|
|
Mass Strike Actions Continue to Spread
25 February 2011
Meanwhile, Democrats in the Assembly are pursuing a strategy of filibuster by amendment, to slow the bill down in that body, since they can’t prevent a quorum. When debate began on the bill, yesterday, Democrats introduced 101 amendments. By 8 AM, this morning, the Assembly had worked through only 15 of them. In the Senate, the Democrats remain out-of-state, leaving Walker and the GOP desperately scheming to lure them back, but, so far, with no success. In a speech, Tuesday night, Walker threatened that if the bill isn’t passed, there will be 1,500 layoffs before June 30 and as many as 12,000 more if there is no action by July 1. The global nature of the mass strike continues to manifest itself in other parts of the country, as the following developments show: OHIO: The Columbus Dispatch spoke to 8 Republican senators about whether or not they support union-busting SB 5, Tuesday, during the raucous demonstrations against it. They either would not express support for the bill or stated varying degrees of discomfort with it. "You need to have some form of collective bargaining to actually expedite management’s ability to deal with the workforce and save taxpayers’ money," said Sen. Timothy Grendell of Chesterland. Inside Tuesday’s hearing, a retired police union official warned that if binding arbitration is taken away from the police and firefighters, "you stand to be accountable for strikes by safety forces." INDIANA: House Democrats were still in Illinois, yesterday morning, extending the stalemate over right-to-work legislation and a school vouchers bill into a third day. The Democratic caucus said in a statement that "We will remain here until we get assurances from the governor and House Speaker Brian Bosma that these bills will not be called down in the House at any time, this session. While Gov. Mitch Daniels continues to be conciliatory, Bosma lashed out at the Democrats, calling their demand "ludicrous." IOWA: 800 union supporters defended workers’ rights in a rally at the state capital, Tuesday, which was addressed by, among others, Congressman Bruce Braley. They were not only protesting against Gov. Terry Branstad, but were also expressing solidarity with the protesters in Wisconsin. Branstad says that what he’s proposing doesn’t go nearly as far as Walker’s plan in Wisconsin. MICHIGAN: Hundreds of union members showed up at the state capital, Lansing, on Tuesday, to protest legislation that would eliminate prevailing wage guarantees, make Michigan a right-to-work state, and expand the state’s power to nullify union contracts. At least one protester, a retired auto engineer who has never been a member of a union, said he opposed Gov. Rick Snyder’s bill to fully tax pensions, which, he said, could cost him and his wife their home. NEW JERSEY: The AFL-CIO plans a rally in Trenton on Friday in support of the Wisconsin demonstrations, which will be addressed by AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, Communications Workers of America president Larry Cohen, and two Wisconsin demonstrators who are being flown in for the event. A counter-protest is being organized by Americans for Prosperity. WEST VIRGINIA: State union leaders held a press conference at the state capital, Tuesday, to call for support for the protesters in Wisconsin and warn that losing that battle will have a domino effect throughout the country. "It’s an attack on all workers throughout the country," said West Virginia AFL-CIO president Kenny Perdue. MASSACHUSETTS: Union supporters shut down Beacon Street in front of the state capitol in Boston, yesterday, protesting in support of the unions in Wisconsin. Even Gov. Deval Patrick made a surprise appearance to show his support (though, following the lead of President Obama, he has put forward an austerity budget for the state). |
Protests at the Wisconsin state capital in Madison entered their ninth day, yesterday, with no sign of any let-up. Some protesters have been sleeping on the floor of the rotunda every day since Feb. 14. On Wednesday, they were joined by over 200 local government leaders who are saying "no thanks" to Walker’s plan to take away the collective bargaining rights of public employees. They held a news conference at the Capitol to voice their objections to Walker’s budget-repair bill. The group, representing at least 20 cities, 41 towns, and 22 counties, has sent a letter to the governor asking him to restore collective bargaining to his bill. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Walker’s restrictions would undermine local control, and hurt their ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services.