I'm mad as hell and I have no fucking clue what to do about it.

[Doktor Howl]

I had to google the aircraft controller strike...

So there's going to be emboldened management everywhere, and workers will become viewed even more as interchangeable cogs?

Yes.

Problem?

[Luna]

Google "Ronald Reagan aircraft controller strike".

Don't need to, I remember it.  I also remember that air traffic controllers striking was, at the time, at least, against the law, as a violation of public safety.

Wisconsin has a law against strikes by ANY public workers.

There's some question about whether destroying the unions will make it legal for them to strike.

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/feb/25/public-workers-prepare-strike-experts-disagree-law/

Strikes by public employees are illegal in Wisconsin, but Paul Secunda, Marquette University Law School associate professor, said laws vary between state and municipal workers. Contract language also makes a difference.

"There is a limited right to strike based on going through mediation and the arbitration process, but of course the bill would get rid of all that," he said. "Maybe all bets are off if this legislation goes through."

Janesville Education Association President Dave Parr isn't so sure.

He said unions are prohibited from striking as long as there is arbitration. Since Walker's proposal permits negotiation of wages, it could prevent a legal work-stoppage.

...

A "state of emergency" provision authorizes "a state agency to discharge any state employee who fails to report to work as scheduled for any three unexcused working days during a state of emergency or who participates in a strike, work stoppage, sit-down, stay-in, slowdown, or other concerted activities ..."

A general strike, discussed by the Madison-area AFL-CIO, might circumvent that provision. A general strike involves several unions—public and private. Some of which might not immediately feel the effects of the bill.

Secunda said there hasn't been a general strike in the U.S. since 1968. That's when Martin Luther King Jr. marched with sanitation workers in Memphis, boycotting unfair treatment and harsh working conditions.

"There would have to be some legal analysis done," Secunda said, "but I think, personally, the public sector does have the ability to engage in a work stoppage if this law is enacted."

[Luna]

Sounds like people are pretty damn pissed.

http://www.themudflats.net/2011/03/10/wisconsin-capitol-stormed-occupied-by-protesters/

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/117739363.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41996994/ns/politics-more_politics/

They stormed the Capital building last night, had to be dragged out by the police today.  The building is locked down.  The measure has to go to the Assembly, which can not meet if the building is not open to the public.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

I had to google the aircraft controller strike...

So there's going to be emboldened management everywhere, and workers will become viewed even more as interchangeable cogs?

Yes.

Problem?

Just checking to see that we're on the same page.

Before I started looking into it, I was as optimistic as Luna.

I've been wondering what have public sector unions been able to leverage in their bargaining if they can't legally strike?

[Luna]

Before I started looking into it, I was as optimistic as Luna.

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult around here...

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

Before I started looking into it, I was as optimistic as Luna.

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult around here...

Neither.

I still hold out a tiny bit of hope that people will figure out a way to learn from the air traffic controller fuckery, but in my gut I know people are more swayed by talking points, talking heads, and hearing themselves talk than they are by things like history and facts.

[Luna]

The fact that it was Saint Ronnie who did it (and therefore MUST be the anti-union god... despite the fact that he was a union boss) means it MUST have been the right thing to do.

Mind, I'm not a big fan of unions.  I have to deal with them, and the ones infesting this place are a constant pain in my ass.  Yes, they had a valid purpose.  Yes, they did good things.

Yes, I'm sure some of them still do good things.

Negotiating safety issues?  Excellent.  Good.  This they SHOULD do.

Demanding free health insurance for state teachers, when every other bloody teacher in the state pays a percentage of their own insurance?  Sketchy.

Here's the trick, people.  It's called NEGOTIATIONS.  Learn to say no.  When they demand something outrageous, take something they want off the table.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

The fact that it was Saint Ronnie who did it (and therefore MUST be the anti-union god... despite the fact that he was a union boss) means it MUST have been the right thing to do.

Mind, I'm not a big fan of unions.  I have to deal with them, and the ones infesting this place are a constant pain in my ass.  Yes, they had a valid purpose.  Yes, they did good things.

