Wisconsin Faces General Strikes After Anti-Collective Bargaining Bill Passed

[Purveyor]

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Now, there’s talk of a general strike in Wisconsin, an idea that’s on more than a few lips there. The South Central Federation of Labor, the body composed of Madison-area unions, voted to prepare for a general strike in late February; protesters inside the capitol today reported chants of “General strike!” and The Uptake uploaded a video from the capitol floor of the Madison firefighters union president calling for such a strike:

A general strike, in which all unions stop working, is the labor movement’s ultimate trump card. There is no other tactic that is more disruptive, but also none more risky: General strikes are illegal under the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. The United States has not seen one since labor’s heyday in 1934, when pitched battles took place on the streets of cities all around the country including Toledo, Ohio; San Francisco; and Minneapolis.

But it’s do-or-die for the labor movement and working people as a whole in Madison. If ever there were a time when typically cautious union leadership might call for drastic measures, this is it.

But the future does not just rest on action, but articulation. The right to collective bargaining and other employment rights, the right to a living income, the right to a quality education: they are not separate issues; they are not issues to be dealt with in the negative; they are not issues that should be used to slam Republicans. They are a better life for all people steering this American ship into the future.

MORE...

http://campusprogress.org/articles/wisconsin_faces_general_strikes_after_anti-collective_bargaining_bill_/

[Tx4obama]

1. BUT.... that might not work out well because....

Walker can declare #WI "state of emergency," fire teachers & janitors if they stage a sick-out/strike.

[Purveyor]

2. And just how long would the schools be shutdown while replacement 'scab' teachers are found, vetted

and hired I wonder?

[RegieRocker]

4. You mean baby sitters right. You see that is what they want

More dumb Americans so that the likes of Palin can get elected.

[Critters2]

5. Parents won't stand for no schools being provided for their kids.

I double dog dare him to try!

[FBaggins]

10. The question isn't whether or not they would stand for it.

The question is who they would blame for it.

The answer is not at all clear to me.

[Brickbat]

6. Fine. Make him do it.

This is beyond worrying about that.

[WolfoftheWild]

9. It won't save him.

[luvspeas]

3. they will disband the unions, fire the teachers and leave the students hanging out to dry...

they will not care that the youth of Wisconsin will have no public education. They will just end it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. You know they expect people to fold

I don't think people will...

If 100 participate, sure, they won. IF almost everybody does... they don't win.

[Critters2]

7. It's about time!!! nt

[sabrina 1]

11. It will work if everyone does it.

Cops, teachers, nurses, firemen, everyone! If only some do it, it won't work.

Make it a threat first, after getting an agreement and date set.

Put HIM on the hot seat. So that when the strikes hit, or are threatened, people will put pressure on HIM and blame HIM as they should.

If Republicans can be recalled quickly, and replaced by Progressive Democrats while all this is going on, then that should be happening as quickly as possible also.

He has gone against the will of the people. The people need to teach him and his wealthy backers a big, big lesson now.

With Repubs tossed out, the bill can be rescinded. That is where the focus should be now, getting rid of them and rescinding this pos bill.

[GreenStormCloud]

12. What percentage of the WI private sector workforce is unionized? N/T