Posted on 06/15/2011 1:33:34 PM PDT by Jean S
Madison - One day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of collective-bargaining legislation that potentially affects thousands of public-sector employees, a coalition of unions filed suit in federal court seeking to block it.
The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO on Wednesday joined a number of other unions seeking to halt Gov. Scott Walker's controversial collective bargaining legislation.
The groups include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 24, AFSCME Council 40, AFSCME Council 48, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the Wisconsin State Employees Union, The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and the Service Emplloyees International Union – Health Care Wisconsin (SEIU).
In a statement, the groups said they filed the suit because the collective-bargaining legislation "denies hundreds of thousands of public employees their right to collectively bargain for a better life. The groups challenge the constitutionality of the state’s Budget Repair Bill which would destroy collective bargaining rights for all but a select group of public sector workers."
The suit, filed in the Western District of Wisconsin, says the legislation violates the 1st and 14th amendments "by stripping away basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity, which have been in place for the last half century."
The case was assigned to Federal Judge William M. Conley
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
High risk:
Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac) won by only 163 votes in 2008. I'd call that one at very serious risk.
Alberta Darling (River Hills) won by 1% in 2008, just over 1,000 votes. I'd call that one at serious risk.
Some risk:
Dan Kapake (La Crosse) won reelection by less than 3% in 2008, about 2500 votes, slightly smaller margin than when he took the seat. He ran for congress in 2010 and lost by almost 4%. I'd say there's some risk to this seat.
Little risk:
Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls) won by 12% in 2008, over 11,000 votes. Probably safe.
No risk:
Rob Cowles (Allouez) won with 99.35% of the vote. I think he's safe.
Luther Olseon (Ripon) won with 99.35% of the vote. I think he's safe too.
No need to wonder how HE'LL rule!
It's funny how you can pretty much universally tell how a Democrat's appointed judge will rule but Republican judges are a roll of the dice.
Indiana public workers have not had collective bargaining rights for several years. Likewise with other states.
bump for later...
They can, if the state is violating a Constitutional right. Notice how the claim is framed: the unions may be attempting to argue that their right of association (First Amendment) is being violated, which is a fatuous argument: they can associate all they want.
Wow, re: those emails...
It must be an interesting dynamic at work, as the union thugs have been in power for so long there, the trauma involved with the loss of that power has raped their brains.
The goal of the goons is to get implementation delayed long enough to defeat the sufficient number of GOP senators. They may very well succeed, but it'll be a pyrrhic victory, as massive layoffs will result.
NOpe, they are wrong on all counts.
First, this only applies to PUBLIC unions. IE unionized government workers. Not private unions. So it is hardly an attack on all unions.
Second if the Republicans wanted to destroy the unions they could have said, ‘No more public unions’. They did not do that.
The public unions can still exist and bargain for wages.
They no longer can bargain for any other condition.
All this does is place them on the same footing for bargaining as the rest of the taxpayers who work and aren’t in public unions.
Further it forces them to actually have to chip in small amounts for their health insurance premiums and retirement funds. Previously they put ZERO percent into retirement and hardly anything (5%, if that) to paying health insurance premiums.
Again, these circumstances are such that any private worker would love to have, even with the new changes. Even with these adjustments they are still paying far less for health insurance and retirement than their private worker counterparts.
On top of that these public union workers no longer have to pay their union dues if they do not want to.
And none are grateful that all this was accomplished without having to lay off a single public union worker. None.
Judge shopping.
I guess the federal government employees will be able to bargain if they win. That would be kind of funny.
Good Afternoon, Wisconsin Taxpayers.
