WI largest union grovels, Walker stands firm

[formerlurker]

Meanwhile Friday, the head of the largest state workers union said that his group is willing to give in to Gov. Scott Walker's demand for concessions on their benefits if the governor gives up his bid to repeal nearly all bargaining rights for public worker unions.

But the Republican governor said that would not be enough to solve the state's budget problems without overburdening local governments.

Marty Beil, head of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, which represents some 23,000 blue-collar state workers, said his group would agree to pay more of their pension contributions and health insurance benefits.

"We are prepared to implement the financial concessions proposed to help bring our state's budget into balance, but we will not be denied our God-given right to join a real union . . .  we will not - I repeat we will not - be denied our rights to collectively bargain," Beil said in a statement.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116470423.html


God given right to join a union?   Um, that's an inherent right - collective bargaining?   

[thundley4]

If they are willing to make concessions, then they know their case is getting weaker with the public at large.   

[formerlurker]

If they are willing to make concessions, then they know their case is getting weaker with the public at large.   

This is total damage control because the days of wine and song will soon be over.    What a chilling message it will send unions in the country.   I hope every other Republican controlled statehouse immediately files the same legislation. 

[5412]

This is total damage control because the days of wine and song will soon be over.    What a chilling message it will send unions in the country.   I hope every other Republican controlled statehouse immediately files the same legislation. 

Hi,

What they refuse to accept is they abused their right to collective bargaining.  Their current behavior makes the point as to why they should never, ever be allowed to be so powerful again as to circumvent the will of the majority of the electorate.  If they are getting screwed they can rally behind a candidate and try to get the votes to repeal the law down the road, but the folks of Wisconsin see what happens when they have the power.

regards,
5412

[DefiantSix]

Hi,

What they refuse to accept is they abused their right to collective bargaining.  Their current behavior makes the point as to why they should never, ever be allowed to be so powerful again as to circumvent the will of the majority of the electorate.  If they are getting screwed they can rally behind a candidate and try to get the votes to repeal the law down the road, but the folks of Wisconsin see what happens when they have the power.

regards,
5412

The reason they refuse to accept it is because they are all too wedded to the power the extortion racket that is "collective bargaining" has brought them.  Only complete n00bs to the workforce and drug-addled DUmmies still believe the unions are about "worker's rights" in this day and age.

[FreeBorn]

There is simply no satisfying "progressives", all they want is more, more, more...
Many of these folks have been working without contracts for 18 months or more. In all of that time they had a democrat Governor, Senate and Assembly to work with, the democrats controlled all in Wisconsin.
Now Wisconsin has a republican Governor with about six weeks in office under his belt so who's fault is all of this?

[rich_t]

This is total damage control because the days of wine and song will soon be over.    What a chilling message it will send unions in the country.   I hope every other Republican controlled statehouse immediately files the same legislation. 

Ohio is doing something similar.  The public unions are having a shit fit.

[DumbAss Tanker]

OK, so bring back the Dem Sanators if you want to negotiate.  The union doesn't vote on legislation, the Senators do.