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| Union members protest in Columbus, Ohio, against an attempt by Republican Governor John Kasich to strip collective bargaining rights from public employees. |
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker is now threatening to lay off thousands of state workers if he is unable to ram through legislation that would terminate collective bargaining rights for nearly all Wisconsin state workers.
The attack on unions, however, is not limited to Wisconsin. Republican lawmakers in Indiana voted late last week to advance House Bill 1468, which would put Indiana on a fast track to outlaw union security clauses. In Ohio, GOP Gov. John Kasich is pushing SB 5, a bill that would strip collective bargaining rights from Ohio public employees. And in New Hampshire, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly last week to make New Hampshire the first state in the Northeast to enact a “right-to-work” law.
The 221-131 vote in the N.H. House sends the controversial bill (HB 474) to the state Senate without the two-thirds super majority that would be needed to overcome a potential veto from Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who strongly opposes it.
“We are witnessing an all-out attack on collective bargaining rights under the pretense of trying to get state budgets under control,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Public sector employees and union members are being made scapegoats in a shameless campaign that sets new standards in political hypocrisy.”
Fri. March 04, 2011
Now is the time to stand up and demand our Rights! Far too long have the Republicans & this upstart \"Tea Party\" had their way! and Fox news swaying the masses of people who are against Pro-Choice, to believe -ing everyone of us is for abortion, we\'re not. But I do believe we have and always should have the right to secure our future & the futures of our children, by negotiating our contracts, it is not only good for us but alson good for those who refuse to join Unions.Tue. February 22, 2011
When are union members and leadership going to stop making concessions and step up and be counted? Everything a union member has achieved was bargained for in the 60s & 70s. The opportunity to have single payer health care, health care for all, has passed. With it\\\'s passing, unions must bargain for health benefits instead of raises. Iowa has a \\\"right to work for less\\\" law. We had a Democratic governor that promised to at least have non-union worker pay their fair share, but that didn\\\'t happen. Why are unions bargaining to give away benefits bargained for, sacraficed raises to get, without shutting down government? Union busting, or giving up? I retired. after the company I worked for took $3.00 an hour away in the last contract negeotiations. Our union couldn\\\'t even get a enough to vote NO to take a strike vote. Thanks for letting a 35 year union member vent. I\\\'m frustrated that my son and grandchildren will have less than I have.