Labor & Employment Law

Local Officials in Wisconsin Say Walker?s Plan Hurts Their Budgets, Not Helps

By Mike Hall

More than 200 mayors, school board presidents and other local officials urged Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) to halt his attack on public service workers and middle-class jobs.

At a news conference and in a statement the group, representing more than 20 cities, 41 towns and 22 counties, said Walker?s proposal to eliminate workers’ bargaining rights harms their ability to find common ground with municipal and county employees during the budget process.

Public employees have offered to accept your proposed health care and pension concessions to balance the budget if you will respect and preserve the collective bargaining process so basic to maintaining a strong middle class.  We encourage you to accept the compromise offered by labor leaders. By doing so, all of the state and local budget savings in your proposed budget adjustment bill will be realized and Wisconsin’s historic commitment to the right of working people to organize and negotiate for fair wages and decent working conditions will be honored.

Skilled public employees and proactive public sector unions are vital for stable, cost-effective operations in municipalities, counties, school districts and state programs. Effectively doing away with local collective bargaining is not something we have asked for nor support as a ?tool? to solve our budget challenges. It is not in the best interests of Wisconsin communities.

Click here for the full statement.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 24, 2011 (boomark / email).