My Impression of the workers struggle of 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. By Dan Lane
At the end of my thoughts I have included the most dramatic assaults on the Wisconsin State, County and Municipal Unions as well as school employees.
First and foremost is the incredible response from Wisconsin workers through out the first ten days of this struggle. The occupation and constant presence surrounding the capitol is overwhelming. In the forefront are the University of Wisconsin (UW) and high school students leading everyone as they planned a Valentine Day assault reacting to cuts in the budget that would decrease funding for higher education which will result in escalating tuition.
This bold move by students, walking out of class and marching to the capitol, was inspiration to all. They were joined by unionist and activist at the door of Governor Walker. The Bill is a 140 page proposal to crush unions, squeeze health care for low income, and slash funding for senior and school programs. These cuts are to cover benefits that have been received by corporate interest that appear to be pay back for funding the governor’s campaign in 2010.
The Iron Heel, by Jack London writes about unfettered greed that lashes out with and its destructive power, corrupting everything it touches is clearly at the state house in Madison. During my two day stay in Madison I cheered with the best and chanted to the beat of the drummers in the rotunda. I marched in the square and was amazed by the peoples house, stacked circular structures crowned with a large dome all elevated above the surrounding square allowing one to view down the snow covered streets and observe the Lake Mendota and Monona.
Just as the blanket of snow is covering soil and dormant vegetation the Vail has been lifted to reveal the dirty deeds of the despicable Governor and greedy cronies. Behind closed doors a hideous bill devised and brought forth as the savior of Wisconsin economic woes with the burden being shared by all. But just the opposite is true; it targets the poor, union workers, students and seniors exempting big business and other supporter such as police and firefighters. In spite of the exemption, the police and firefighters joined workers in solidarity which has been a major moral booster.
Although I support all workers and their families in Wisconsin, I do struggle with what appears to be the strategy being used by AFL-CIO and the Internationals:
1) Continue demonstrations to gain and maintain support and applying pressure on the
political apparatus;
2) Start a recall campaign targeting 3-6 GOP senators;
3) Replace a minimum of three senators to gain major in senate;
4) Keep democrat senators in hiding until after election, and
5) Continue to offer concession and state they are a non issues, but bargaining language
must be persevered to find a truce.
The first four points could be achieved and would be considered as a victory and attainable but are medium to long-term objectives. The fifth point is clearly questionable. My concern with point five is that it has been stated several times in the media that the Union’s position is that they will accept the twenty percent concessions. So there is a perception by the community and the workers that the Union only wants an opportunity to discuss the issues. This sounds good if you don’t think about it. In fact MSNBC stated a poll indicated 71% of people surveyed supported the cuts but felt it was handled wrong and 56% supported the Unions right to negotiate. My discussion with individuals revealed similar support for concessions and dramatic cuts to the community and the unlimited power given to the governor to sell public properties and services.
This MSNBC poll possibly reflects at this time that many workers and their supporters may be overwhelmed, unaware or just not concerned. My concern is that by following union leadership’s strategy would mean that winning bargaining rights is the ultimate victory. Bargaining rights means the union would be recognized as the representatives at the bargaining table for workers. The law requires both parties make an attempt to come to an agreement and not necessarily a fair agreement. By accepting this as a victory it could lead to the following conclusions:
• Leaders will say concessions are only temporary, when times get better the losses will be recovered.
• Leaders will also say elections will bring about meaningful changes.
• Many workers won’t be able to make it financially because of monetary cuts or from work termination.
• Small businesses will falter or fail because capital is shifted by the state to corporate welfare.
• The overall economy continues to collapse.
• Corporations continue to be unchecked, without a conscious they devour people and resources.
• Workers find that their lives are continuously disrupted as they slide down a financial slippery slope to a lower standard of living.
Discussions of issues have been limited and no alternatives are being presented at this time to the public or workers. Alternatives to these drastic cuts could be: 1) generate progressive taxes that distribute the burden fairly with a sunset provision for better times, 2) cut corporate welfare, and 3) quit refusing federal funds to create jobs and new business.
At the capital awareness is at a higher level. Small business and people in general are supportive of the struggle. One has to wonder when the Union will go to the table with the state and will it stick with the concession strategy, and how will the union workers react? How will they be seen by their supporters? They appear to be painting themselves into a corner.
