Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Why shouldn't it exist on a state level? It's the states that entered into these agreements, too. The states gain by collective bargaining, that's shown by how their workers tend to get less than the private sector in nearly every case.

State workers have every right to collectively bargain. What are the reasons NOT to allow it? Especially when the current Republican House is trying to decrease minimum wage, decrease workplace protections (EPA and OSHA) Looks like unions may become more necessary if the GOP has their way with the current law..[/b]

If you do not limit collective bargaining with the teachers union then there is no negiotiating with them. If the teachers union had in the last 30 yrs actually given on some items we would not be in this situation. They have a monopoly. Do you know who the healthcare provider is for the teachers in WI? It is WEAT trust ie.- the teachers union plan. If you government were allowed to shop this plan with the same benefits they could save millions of dollars to the tax payers. The teachers union would not allow it. The average time to negotiate a contract with the teachers union is 15 months. Since Gov Doyle and the democrats put us in this situation and used Pres Obama's stimulus $ to fill the holes of the budget instead of create stimulus/jobs we do not have 15 months unless you would like to see mass layoffs. It is your choice either pass the bill or people lose jobs.

The people of WI voted last November. Our state is a tax hell. Most teachers when they retire (which they get the average of their last 3 yrs pay for lifetime and if they die their surving spoust gets it) move out of state because of the tax issues. WI people are tired of paying taxes, seeing corporations move large portions of their operations (Harley, Miller/Coors, etc.). Increases taxes does not create revenue and is not a viable long term solution since it is a never ending cycle since no revenue is created. Gov Walker is not a dictator. He is doing what he was elected to do by the people of WI. He won easily and ran on the very campaign items that he is doing today. Unlike most politicians he puts his $ where his mouth is. Elections have consequences as we all know.

Just to give you an example of the taxes a typical home married tax payer who owns a $200k house in Milwaukee and makes $75k annually pays in WI taxes not including federal taxes

Sales tax 5.1%
$5200 annual property taxes
$6318 state income tax

WI is a great state, but a tax hell and things need to change otherwise we will end up like MI