Wis. GOP leader: Anti-union bill non-negotiable

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Republican Senate Majority Leader said today that a provision of the budget bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public employees is not negotiable.

Democrats and union leaders say they're willing to agree to parts of the proposal that would double their health insurance contributions and require them to contribute 5.8 percent of their salary to their pensions. However, they want to keep their collective bargaining rights.

But Republican Scott Fitzgerald said Saturday that the terms of Governor Scott Walker's proposal are not negotiable, and that the bill will pass as-is.

He is calling on Democrats who left town Thursday to return to take up the bill.

Meanwhile, police are anticipating what could be largest crowds seen yet in the week-long demonstrations against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate public employee unions' right to collective bargaining.

Crowds swelled to an estimated 40,000 on Friday as pro-labor protesters - including thousands of teachers, grade school children, firefighters and college students - protested the Republican governor's plan.

CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports more demonstrations are planned at the state capitol in Madison today, including a large rally organized by Tea Party groups in support of Walker's proposal, raising fears of confrontation.

[moretruthnow]

Republicans and the billionaires who are running the GOP have been anti-worker rights and anti-union for decades. These are middle class Americans who have worked for their pay and are not bilking anyone. As long as republicans rely on Fox to lie and tell them have terrible unions are (for those billionaires) they will keep voting to give more power to republican billionaires who are against the middle class and have no interest in those who have lost their jobs. They have only contempt for anyone who is struggling to exist since the jobs have gone overseas.

[lovethiscountry]

Union Workers make up only 11.9% of the wage and salary workers. The media pay for a union worker is $917/week compared to non-union $717/week. The union workers benefits and retirement packages are superior to the non-union workers. How do you think the non-union workers feel about the union workers having to take salary and benefit decreases and even have collective bargaining being decided by the people who pay the taxes? No sympathy at all for the union workers---who because of their "sweet-heart work" packages over the years have forced manufacturing out of the US to compete in this global economy and for the increase in local taxes to levels that retirees can no longer stay in the homes they had planned to retire in. The county is broke, the states are broke, local governments are broke and I am broke!!!!!

[ge556]

It's really scary to risk your job and stay off work. But there comes a time when a person has to stand up against the bully who's stealing your lunch money.

It's very sad that the unions have conceded the big pay cuts, and are only asking to keep their unions intact. The public employees are already paid less than private employees, even when total compensation is compared. The lower-paid employees, like the teacher's aid making $21,000, are going to be hurt badly.

TruthTeller in Madison

[southpaw99]

The unions have already indicated they would make concessions regarding the monetary issues concerning health/retirement benefits. This should satisfy the governor and the republicans.
The most important issue for the unions is the right to Collective Bargain.
Let me provide an example on how important this right can be.
As former federal employee working at a VA Medical Center I became aware of serious asbestos exposure issues.
I was very concerned about our veteran patients and fellow employees.
As an employee, I notified top-level management of my concerns and was immediatly rebuffed.
I therefore became a union official and utilized Collective Bargaining rights to address the working conditions.
I was finally able to get managment to address these asbestos exposure issues using that method only.
I think you might agree as to the importance of these rights

[Stevenapoli7]

It's about time Unions and public sector employees have their feet held to the fire. It is not their God given right to bilk taxpayers. They should fund their own retirement and their own health insurance like everyone else.

[retm-w]

FlangeSqueal8

Doubtful you will shut down Ohio. Ohio has very few unions left, all the union jobs went south or offshore.

[bigsk8fan]

republicans are anti-american. they are going after teachers in the public sector today. tomorrow they will come after you. they only care about you if you earn $250K per year like ME. thank god republicans stand up for me. because they hate you.

[Stevenapoli7]

Not true. Republicans stand for liberty and freedom. Including economic freedom. They protect the hard working people that create businesses and jobs. Democrats protect those attached to the government tittie.

[inseeisyou]

I wonder if the democratic senators will still collect paychecks for the time they spent out of the state while they were in session...

Probably ;)

I would get fired if I refused to show up for my job, how about you?

[forsanity1]

Well, the GOP Senators collected paychecks when they used the filibuster -- sometimes from a restaurant down the street -- to grind the US Senate to a halt.

This is just a creative way for the minority to filibuster a bill the majority wants to "ram through" ( I know you have heard that term, huh?) ...

Personally, I think they ARE doing their job. This, of course is a matter of opinion.

[rockcutr]

Just in case nobody has noticed, all the politicians are fighting and stealing from the citizens. Not to mention their total lack of regard for the taxpayers. When it comes to budget problems they cause, it is we the people who must be made to feel guilty. Whoops!!! Totally wrong answer. There may not be a dictator of America,,,they are all the elected. Put in place to control chaos...yeah,,but, they are the ones causing it all by power hungry foolishness and a Fed which answers to no one......Kinda like what happened in Egypt. The army only killed a few people. Ladies and gentilemen who are not politicians, We have a problem and it isn't Houston's place to get the call. Oh, shucks,,,,in that case it would seem we are leaderless, with no recourse but, to cower to the corporation that makes and takes the dollar. For our own good is what would be said. As if we who pay outragous salarys to these very special people, are all out of control children. Maybe so.

[forsanity1]

by discussthis February 19, 2011 6:15 PM EST
Perhaps my sense of humor will come back when I am not called a dolt and alleged to have reading comprehension issues, by somebody who themselves has to re-read their own post to see why I respond the way I did; and then admits they simply echo other posters without any knowledge of the facts. G'day.

____________________

Translation:

discussthis was wrong about the NY Senate, signifying a reading comprehension problem that I had mentioned earlier, even though I did clarify my prior comment (to be fair), it should have been easy to extrapolate the meaning in the context given.

He or she said I posted something twice, when I did not.

I said my post was taken from another person here and that it was not a serious comment (by me), just a joke.

discussthis doesn't like being called a dolt, yet calls me "insanity". Hypocrisy indeed.

Now he or she runs away in order to avoid the humiliation of being wrong, wrong, wrong.

[nearl451]

The SCOTUS gave unfettered rights of speech to corporations and unions in 2009.

This is just the next step in monopolizing speech. Outlaw unions andthen ONLY corporations have unlimited free speech (i.e. campaign contributions).

With lighting speed, the Republicans are reminding the populus why they voted the corporate minions out (or at least tried to) in 2008.

[discussthis]

Nmmrng, yep, the DEMS fled the NYS chamber when they lost the majority in 2009.
And Insanity, I will not stoop to the name calling and gratuitous insults you threw at me, before you re-read your previous post and had to clarify your own meaning. But I still would like to see a link to your unfounded claim -- oh, what the heck, LIE -- about the GOP in NY.

[forsanity1]

You posted in the wrong place.

And you are wrong. The Democrats had the majority (32-30) in the NY Senate in 2009. There was a leadership crisis, but not a walk out, per se.

I also said I just took what thanksgreed said and ran with it, I wasn't making as serious point, just jesting.

Wow, you are sooooo defensive, you must know in your heart that you are wrong, wrong, wrong.

nearl451, will you please post your link to the NY/NJ story you mentioned, so this uninformed person can get a fact. Thanks.

______________________

As for my previous post, discussthis, you deserved my comments. I was woman enough to admit that my comment wasn't as clear as it should have been.

Calling me "insanity" is not stooping to the name calling, huh? Ripe.