Largest state unions won't seek recertification by Thursday deadline

[Recursion]

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

By the end of Thursday, the major state employee unions covering tens of thousands of workers will have effectively lost their official status.

Top leaders for those unions say they won't seek to meet the high hurdle for keeping that current status as laid out in Gov. Scott Walker's union bargaining law. With a deadline set for the close of business Thursday, so far only four smaller state unions have said they are seeking to keep their status by winning a difficult recertification vote.

Marty Beil, executive director of the 23,000-member Wisconsin State Employees Union representing largely blue-collar workers, said none of the units in his group will seek recertification.

...

So far, only three smaller state unions representing building trades workers, prosecutors and other attorneys have filed with the state seeking to keep their official status. A fourth union representing a small number of state research employees will file Thursday. School and local government unions don't have to make their decisions yet.

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/Largest-state-unions-wont-seek-recertification-by-Thursday-deadline.html

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Ugh

[sinkingfeeling]

1. So, the public employees' unions are officially busted?

[Recursion]

2. It's kind of an open question at this point

The government isn't going to stop dealing with the union, so it still exists but in a sort of legal limbo. (It's like I say to my conservative friends: I get that you hate unions, but just from a logistical standpoint can you imagine the chaos if every single public employee had to negotiate his or her individual salary? Even Walker doesn't want to go there.)

[bread_and_roses]

6. Without a union, I don't think individuals would be "negotiating"?

I think they would be "at will" employees (the EMPLOYER'S will, that is). I worked for a very long time in non-union human services organizations - my salary/benefits/work conditions were not "negotiated" by me - I could take them or leave them, and as an "at will" employee I could be fired or "let go" for any or no reason.

And, I'm guessing, THAT's what Walker wants.

[Bandit]

7. The government does not want to negotiate with anyone period.

Their attitude is, if you don't like your job quit, there are plenty out there that will come to work in a heartbeat..... No negotiating, no job security, no nothing for the common joe.....Republicans are quite evil IMO and I am just amazed so many common workers in America support them...

[jwirr]

8. I think you are right there - when it comes to contracts with foster parents,

medical facilities and other organizations that they contract with to provide care for clients it is the state that sets the wage. i.e. Medicare/Medicaid.

[pam4water]

3. That's terrible. :(

[dotymed]

4. Please remember that this latest chapter of public Union

destruction began in Indiana with Mitch Daniels, W's ex-economic advisor.

[elocs]

5. Yes, I read about it last night here at DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1980885