Yes, I'm sure some of them still do good things.

Negotiating safety issues?  Excellent.  Good.  This they SHOULD do.

Demanding free health insurance for state teachers, when every other bloody teacher in the state pays a percentage of their own insurance?  Sketchy.

Here's the trick, people.  It's called NEGOTIATIONS.  Learn to say no.  When they demand something outrageous, take something they want off the table.

Are you "Lady Luna" over at politicalforums.com?

[Luna]

Are you "Lady Luna" over at politicalforums.com?

Nope, not me.

[I_Kicked_Kennedy]

...
Demanding free health insurance for state teachers, when every other bloody teacher in the state pays a percentage of their own insurance?  Sketchy.

Here's the trick, people.  It's called NEGOTIATIONS.  Learn to say no.  When they demand something outrageous, take something they want off the table.

Not to necessarily refute your point, but please read the following and entertain the possibility that, if they had requested such a thing (I can't find it right now, but it wouldn't be the first time I sucked at Google), you may understand where they were coming from:

http://news.illinois.edu/news/11/0302teachers_CraigOlson.html

I guess my biggest issue is that, not only will this NOT improve the state's budget (in fact, I'd assert it will make things MUCH worse... what with a decrease in income you will see a drastic decrease in... duh... tax revenue), but its a red herring. We know that the largest reason for budget shortfalls is corporate tax breaks, poor distribution of tax resources ("hey, instead of putting your contributions into a money market account, or something that will somewhat correlate with inflation, we'll use it elsewhere and hope that by putting other state contributions into the stock market and high-yield high risk mutual funds, we'll be able to give you what you already paid for and exploit that for our pet projects, as well), and misrepresentation of fiscal status (Wisconsin's budget is not 3.8billion off. Read this: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf). What people are trying to avoid mentioning is, dollar for dollar, the state worker's pensions were covered. The Ombudsmen fucked up, but even then, not as bad as they'd suggest.

[Luna]

Actually, the problem wasn't the public workers at all.  The problem was that the governor manufactured the budget "crisis" in order to stage this whole mess.

There was, according to the governor, a 137 million dollar deficit.

AFTER the governor handed 140 million in tax breaks to large corporations.

http://jacksonville.com/forums/politics-forum/2011-03-06/wisconsin-governor-gave-140-million-tax-breaks-corporations-last

[Jenne]

Yeah, I hope the Wisconsin voters are realizing what they've done.  I mean, I KNOW people who live there and think they live in a motherfucking "Progressive Paradise."  But I believe those folks were just a WEEEEEEE bit complacent and didn't get their voters out.

[Jenne]

Actually, the problem wasn't the public workers at all.  The problem was that the governor manufactured the budget "crisis" in order to stage this whole mess.

There was, according to the governor, a 137 million dollar deficit.

AFTER the governor handed 140 million in tax breaks to large corporations.

http://jacksonville.com/forums/politics-forum/2011-03-06/wisconsin-governor-gave-140-million-tax-breaks-corporations-last

The Koch Bros thank him for his service.

[Juana]

 

Google "Ronald Reagan aircraft controller strike".

Don't need to, I remember it.  I also remember that air traffic controllers striking was, at the time, at least, against the law, as a violation of public safety.

Wisconsin has a law against strikes by ANY public workers.

They should strike anyway. It's a retarded law that can be peacefully resisted.

[Luna]

Well, here's one way to deal with it.

http://www.dane101.com/current/2011/03/10/firefighters_target_mi_bank_for_executive_support_of_walker

When the firefighters arrived at the Capitol this morning they started the chant "MOVE YOUR MONEY!" Firefighters Local 311 President Joe Conway told the audience they should move their money out of M&I Bank. The bank was one of the leading contributors to the Walker campaign due to contributions by current and former executives and board members.
...
Following speeches by Conway and Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association Mahlon Mitchell, the firefighters marched to the M&I Bank across the street and picketed the bank. Some reports suggest the firefighters withdrew $192,000 from the bank.

The branch is now closed for the day, apparently.