Posted on 02/18/2011 1:33:46 PM PST by milwguy
Madison — The head of the largest state workers union said Friday that his group is willing to give in to Gov. Scott Walker's demand for concessions on their benefits if the governor gives up his bid to repeal nearly all bargaining rights for public worker unions.
Marty Beil, head of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, which represents some 23,000 blue-collar state workers, said his group would agree to pay more of their pension contributions and health insurance benefits.
"We are prepared to implement the financial concessions proposed to help bring our state's budget into balance, but we will not be denied our God-given right to join a real union . . . we will not - I repeat we will not - be denied our rights to collectively bargain," Beil said in a statement.
Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said he would review Beil's statement and respond as soon as possible.
The news comes as the standoff on the budget repair bill drags, a throng of thousands demonstrate at the Capitol, and national figures weigh in on the events.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
To all those OUTSIDE the State of Wisconsin, let me explain what this is really ALL about as far as union leaders like Beil are concerned......Part of the bill that takes much or the collective bargaining rights away from the unions. This is true, but what REALLY has Beil up in arms is that his workers would no longer be REQUIRED to belong to the union. Right now, state and gov't employees in Wisconsin are not required to be in the union, but they are required to pay union dues whether they are or not. Those dues are deducted AUTOMATICALLY from gov't employees paychecks and sent on to the union. The new law would eliminate this and the employees could be free to be in the union, but they would have to write a check EACH month for their union dues. They could also choose to NOT write a check, not be in the union, and keep that money themselves. The union KNOWS many will choose to keep their cash and the unions will soon be broke, with no money to send to the Democrat Party each election. THAT is what has the union leaders scared to death, their gravy train is coming to an end.
Scott Walker has always done what he says he is going to do, I would be shocked if he caves now.
Translation=the public is overwhelmingly against them.
NO need to cave or make concessions. The Gov. has momentum and support, he really needs to run with getting everything needed to fix this union mess.
They voiced other concessions and ideas a few days before the budget came out to the public in a plan to be asked to sit at the table. Walker flipped them the proverbial middle digit and I doubt will fold on this.
Don’t give in! This is not just about the current budget. It is about future budgets too. If their ability to collectively bargain is not repealed, there is nothing to stop them from continuing the rape the taxpayers in future years. Republicans may not have the majorities or political will to have a chance to pass this measure again.
This is a sign of weakness. They know the public is increasingly fed up sith their bullying.
Time to go for the kill, Governor!
Yes. Those not foaming at the mouth with leftist malice have realized these protests are pulling the curtain aside, ala the Wellstone funeral and “Together We Thrive”.
Now we have Union officials trying to posture themselves as publicly elected representatives. No one voted for this guy, but he’s trying to redraft the bill.
JUST HELL NO!
That dog won’t hunt because that dog is dead.
Scott Walker now has a chance to demonstrate he has the kind of leadership it will take to reverse the course not only for Wisconsin but the nation.
I don’t think he will blow it by caving in to some tinhorn union thug.
Throw the greedy, union thugs in jail!
The unions can’t retain collective bargaining rights (except for salary) as they drag out their contracts an average of 15 months. They have been known to go the whole two years out of contract before signing.
Any changes that Scott is asking for regarding pensions and health insurance premiums would need to be agreed to by the union and the state would be held hostage to Marty Beill and his professional extortionists if the collective bargaining rights were allowed to remain. And one of the things AFSCME would never agree to is for the state to stop collecting their union dues for them.
Scott Walker knows he needs to go for whole shebang.
For the life of me, I can't find any reference in the DOI, Constitution, or Bible about being in unions.
The NEA gave $50.4 Million to Political Contributions and Lobbying in 2010, 99% to Democrats. The AFT gave $18.8 Million to Political Contributions and Lobbying in 2010, 99% to Democrats. These numbers do not include money given to Liberal causes or activities encouraging voting.
One of the reasons that the Media favors the unions is because the media is on the receiving end of those millions and millions of dollars paid for campaign ads. Follow the money. Union political ads add to the media’s coffers.
I would say he is issuing mandates about what's GONNA happen.
Apparently, this thug is pretty scared those "rights" are going to be yanked away, or he wouldn't be offering these "concessions."
Thanks for the info. I was not aware of the ‘voluntary’ dues aspect. How wonderful. I hope Walker, as you say he will, sticks to his guns.
My understanding is that they will still have collective bargaining rights on benefits but they have to be approved by the voters. That is the way it should be. Elected politicians are corrupted by union money and should not be allowed to negotiate union contracts
Too damn bad. The local, state, and federal government encroaches on citizen's rights all the time. Public sector workers serve the public and are paid by the tax revenue they generate. So, to paraphrase Obama:
We vote and pay your taxes. Our views have been expressed at the ballot box and we won. So on that, I think we trump you.
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