Posted on 09/15/2015 12:26:54 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Governor Scott Walker made his name reforming Wisconsins labor laws. Now he proposes to do the same at the federal level.
In a speech yesterday, Walker detailed solid labor-policy reforms that conservatives should embrace. His reforms boil down to eliminating union power over the government and focusing private-sector labor law on employee choice.
Walker sees creating government unions as a policy mistake that unnecessarily increases government spending. Neutering Wisconsins government unions enabled him to eliminate a $3.6 billion budget deficit and cut taxes by $2 billion.
Federal unions are not as powerful as state and local government unions they largely cannot bargain over wages and benefits but they still make Uncle Sam less efficient and more expensive. So Walker proposes ending collective bargaining in the federal government.
Doing that would take an act of Congress. As an interim step, Walker proposes cracking down on the use of union time that is, allowing federal employees to work for their unions at taxpayer expense. He also wants to stop unions from using federal resources to collect the portion of dues they spend on political causes and lobbying.
The press coverage of Walkers private-sector labor law reforms has been slightly unhinged. The AP described it as sweeping restrictions on organized labor in the U.S. . . . making it more difficult for unions to organize. The AP barely described what Walker proposed, quoting instead liberal academics calling it draconian. How so? Essentially Walker wants to make private-sector unions more accountable to their members.
Walker proposes requiring unions to form through a secret-ballot election and requiring unions to periodically run for re-election. Given that only 7 percent of private-sector union members chose the union that represents them, this makes a lot of sense.
He further proposes to expand union transparency requirements, institute whistleblower protections for union officers who expose corruption, and prohibit unions from spending workers dues on political causes without their consent.
In addition, hed make voluntary union dues the default option in federal law, thereby effecting nationwide right-to-work. Walker also appears to have listened to union objections to the Wisconsin right-to-work law he signed. At the time, unions bitterly complained about representing non-members who dont pay dues, so Walker now proposes having union contracts apply only to union members. Non-members who do not pay dues would negotiate separately. Because the National Labor Relations Board has shown little independence from organized labor, he proposes transferring its authority to the courts and other federal agencies.
>>>Governor Walker believes that private-sector workers have the right to unionize if they choose, but their unions should have to earn not presume their support.<<<
All of these changes would shift power from union bosses to rank-and-file workers. Governor Walker believes that private-sector workers have the right to unionize if they choose, but their unions should have to earn not presume their support. Polls show that union members themselves overwhelmingly support many of these provisions and want more say in their own union representation.
A new Gallup poll released Friday shows why this matters. It found union members are significantly less satisfied than nonmembers about their job security, flexibility of hours, and recognition for their achievements.
Unions do not appear to be actually improving their members working conditions. If they had to earn their members support, though, they might. Walkers reforms would go a long way toward requiring private-sector unions to do just that.
James Sherk is a research fellow of labor economics in the Center for Data Analysis at the Heritage Foundation.
Why should I respect a GOPe waterboy?
Why not talk about them now? And talk about them tomorrow. And keep talking about them and force his opposition to come up with plans of their own? Don't you think people care more about that then unions?
Walker cagily did not run on this issue in his campaign for governor. If he had, he would never have been elected. This was a surprise move on his part after he was elected.
Both of his elections were off year elections when Democrat turnout is not that high. Had his plans to gut unions been known, Democrat turnout would have been very high and it would been over for Walker.
Were the Republican nominee for President to have this as his agenda, we would lose because of the extremely high Democrat turnout that would flock to the polls. Dems have no intention of letting the power they have through unions go without a fight. No doubt that fight would be dirty and frought with voter fraud.
At 2% I don’t think he has enough hair to set on fire. LOL
I think you are bonkers...I don't think there's anything in that statement that rings of truth...
Exactly.
Reigning in the power and corruption of the criminal conspiracy that is the arrangement between the public union leaders and the Democrat Party should be a standard plank of any conservative candidate and should be a litmus test for any that aspires to public office. Walker is one of the few in the political arena who has actually done something about this travesty.
Where that issue stands on the list of priorities is quite another question, but given Walker’s documented success in Wisconsin against these dirt bags, we should give him his due and ensure that all conservative candidates embrace his example. Remember, the victims of this corrupt scam are public servants and the taxpayers. Who speaks for them?
Speak not evil about a fellow conservative.
But only those dirtbags who vote against him. Public employee unions that supported him, like the police and fire unions, are terrific guys and gals and their unions are a boon to humanity. So like I said, all the federal government unions have to do is come out and support Walker and all this will go away.
A conservative doesn't play wind test games for polling #s.
Choose whatever candidate that you wish, but destroying the field to the advantage of the Anointed One for the General Election is a loser strategy. I believe that we have considerable experience with this approach.
Walker’s focus on unions is one of the most important reasons I support him. He understands the inherent corruption of our American institutions that is the Democrat foundation and large source of their power. Unions, media bias, the left’s takeover of the educational system, government funding for “non-profits” that just gets regurgitated back to Dem campaign contributions..... all of these things are festering infections in our political system and communities. And this corruption is on purpose and intended solely to leverage left-wing political power.
He severely weakened the left in Wisconsin with his efforts to reform unions. He also weakened the university corruption by eliminating tenure from state law and cutting back on their slushy budget. While other politicians fight symptons of the left’s damage on this country, Walker is going after what is feeding the disease itself.
Be a pragmatist - support the same old crap.
Well Scotty will have plenty of time to do all this when he drops out of the race goes back home to be Governor of WI again.
Grade my choices, the General election is the only one that counts:
Kennedy/Nixon - I chose Nixon
Johnson/Goldwarter - I chose Goldwater
Nixon/Humphrey - I chose Nixon
Nixon/McGovern - I chose Nixon
Carter/Ford - I chose Ford
Reagan/Carter - I chose Reagan
Reagan/Mondale -I chose Reagan
Bush/Dukakis - I chose Bush
Clinton/Bush - I chose Bush
Clinton/Dole - I chose Dole
Bush/Gore - I chose Gore
Bush/Kerry - I chose Kerry
Obama/McCain - I chose McCain
Obama/Romney - I chose Romney
Note that I did not vote for any certified Lunatics, crackpots, or Forlorn Hopes. I voted for someone that might win. Given the two real choices, how did I do? Same old Crap? I guess that I should vote for Clinton?
I never voted for a Commie, but unfortunately, a number of them have won. I hope that it does not occur again.
Primaries count too, in fact they are potentially powerful given how little attention they get.
Unfortunately, here in Kansas, I seldom get to play. When I get the chance, I pick the most conservative in the Republican Primary.
Thanks for clarifying your voting record. It explains alot.
Just as Obama was the result of the bipartisan putsch for Hillary, Sanders may be the result of the insanity that we’re seeing now.
Don’t know if you’ve seen this.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/424008/donald-trump-voters-election-egomaniac
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