized labor. Mr. Walker's ouster would derail the political career of a rising Republican star and send a warning to other elected officials who are battling unions. But a victory for the governor, who has been leading his Democratic opponent in recent polls, would amount to an endorsement of an effort to curtail public-sector unions, which have been a pillar of strength for organized labor while private-sector membership has dwindled. That could mean the sharp losses that some Wisconsin public-worker unions have experienced is a harbinger of similar unions' future nationwide, union leaders fear. Failure to oust Mr. Walker and overturn the Wisconsin law "spells doom," said Bryan Kennedy, the American Federation of Teachers' Wisconsin president. Wisconsin membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-the state's second-largest public-sector union after the National Education Association, which represents teachers-fell to 28,745 in February from 62,818 in March 2011, according to a person who has viewed Afscme's figures. A spokesman for Afscme declined to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Wis ping list - filling in for AfraidfortheRepublic
FTA — “Public-employee unions in Wisconsin have experienced a dramatic drop in membership — by more than half for the second-biggest union . . .” KABOOM!!! This made my day. Drive the union thugs into the sea!!!!!
Oh, pull out the tissue.
What is the membership declining? Were their jobs eliminated, or did they opt out of the union?
Is Wisconsin a “right to work” state?
even though they have left the union, will they not still vote democRAT in the election?
Good question, but one thing's for certain... it spells a shrinking pool of $$$ for the union bosses.
I suspect most just opted out of union. Dues are approx. $100 per month depending on union, location, contract,etc. Everyone is trying to save $ these days...
No, Wisc. is not a RTW State. Maybe the Gov. will push to become one after next week’s election!
I work with and know several union members who DO NOT pay their union dues, still the union will protect them when the chips are down. Some have told me, I have better things to do with my money”. Heart warming isn’t it?
Didn't the law also stop the state from forcing employers to take union dues out of the employees paychecks as with tax withholding?
Also see :
Schultz/MSNBC Launch 'Get Out The Vote' Effort Against Scott Walker
Thanks sickoflibs. Have a great day, all.
If the Repubs can hold out and maintain control til the end of the year, the Dem party in WI will be broken beyond easy recovery. The key recall race is Walker -- Half the state Senate comes up for re-election in November anyway.
Afscme? Do capital letters cost more?
I’m pretty sure it is due to a change in union dues collections. The state no longer collects for the unions; hence union members are getting their dues back in their paychecks. I kind of doubt they are going to give that money up voluntarily now, hence the drop in membership.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
I opted out. I’d rather give the dues to a charity of my choosing, where they’ll actually do some good.
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