Wisconsin Unions Rally But Stay On The Job For Now

[FBaggins]

Following the Wisconsin state Senate Republicans' surprise move to unilaterally end collective bargaining rights for thousands of state workers, union activists are keeping up their protest pressure -- but steering clear of a rumored general strike -- for now.

At 9:00 Thursday morning Madison time, union supporters across the state will gather for the latest round of protests aimed at Gov. Scott Walker (R) and his plan to strip state unions of many of their current rights. In the social media cacophony following last night's vote, many supporters called for union workers to walk off the job as early as Thursday in protest of Walker's plan, and the latest Republican moves to get them through the legislature.

So far, union leadership hasn't signed on to that plan. But worker representatives in Wisconsin told TPM Wednesday night that strike is still an option -- and one they'll use if they have to.

More...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/wisconsin-unions-rally-but-stay-on-the-job-for-now.php#

[SoCalNative]

1. THey need to walk out and not come back

until every last shitstain that voted to take away their rights is gone.

[FBaggins]

2. I suspect that most of them care about their jobs more than fighting this fight.

Staying out for months (because that's how long it would take) without an income is not an option for many. The right may claim that they're overcompensated, but plenty of these folks live paycheck to paycheck.

In the end, the changes mean an 8% paycut and a weakening of their union... but a weakening to levels that already exist in many (most?) states and for federal employees. Sure... the big picture is that workers' rights are being taken away, but the little picture is still that they're deciding between a paycut than they probably can't stop anyway... and a job loss.

Most aren't going to make that call the way that you would like.

[WhiteTara]

3. don't unions have strike funds anymore?

that used to be a part of being in a union. If not, we may need to set up a paypal account and help keep these people going.

[FBaggins]

4. Enough to replace salaries for everyone?

Not even close.

Particularly when you're not talking about the AFL/CIO supporting a strike against one employer... you're talking about ALL public employees. Those kinds of actions almost always involve a larger union membership supporting the comparatively few who are on the picket lines.

Take the teachers' unions as another example. They're already forbidden to strike (contractually), so why would the union have a strike fund of any significant size?

If not, we may need to set up a paypal account and help keep these people going.

I'm not sure that you understand the dollar amounts that we're talking about. This isn't a pizza fund... it's millions upon millions of dollars.