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Forum Post: Wisconsin Workers under the Thumb of Walker’s Law

Posted 12 years ago on May 2, 2012, 7:12 p.m. EST by GirlFriday (17435)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Veteran labor attorney Bruce Ehlke, who litigated on behalf of labor unions in the 1970s during a period characterized by dozens of public sector strikes, says this about public workers in Wisconsin under Act 10: “They are basically wage slaves. They don’t have any real rights.”

Ehlke and Lounsbury agree that the far-reaching provisions of this assault on public workers don’t just roll back labor law to an earlier time. They actively cultivate hostile environments for workers. “Who in the world would want to go through the effort of earning the degrees necessary to practice in these professions (teaching, nursing, law) only to find themselves in employment where they are treated as children, where they have no say at all over their conditions of their employment?” asked Ehlke.

Read the whole thing right here

50 Comments

50 Comments


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[-] 5 points by Nevada1 (5843) 12 years ago

Thank you for post.

[-] 6 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Nooooo. Thank you, Nevada.

[-] 8 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

Vote Walker Out June 5th Tuesday

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Yes.

[-] 1 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 12 years ago

Sometimes I wish I could vote in elections in every state. I would love to vote against this clown.

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[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Support the good people of Wisconny in their fight to regain their state government.

Out with the corrupt anti people politicians.

GO Wisconny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[-] 1 points by Pequod (17) 12 years ago

They could have gone into private enterprise. Its their own choice.

[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

That is both arrogant and ignorant.

[-] 0 points by Pequod (17) 12 years ago

I am not sure how its either. Do they have a choice in what career they select?

[-] 0 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

They did and now you don't like it.

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[-] 0 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Some aspects of the unions are completely out of control. I've had friends in the paving union in NY getting $27 an hour to hold the flags that wave people through.

The problem is, neither side is willing to sit down like adults and talk about things. Its just attacks. Similar to just about anything political these days. Nothing but childish names and sound clips.

[-] -1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Article 10 goes above and beyond. This isn't about some aspects of unions in general.

[-] 0 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Do you have any links to the breakdown? I'm searching and can't seem to find any.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Always ready with cogent facts. Now if they now how to look ( take the time ), but like they say you can lead a horse to water....

[-] 0 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

No doubt.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

We make progress. The information you share may not be read by those you are supplying reality to. But it is still there for those who "are" looking for facts/truth.

As always - GOOD JOB!!!!!

[-] 0 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Thanks, DKA. :D

[-] -2 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Lots of legalese.... What were the main sticking points?

[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

hchc, go back and read the article, follow links if necessary.

[-] -1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

What was the base rate of pay? In dollar terms? I keep searching for it and can't find it.

[-] -3 points by factsrfun (8342) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I wonder how far $54,000/year goes in NY?

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Judging from rent prices, not too far. Not in NYC proper. Although, There is more to NY than NYC.

[-] -2 points by factsrfun (8342) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I'm just saying whither you're cutting on brains or holding a flag you got 24 hours in a day like anybody eles and everybody deserves to eat. (PS the brain cutters in NY do a lot better I would think)

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Yeah!

[-] -1 points by factsrfun (8342) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

Thanks GF, you "get it" and I learn from you of course, maybe they will let this thing become something useful yet....

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[-] -1 points by Grownup3 (-30) 12 years ago

OWS thinks corporate control of government is bad, but union control of government is good. Sadly, it doesn't believe in people controlling the government, it instead believes government should run to benefit the entrenched employee class instead of ordinary citizens. It's fucked up, but reality.

[-] -2 points by Jagger01 (-6) 12 years ago

Yeah Walker! Beat those gd public sector unions! Walker you are doing the right thing by representing the tax payers not the Union specialist interest lobby.

[-] 1 points by VQkag (930) 12 years ago

Unions represent people! Working American families! They brought us 8 hr work days, 5 day work weeks, child labor laws, minimum wage, vacation pay, holiday pay, overtime. Walker and the repubs are against unions because they are against working American families (99%) and for corporate interests (1%). Come back from the dark side and join the movement for working American families.! We need each other.

