WLA urges you to contact your state legislators and urge a "no" vote on Governor Scott Walker's Budget Adjustment bill that seeks to end collective bargaining as we know it and decimate public employee unions. This bill could be rushed through the legislature as early as this week!
In short, public employees are asked to contribute 50 percent of their pension contribution (about 5.8% of pay) and pay 12.6% of the cost of their health insurance premiums. Perhaps more importantly, however, the governor's proposal would limited collective bargaining for most public employees to wages, and total wage increases could not exceed a cap based on CPI unless approved by referendum.
In addition, employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues, and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues. This part of the proposal does nothing to address the state's budget deficit. Unions operate on the premise that because the union's work benefits all workers, all workers should contribute dues. Without this requirement, it is difficult to see how public employee unions will have the voice they've had in the past.
The governor's proposal would exempt only law enforcement, fire employees and state troopers and inspectors.
In short, public employees are asked to contribute 50 percent of their pension contribution (about 5.8% of pay) and pay 12.6% of the cost of their health insurance premiums. Perhaps more importantly, however, the governor's proposal would limited collective bargaining for most public employees to wages, and total wage increases could not exceed a cap based on CPI unless approved by referendum.
In addition, employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues, and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues. This part of the proposal does nothing to address the state's budget deficit. Unions operate on the premise that because the union's work benefits all workers, all workers should contribute dues. Without this requirement, it is difficult to see how public employee unions will have the voice they've had in the past.
The governor's proposal would exempt only law enforcement, fire employees and state troopers and inspectors.
The legislature's Joint Finance Committee is expected to act tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. The Joint Retirement Systems Committee is expected to meet at 2:00 p.m. News reports indicate that there will be a public hearing in Joint Finance.
Please contact your state legislators today to urge them to vote no. If you are not sure who represents you, go to the Wisconsin State Legislature's website to use their "Who Represents Me" form.
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3 comments:
You people make me sick!!!!!! pay for your own health care and retirement like every one else!!!. Furthermore, I would like to add that being in a non union workshop for 20yrs we never had much say about our raises except to work hard and EARN them!!!. Quit yer crying and pitch in to trim this budget.
it's not about unions, the unions are willing to compromise. this is about the right-wing agenda to widened the gap between the rich, and the middle class even further. 35,000 people aren't pooling around the capital and 14 senators didn't leave the state jsut because of pensions and wages it's about dissolving party funding, and votes. unions are the scapegoat. wisconsin was built on the working class, and could suffer terribly if this bill passes. I'm a low wage worker. I don't belong to any sector, I don't have any health insurance, it is not offered to me, I have two jobs and I'm out the tax bracket to receive any help from the state, so what about me? I have youth on my sidfe, but my opportunity would be lessened to buy into either, or when the time comes if this bill passes. so wake up! because it's not about unions. it's about POLITICS, and we will be suffering the consequences in it's wake.
@ anonymous: If you think you can do without your 40 hour work week, overtime pay, unemployment comp, WEEKENDS, then just let the corporations win. All of your employment rights were won FOR YOU by Wisconsin's unions. Destroy them at your peril. This is not about budget. This is about people vs. greedy corporations trying to take over the government.
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