I don't usually go all political on this blog, but this week's topic is inspired by local current events.
1.
UNION: an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as wages and better working conditions.
2. The union bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts (collective bargaining) with employers, which may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, policies governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, and workplace safety.
3. Thousands of Wisconsinites are rallying at the State Capitol in Madison this week in non-violent protests of a bill the Current Idiot in Charge, Gov. Scott Walker (whom I did
NOT vote for!), is trying to ram through the legislature. The “budget repair bill” removes workers' collective bargaining rights, and mandates state employees pay significantly more for health care benefits and pensions.
4. This measure affects state employees on every level, including government (office workers, social workers, etc), teachers, nurses, prison workers—basically all unions in the public sector
except local firefighters, local police and members of the Wisconsin State Patrol. Apparently even
he isn’t dumb enough to go up against
those unions.
5. The Idiot in Charge is trying to ram this bill through with little public notice and without negotiations between affected employees and unions. Knowing he has no bargaining leverage to get what he wants, Walker has instead decided to behave dictatorially and abolish unions altogether, much like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum when he can't get what he wants.
6. A special hearing of the Legislature convened at 10am Tuesday morning to hear public concerns. People could sign up to speak for two minutes. By noon there were over 200 people on the list, and many people slept in the Capitol rotunda last night for their chance to speak. The session finally ended at 3am Wednesday morning.
7.
"It’s one thing to decide that he believes that public workers need to be able to give more money at the bargaining table with their benefits, but it’s another thing to decide that he’s going to eliminate any of our ability to bargain for any of our working conditions."~ Rick Marx, Madison City employee and union steward
8. During the Legislative hearing, thousands descended upon the Capitol. It was estimated that there were 3,000 people inside the Capitol Tuesday afternoon, with another 10,000 outside. Though Walker claims fire and police are exempt from his axe, members of both unions, particularly fire, showed up in support of those affected.
9. Also on Tuesday, students in a number of local high schools organized walkouts and joined protests in support of teachers and schools. It is not only the workers under attack, but our schools as well, as Walker seeks to reduce funding where budgets are already straining at the seams. You cannot expect to better our education system by continually cutting school funding and reducing the number of teachers. That is
not how you compete academically with other countries, such as China, where children receive 40% more schooling in an average year.
10. Tuesday night it was announced that Madison schools would be closed Wednesday, as 40% of teachers had already called in sick in order to attend rallies at the Capitol. Though the open hearing session officially ended at 3am, it did not deter even more protesters from turning out Wednesday. The crowd increased, spilling into streets radiating off of the Capitol Square. They are calling for more protests Thursday, but it had not yet been announced Wednesday evening if school would again be affected.
11. Unions can be traced back to the 18th century, especially gaining in popularity during the Industrial Revolution, when unskilled workers comprised heavily of farm laborers, women, children and immigrants flocked to cities to work in factories.
12. The Catholic Church endorsed unions towards the end of the 19th Century, when Pope Leo XIII spoke out against the atrocities workers faced and demanded they be granted certain rights and safety regulations.
13. Whether you are pro-union or not, the outcome here in Wisconsin could have far-reaching repercussions, affecting workers across the nation. If one governor successfully attacks unions, what is to stop other states from attacking employees in the public sector, from essentially assaulting the middle class? This definitely bears watching.
ETA: About 9pm Wed. evening, TV networks started scrolling area school closings for Thursday—basically all Madison schools and surrounding communities. Apparently, a text message was sent out to all WEAC (teachers) members, urging all those capable of doing so to rally again Thursday and Friday. While this bill does not solely affect teachers, they seem to be the most vocal and organized. It's also worth mentioning that there have been rumors of state prison officials rallying as well, which has prompted The Idiot in Charge to put the Wisconsin National Guard on alert, should they be needed to keep order.
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