Union Protesters in Wisconsin Capitol
Thursday and Friday saw the state capital in Madison jammed with screaming protesters as thousands of teachers staged a “sick out” closing a number of schools in Wisconsin. They joined other public employees in Madison to protest proposed cut-backs in the state budget that would affect their incomes. Some lawmakers were afraid of leaving their offices because of the turmoil.
At stake is a bill designed to address the state’s budget deficit. Governor Scott Walker, who says the state is “broke,” is asking legislators to pass his Budget Repair Bill to combat a $137 million shortfall through June 30. An upcoming two-year budget for 2011-13 must address a pending $3.6 billion deficit, he said.
Bill opponents say they won’t allow a vote unless Walker negotiates on the plan to eliminate collective bargaining rights for everything but wages. The legislation also would require most employees to pay more for their pensions and health insurance benefits. Even so, the amount of the contributions would be less than what most private sector employees pay.
In the meantime, Democratic lawmakers have fled to Illinois to avoid having to vote on the issue. The defecting Democrats say they won’t return until Walker agrees to negotiate with the teacher’s union on the governor’s proposals to reduce the state’s budget deficit by cutting benefits for its members. They also want language removed from the bill that critics say threatens the existence of all public employee unions in the state.
However, under state law contracts may not be broken. Wages and benefits under contract will continue in force until the contract expires at which time wages will be renegotiated. If, at that time, workers need higher wages to maintain their cost of living respective to their contributions to healthcare or pensions they can collectively bargain.
One assemblyman in a radio interview stated that his wife was a teacher, and that the bill would affect the state legislators as well so both of their incomes would be impacted. But he said he would still vote for the measure because, “It is the right thing to do.”
Saturday, union protestors were joined by Walker supporters who met outside the capital building. The rally began with the crowd reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Vicki McKenna, a Madison-based radio talk show host, said voters made their desires clear in November, and that the government they elected should be allowed to govern.
Tami Stewart, 26, of the Stevens Point area, carried a “Teacher for Walker” sign. She said Walker’s proposals are “not outrageous,” and that she knows “a lot” of her colleagues in public schools back Walker but “are too scared to say anything.”
Dave Westlake, the Watertown small-business owner whose pro-Walker Facebook posting Thursday triggered the rally, said he was thrilled by the turnout. “This all came together in 48 hours,” he said.
Although the rally was scheduled from noon to 3 p.m., it ended about 1:20 p.m. Westlake credited the efficiency of the speakers. “You can tell we’re not part of the government,” he said.