While talking with the electrical apprentice class in Madison I posed the question, how many of you have been to the capitol. Of the twelve present only one had been there. Most of the class thought this struggle was only about negotiations. They were unclear about the other issues. That leads me to believe that community organizing is important in order to sustain a fight and for the community to be clear that an injury to one is an injury to all. My view is that a broader outreach is needed and the blinders need to be removed in order to extend the fight beyond the present perimeter. All issues in the Bill need to be discussed and viable alternatives need to be explored creating in-dept support.
My views are limited to coverage by progressive radio, MSNBC, a two day visit to Madison, interviewing thirty individuals, meetings with activist and a few union leaders. A local paper called the Isthmus had some great coverage about the bill’s impact on voting access and abortion rights. Bill Lueders submitted his opinion to the commentary page which was dedicated to the public employees struggle states that marching around the capitol will not win the battle but “Could public employees fight back and win? Absolutely. But it would take a lot more resolve than Scott Walker and the Republicans give them credit for. It would take all out campaigns of nonviolent civil disobedience, including a willingness to risk physical abuse and mass arrest, again and again.”
I will close with it is important for workers to gather in protest and to think outside of the box. Sunday, February 27th a meeting to stop concession will take place in Madison at the Labor Temple. It is open to the public; it is being led by local union leaders to discuss these issues. Will these meeting also happen at union meeting throughout the state? I agree with Mr. Lueders, there is hope but it will not be easy.
What the Walker Bill Really Says:
Ban virtually all collective bargaining for state, county, municipal and school employees.
The agency employers and school boards could only negotiate over “base wages.”
Things like health insurance, pensions, vacation, hours of work and any other conditions of employment, including grievance and arbitration producers and “just cause,” would be “prohibited subjects of bargaining.”
Eliminate collective bargaining rights entirely for child care providers, and employees of UW Hospital and Clinics.
Eliminate grievance and contract and contract arbitration procedures for state, county, municipal and school employees.
Grievance over “just cause” in case of discharge, suspension and demotion only would be covered by statue. But those provisions are weaker than those contained in collective bargaining agreements and would cover fewer workers.
Require annual decertification election for most state, county, municipal and school employee unions.
A decertification election would have to be held every year to determine whether a majority of the people in each bargaining unit supports the union. A majority of the employees in the unit (as opposed to a majority of those voting) would have to agree to continue recognition of the union.
Require unions to pay a fee to cover the cost of holding annual decertification elections.
Terms of contracts would be limited to one year.
Prohibit state, county, municipal agencies and school board employers from collecting dues for most “fair share” employees.
The bill would continue fair agreements and dues deductions only for members of the state patrol and motor vehicle inspectors, however.
Require half of contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System to come from employees’ paychecks.
Ban limited term employees from participating in the State’s group health insurance program.
Increase out-of-pocket health insurance cost for most state, county and municipal employees.
In addition, the employers have the sole authority to set the amount paid for health insurance for part-time employees and UW Teaching Assistants and graduate assistance.
The proposed bill also orders a number of studies to find ways of cutting back on retirement benefits, health care coverage and establishing “health saving accounts” for public employees as an alternative to employer-provided health insurance.
1 comment:
The dangers of not having any demands other than the demands that serve the interests of the Union officialdom and the Democratic Party was confirmed to me in a small way yesterday.
An acquaintance of mine who owns a small coffee shop and who is a progressive politically (far to the left of the Union officials) was attacking the idea of a general strike being raised in Wisconsin. He explained that it would really hurt people in his position, a whole day's income.
He wasn't against the idea but there seemed to be no point if such an action is not for some significant reason, some real gains. While I would agree that either way we should support it, his criticism is valid.
As Dan explains in this piece, even some workers see no reason to get involved because there's no concrete issues on the table. The way Labor can win small business to our side is to raise demands that address their needs. Health care, the insurance companies and other corporate institutions that bleed them dry comes to mind, the access to cheap credit. This would make losing a days income worthwhile.
Of course, the Union officials don't even fight for gains for their own members so I cannot expect them to fight for the middle class small businesses. They only fight for them by not doing much to raise the minimum wage which is attacking low paid.
By small business I am referring to the mom and pop store with a few employees, not a Silicon Valley tech company with 400 employees that the WSJ calls small business.
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