Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he won't cave into union and Democratic demands he compromise on his effort to curb employee benefit programs. He also vows he won't "kick the can down the street" when it comes to dealing with his state's fiscal woes.
Appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" with David Gregory, Walker laid out his plan to save his state from fiscal bankruptcy while destroying several false claims about his legislation that is being delayed by Senate Democrats who refuse to appear for a final vote.
Among the significant issues covered during his "Meet the Press" interview, Walker:
Denied he is destroying public employee unions.
Claimed that unions are not acting in good faith.
Explained the law helps local governments curb union demands.
Said public employee unions are making unusual demands on taxpayers.
Pointed out his new plan is consistent with how the federal government handles many employees.
Explained why police and firemen are exempt from his new law.
Read detail on each of these points here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
I watched him and it seemed to me he still couldn't accurately answer the question at the crux of the matter. Why not simply force employees to make the concessions (which many have said they will do) but keep your hands off of collective bargaining rights? Provide the unions with a take or leave it bill and if they leave it, lay them all off.
The wage and benefits packages are not what this is all about. He intends to break the unions. If the workers accept the cuts, (and they have) how does killing collective bargaining cut expences.
I can't speak to Wisconsin but I know in Maryland that there is no binding arbitration and no public employee strikes. The State employees only get what the Governor and the Legislature choose to give them.
There have been complaints of the State employee unions in Maryland holding the State hostage. They have no way of doing so. The $750 and other benefits in the union contract proposal have to be enacted by the legislature before the employees get them. At this point in time nothing has been approved and the employees may end up getting nothing at all.
A lot of this is about government not wanting to cut pet projects so they place the financial burden on the backs of their employees.
You don't see managment or the legislature taking a pay cut. In a lot of cases as with Congress, their benefits are considerably better than in the private or public sector. They are even too good for Social Security. They have there own tax funded super retirement plan. It's time the blame went were it should go.
Tiderunner-
You make some good points, in a very level-headed way. I'm guessing you're a DNR guy who has to talk with knuckleheads with fishing rods all day long. :-)
One of the biggest problems is the fact that it's so hard to get rid of the dead wood when the union is there protecting them.
And a related factor is the lack of productivity in some who know in the back of their minds that their boss has to swim a mile of ____ in order to do anything to them.
Those are major factors created by the union environment.
You're right that management is top-heavy, but they're protected, too. I've seen a number of total idiots in top-level positions that are ONLY there because of who they know.
Reining in the unions is not the ultimate solution, but it is a big part.
If you read the fine print in the union agreement O'Malley is waving around, the raises are only given 'if revenue projections are met', and we ALL know they won't be.
I think he also knows the $750 bonus will be a tough sell in the Gen. Assembly, but he gets 'credit' with the union for trying.
I don't think the Wisc. gov. is trying to 'break' the union-- but by limiting bargaining to wages, capped by CPI or whatever, he regains control of the out-of-control increase in labor costs, and gets a handle on the insurance and pensions.
He can do it that way, and people get to keep their jobs, or they can be selfish and watch THOUSANDS of their co-workers get laid off.
I think that's his intent.
In a lot of cases as with Congress, their benefits are considerably better than in the private or public sector
Isn't congress public?
1238-These same concessions were offered back in the fall, the union reps walked away from the bargaining table.
Personally, the public sector is no place for unions. They have OSHA, along with a host of other regulatory organizations protecting the safety of their workplace. In those negotiations with gov't officials, who's representing the taxpayer interests faithfully? Nobody. We shouldn't be paying up for bloated ineffeciency.
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