Protests In Wisconsin

[ZZ-kai-]

I am not sure why to be exactly honest with you. One could state that it's because the FF, ST and Police unions were heavy contributors to the Republican (Walkers) campaign. Another argument I heard was that they were left alone due to the fact that they are emergency personel and that a strike from those unions would literally put 'the public' at risk.

Here are some interesting campaign donations that I found perculiar:

MADISON, Wisc. — As the Tea Party movement and union bosses prepare to clash in Wisconsin, it is worthwhile to keep in mind that many millions of dollars of union members’ dues have been spent to fuel the Democratic Party in past elections. Here’s a breakdown of what some of the top unions donated to the Democratic Party in the 2008 and 2010 election cycles:

-The AFL-CIO, whose president Richard Trumka is orchestrating much of the protests in Madison this week, donated $1.2 million to Democrats in 2008 and $900,000 in 2010.
-The American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees donated $2.6 million to the Democrats in 2008 and another $2.6 million in 2010.
-The National Education Association donated $2.3 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.2 million in 2010.
-The Teamsters union donated $2.4 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.3 million in 2010.
-The SEIU donated $2.6 million to Democrats in 2008 and $1.7 million in 2010.
-The Carpenters and Joiners union donated $2 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.1 million 2010.
-The Laborers union donated $2.6 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.2 million in 2010.
-The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers donated $3.8 million to Democrats in 2008 and $3.2 million in 2010.
-The American Federation of Teachers donated $2.8 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.7 million in 2010.
-The Machinists and Aerospace union donated $2.5 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.1 million in 2010.
-The Communication Workers of America, which includes employees from several television and radio stations and other publishing platforms, donated $2.2 million to Democrats in 2008 and $2.1 million in 2010.
-The United Autoworkers union (UAW) donated $2.1 million to Democrats in 2008 and $1.5 million in 2010.
-The United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) donated $2.1 million to Democrats in 2008 and $1.9 million in 2010.

Most unions gave a negligible amount, if anything at all, to the Republican Party over the past two election cycles.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/19/un...y-financially/

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ZZ-kai-

I am not sure why to be exactly honest with you. One could state that it's because the FF, ST and Police unions were heavy contributors to the Republican (Walkers) campaign. Another argument I heard was that they were left alone due to the fact that they are emergency personel and that a strike from those unions would literally put 'the public' at risk.

Here's the article about the firefighters' union:
Wisconsin Firefighters: We'll Give Up Pay to Save Collective Bargaining

"The reason that we are here is because it's important that labor sticks together. There was a message from the governor's office to conquer and divide...collective bargaining is not just for us, police and fire, it's good for all involved. It's a middle-class upbringing."

"Collective bargaining is not about union rights; it's about rights of workers...We ask Gov. Walker to come back and negotiate with the people, negotiatie with the state workers' unions, and get things worked out, as opposed to just putting out this bill and we don't hear from him again."

"Us as firefighters, we have been exempted from this bill...There's a 5.8 percent pay into the pension, there's a 12.4 percent pay into the health care premium benefits...For the betterment of the government, for the betterment of the state, we don't mind helping to pay for that. We don't want to price ourselves out of a job. Ever. What we want to do is have a fair and equitable treatment among our members."

Personally I don't think unions are inherently bad. I think without them, or without the threat of them, corporations would take advantage of a glut in the labor market by paying unreasonably low wages that people will feel compelled to take. I don't see things returning to the 1910 status quo, but it wouldn't have been a positive thing either. That said, unions aren't always good either, and if they DO price themselves out of a job others should be hired - at reasonable rates - to do the work. I don't 'get' when unions protest the construction of buildings that use non-union labor, if their work is superior it should pay for itself, but for all I know those buildings hired contractors who hired and exploited workers to do shoddy work.

Basically, I don't think the fiscal cuts are unreasonable, but I think the 'union-busting' measures are a purely political move and a pretty bad one.