[jaydubya2]

What is the membership declining? Were their jobs eliminated, or did they opt out of the union?

[donozark]

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...

[Michael Barnes]

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.

[Elsiejay]

“What (Why) is the membership declining? Were their jobs eliminated, or did they opt out of the union?”

I believe that formerly (pre Walker) union mbrshp was mandatory, annual dues being paid out of state-appropriated funds, apart from funds appropriated to pay salaries and benefits, by state employees using state offices and facilities. Teachers and state employees now pay union dues personally, at their personal discretion.
(I’m a former Univ. of Wis. faculty mbr, non-union position, not currently resident of Wis.; perhaps a current Wis. resident will correct the foregoing as needed).

9

[WI Robert]

With the new law they can op out so they did. The last poll I saw of public employees, they support Walker 52%

[WI Robert]

No public jobs have been cut in Wisconsin due to the new law, the only community's that had to cut jobs were the ones that the unions pushed to extend the old contracts before the new law went into effect, ask Tom Barrett, MPS (Milwaukee Public schools) had to make big cuts, including his wife. So like many places it was the unions that cost jobs.