Here are a few items that are taking place at your State Capitol that you might like to be aware of:
1) The State Budget passed the Assembly around 3 a.m. this morning. The full Senate convened this morning around 11 a.m. to the sounds of shouting protesters and have now broken for Caucus. To add to the political theater we have become so accustomed to here at the Capitol, I just heard protesters have used bicycle locks to lock themselves to the balcony on the 3rd Floor Gallery overlooking the Senate Chambers but special saws were brought in to cut them off. If you would like to follow the budget debate throughout the day, click here: http://budget.wispolitics.com/
2) Publishing the Recent Wis. Supreme Court Ruling - “Unlike the state lawsuit the Supreme Court dismissed this week, the federal case does not seek to prevent Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the law, the last step before it can take effect. La Follette said Wednesday that he plans to publish the law on June 28 unless a federal judge orders him not to.” Full article: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e0810a92-9782-11e0-a27f-001cc4c002e0.html
Contact Information for the Secretary of State: http://ethics.state.wi.us/scripts/Officials/officials.asp?agenid=139
3) Another Air Horn Incident - Here is a nice blog recap that came to my attention this morning containing pictures involving another Air Horn incident at the Capitol yesterday as well as pictures of some fine Wisconsinites taking a stand on Flag Day - http://sytereitz.com/2011/06/wisconsin-supreme-court-upholds-collective-bargaining-law-or-%E2%80%9Cmy-ears-are-still-ringing%E2%80%9D/
4) Segway Guy video - http://maciverinstitute.com/ (See the “Protests Escalate” tab on the right side-2 minute video)
5) Capitol Police Reports - As of recent, we started receiving reports about incidents at the Capitol such as the one posted below detailing arrests made, etc. (The protester cited for drug paraphernalia may be a holdover from last week’s “Free the Weed” Pot Rally.)
The timing of these reports is most interesting in light of Representative Farrow’s recent letter to Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs expressing concerns about the poor handling of protesters which has led to the bullying of other innocent Capitol visitors. Letter: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=238220
I am trying to get you the latest information regarding the lastest pricetag Wisconsin’s taxpayers will be shouldering because of some of the over-the-top the actions of some Capitol protesters. The last estimate I read was in the range of $7 Million in police salaries and clean up.
The Noon hour protest rally just finished up in the Rotunda.
It’s 8:30 p.m.and the dems are still yapping about the budget bill. They can not let it go through the WI Senate.
Watch live at www.wiseye.org
Also a delaying tactic (they want to bleed the taxpayers as long as possible, and part of this law changes their benefits), but remember there are rogue federal judges, and the SCOTUS does not accept every case.
The judge assigned to the case is an Obama appointee.
Put every job up for bid with a private company. Blackwater, Halliburton might bite.
>>The judge assigned to the case is an Obama appointee.<<
True, but each of these judges does have to consider their own career. They need plausible denial. With something like this, eventually there could be an attempt to push them beyond that protection, causing them to make the right decision, regardless of which way Urkel or the unions would like them to rule.
It would be competitive and cost less. Without unions, the quality control of the teachers would be greatly enhanced.
The teachers might actually make even better wages, and be worth it.
Our kids would get a far better education.
Yes, I completely agree with the privatization of our public schools.
Bottom-line, it would drive the libs crazier than they already are. ;>)
“Uh, this won’t fly. The feds can’t interfere with states internal government...............”
That has never stoped Feds from interfering before. The Federal employees in black robes are corrupt power drunk political cranks.
Don’t beleive me, read Federal injustice system’s “reasoning” behind Ex Parte Young. Even the clear Text of the 11th amendment means Nothing to thieving federal officers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_parte_Young
Federal Employees in black robes are perfectly willing to hold 2 completely contractor positions on the same issue and man so that they can both have the jurisdictional power to try the case and impose their will in the matter.
YOU CANNOT TRUST FEDERAL INJUSTICE SYSTEM! They were appointed to be hacks, the nearly unlimited power they have usurped to their office all but guarantees great corruption.
it is all about the dues.
not auto-dues deductions=no money for political donations= no power for communists.
If her bio has a labor union rep in her past an immediat motion to recuse should be filed.
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