[-] 1 points by Cweiss (-8) 12 years ago

There is nothing wrong with unions just collective bargaining. Why should any employer be forced to negotiate with one party. Make it competitive like the rest of industry.

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[-] -1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Would you support removing union money from elections also?

[-] 2 points by VQkag (930) 12 years ago

Sure. no money in politics, shortened campaigns, mandatory debates, mandatory voting (that will scare the crap out of the 1%) free airwaves and mailing for candidates(belong to public), free airfare for candidates. It could work. no money no lobbying take the government back from th corps.

[-] 1 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Would you support eliminating parties? I think it would make it easier to judge the people. No more party biases. Just raw judgement.

[-] -1 points by VQkag (930) 12 years ago

I don't prefer parties, but it is where we are and people will naturally form groups. It is tricky to limit the freedom to organize, but I think there are ways to minimize the power these parties have. If the existing parties were more responsive and accountable to the people and not corps then we might be ok. can't say I know. What do you think? now that I have answered your questions.

[-] 0 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

I thnk a big part of the people's inablity to hold them accountable is that each of the corporate parties have put together this ficticious notion of who they are, and everyone in the party spews it.

I do agree that our biggest problem is accountablity.

[-] 0 points by VQkag (930) 12 years ago

And what fictitious notion has the repub party put out as to who they are.?

[-] 0 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

Small government, personal freedom, less taxes.

Some freakin brainless zombies actually think thats what their party represents.

[-] 1 points by VQkag (930) 12 years ago

Oh you don't think that.? I thought you were republican.

[-] 0 points by hchc (3297) from Tampa, FL 12 years ago

I voted for Obama, even helped his campaign. I do enjoy campaigning, but Im no longer helping the Dems. And Im certainly not helping the Reps.

[-] -3 points by factsrfun (8342) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I heard today that AZ's SB 1070 was moving to 5 other states this year maybe and AZ is trying to get a supercharged version of Walker's anti-union bill, so wheel goes round and round.

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Well, you know, they sure as hell aren't going to prosecute those that hire them so the jack offs are hell bent on terrorizing them. Then putting them in prison.

[-] -2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

At this point they might as well rename Wisconsin to the State of ALEC.

You have to wonder how much Kochs have spent to buy it.

http://www.theuptake.org/2012/05/17/report-details-alecs-undisclosed-influence-on-wisconsin-government/

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Is Wisconsin's AG worth a damn?

[-] -1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

He seems to worth what the Kochs paid for him.

It would seem that when the push against ALEC got stronger here, is when to bot army came down on us.

Remember, you're not supposed to notice what is happening in the States.

He's a printable PDF, on the subject of ALEC in Wisconsin.

http://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/cd/ALEC_Exposed_in_Wisconsin.pdf

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Yeah, that is the problem a lot of states have. I am beginning to realize that the AG in many states ain't worth a damn. Of course, we aren't supposed to pay attention to what's going on in the states.

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

Our detractors attack me every time I bring up what's going on the States.

Is it the Ayn Rand army? The Paulie boys?

If we don't regain control of the States, we will never regain control of the Nation.

I hope like hell Walker goes down in the recall.

[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Ya! Him and his minions.

[-] -3 points by factsrfun (8342) from Phoenix, AZ 12 years ago

I got to look up the states and see what the status of private prisons are in those states, it was the private prisons in AZ that thought up the new way to strum up business, I wonder if that's what's going on elsewhere? (running out of citzens to imprison I guess)

[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Of course it is going on in all other states.

[-] -3 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

Don't forget that our friends,the Kochs are paying a lot of money to keep it that way, along with more that a few of their friends.

It’s tough to knock an incumbent out of office. Add millions in fundraising prowess and the incumbent becomes even more unshakeable.

On Monday, campaign finance reports showed Gov. Scott Walker had raised $13 million in the most recent campaign filing period from Jan. 18 to April 23, bringing the total amount raised by the governor to roughly $25 million since the beginning of his term.

The amount shatters the state fundraising record that was set by Walker when he raised roughly $11 million while running for the November 2010 election.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-report/capitol-report-incumbency-record-breaking-fundraising-on-walker-s-side/article_87e3de64-93d0-11e1-b0e8-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1tlWFKb5V