With Gov. Scott Walker unveiling legislation that will nearly eliminate all collective bargaining rights for many public employees and change how the state negotiates with unions, many Wisconsinites are understandably angry.
However, it seems unclear how the legislation will effect the state in the long run.
The best way to approach the issue at hand is to educate yourself right from the start by examining both the positives and negatives of the new legislation.
Walker claims the proposals are needed to help the state fill a gaping $137 million hole in the state’s current budget.
Furthermore, he claims his proposals will over-time help make up for a projected $3.6 billion shortfall in the next biennial budget.
By increasing employee pension contributions to 5.8 percent of their total salaries and nearly doubling healthcare contributions, Walker said the state will save $30 million this fiscal year.
Better yet, the increases in employee contributions will save 10 times as much in future fiscal years.
A positive note for employees, the increases will help the governor to avoid furloughs and layoffs.
Walker said he would have most likely had to fire 1,500 people and cut 200,000 children off Medicaid to make the same difference.
In the next biennial budget, Walker expected the issues to only get worse, possibly costing more than 5,000 people their jobs.
From this viewpoint, it seems a little more logical to contribute a bit more toward pensions and healthcare, rather than risking jobs and Medicaid for fellow citizens or ourselves.
This seems to show that the next few years will be rough, and Walker has the state’s best interest in mind.
From a negative viewpoint, many fear Walker’s proposals are an attempt to destroy labor unions.
Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal that the governor came across “more like a dictator” due to a lack of willingness to discuss the concessions that need to be made with employees.
By viewing the issue from this perspective, it’s understandable why many citizens avidly protest Walker’s proposals.
In a sense, Walker is essentially ignoring unions and telling members they will do as they are told.
Another key worry is that passing Walker’s legislation would make it easier for employers to fire employees on labor unrest, such as those involved with union strikes.
With both sides examining the issue mainly from their own perspectives, we must not listen to only one or the other.
With issues like these, it’s important we take the time to do our research and take an educated stance before we begin to ridicule one side or the other.
HD • Mar 6, 2011 at 5:09 pm
RECALL WALKER
Diego • Feb 17, 2011 at 11:19 pm
Your first sentence is a complete deception. Walker’s proposal will eliminate the ability to collectively bargain for benefits only. They will still be able to bargain for salary which comprises the great majority of their compensation. Why the deception on your part? And the rest of us in the private sector don’t bargain for our benefits either. We apply for a job knowing exactly what the retirement plan and health insurance benefits are. We can choose to accept them or work elsewhere. Is this really a great hardship that has teachers violating the law by abdicating their classroom repsonsibilities and using their students as pawns.
And the next time you try to “examine” something, why not try to get someone from each side of the issue to offer commentary. Democrat Fred Risser is the best you could do? Your analysis leaves much to be desired. Fair and balanced it is not.
Susan • Feb 17, 2011 at 3:51 pm
It is really sad to see what the unions have done to it members. They lie to them to work them into a frenzy only to sell them down the drain. They would rather loose 1500 jobs than have them pay a portion toward their health insurance or pension, which the teacher do neither. They get the best health insurance in the state, better than state employees, and pay nothing and us tax payers pay the employer and employee portion of the pension plan. As school board try to negotiate with the local unions, the only ones that win are the unions. Us taxpayers have not been able to get the unions to pay one cent toward any of it. It has to take legislative action. They tell their members that they are going to loose their homes and get pay cuts, etc. They call in sick, not caring what happens to the students whose parents both work, the lost teaching time, and most importantly is what are you teaching our children.