Scott Walker Describes 'Divide And Conquer' Strategy Against Public Unions In New Documentary
MADISON, Wis. — Newly released documentary film footage shows embattled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker shortly after his election describing a "divide and conquer" strategy for taking on unions by first going after public employees' collective bargaining rights.
Walker's opponents insist the remarks undermine the Republican governor's long-held claim that the polarizing law he and the GOP-led Legislature pushed through, stripping most public workers of nearly all their collective bargaining rights, was meant solely as a budget-balancing measure. They also say the comments signal that Walker ultimately means to go after private sector unions by making Wisconsin a right-to-work state, which would allow workers to not pay dues even if they are covered by a union contract.
Tom Barrett, the Democratic mayor of Milwaukee who lost to Walker in the 2010 election and who is running against him again in a June 5 recall election, has been accusing Walker of secretly wanting to make Wisconsin a right-to-work state. Barrett told reporters at a news conference in West Allis, a Milwaukee suburb, that Walker's remarks on the video left him flabbergasted.
"It is so clear whose side he is on. He's not on the side of the working people of this state. He's not on the side of the middle class. He's trying to curry favor with his masters who are in the right wing of the Republican Party," Barrett said. "Now is the moment of truth. Now he's going to have to say whether or not he would veto a right-to-work bill if it hit his desk."
If he wants to have a successful business friendly state, he should sign right to work legislation. You shouldn't have to give $$ to democrat politicians thru forced payroll deductions just to have a job.
Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!
I just don't understand how people can think it's OK to force workers by law to join a union and pay union dues. And it's even harder to understand when you consider that part of those dues go to fund one political party. At least 23 states don't think it's OK either.
Yeah, why don't we go back to the way it was before unions......the ultimate "right to work". The good old days when there was no one to protect workers from unsafe working conditions, when there were no protections against sweat shops and unreasonable firings. This is the perfect time to do it when unemployment is so high that workers would not complain because they need the job so badly they will allow themselves to be exploited to keep food on the table. Hey.....lets be just like China, with low wages, or go back to the days of company stores where the only place you could spend your paycheck was back into the company you worked for. Who needs benefits, companies would be free to do what ever the hell they want because no one will complain. This is a terrific idea.....America could become a 3rd world country! You conservatives just have the best ideas. And don't tell me about the wonderful companies that treat their workers well and don't have unions....it is the threat of unions that helps keep these companies honest and treating their employees well. Remove the threat of unionization and the American worker is pretty much screwed.
archer wrote: Yeah, why don't we go back to the way it was before unions......the ultimate "right to work". The good old days when there was no one to protect workers from unsafe working conditions, when there were no protections against sweat shops and unreasonable firings. This is the perfect time to do it when unemployment is so high that workers would not complain because they need the job so badly they will allow themselves to be exploited to keep food on the table. Hey.....lets be just like China, with low wages, or go back to the days of company stores where the only place you could spend your paycheck was back into the company you worked for. Who needs benefits, companies would be free to do what ever the hell they want because no one will complain. This is a terrific idea.....America could become a 3rd world country! You conservatives just have the best ideas. And don't tell me about the wonderful companies that treat their workers well and don't have unions....it is the threat of unions that helps keep these companies honest and treating their employees well. Remove the threat of unionization and the American worker is pretty much screwed.
Where did I say I was against unions? You are attributing words to me that I never said. Classic.
I just said it's wrong for the government to pass laws allowing the forcing of workers to join a union they don't want to join, and to pay dues on top of it. And if that's not bad enough, those unions support partisain politics, mainly on one side. Whatever happened to individual freedom?
If you don't want to join a union you should have a right not to. And I'd support that maybe you don't get all the benifits the union negotiated if you don't join. But I bet the employeers would still give you benefits similar to what the union workers get.
Again, I'm not against unions. Join them if you wish. But don't force people to pay dues to a union they don't support.
I was commenting more on Scott Walkers intent than yours. While I agree that ideally unions should be voluntary, that is not always practical. But they should never be banned outright from any workplace by state government...or anyone else.
archer wrote: I was commenting more on Scott Walkers intent than yours. While I agree that ideally unions should be voluntary, that is not always practical. But they should never be banned outright from any workplace by state government...or anyone else.
Yes, they should be banned from govt for 2 big reasons.
1) The negotiations don't occur between the 2 opposing sides. The unions typically put who they want in the govt, then they negotiate with this same person for benefits and wages. There is no incentive for the govt to keep these things within reason. Better to give unsustainable wages and benefits, then the unions will love you and keep you in your position.
2) Govt's can't go bankrupt. Unlike the private sector, if a union pushes too hard, the company may cease to exist. Makes for a balanced approach. The unions know they can only go so far. With govt, the sky is the limit. Push as hard as you want. The govt can alway go to the other citizens who aren't in govt unions and make those people pay for your massive benefits.
Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!
archer wrote: I was commenting more on Scott Walkers intent than yours. While I agree that ideally unions should be voluntary, that is not always practical. But they should never be banned outright from any workplace by state government...or anyone else.
Yes, they should be banned from govt for 2 big reasons.
1) The negotiations don't occur between the 2 opposing sides. The unions typically put who they want in the govt, then they negotiate with this same person for benefits and wages. There is no incentive for the govt to keep these things within reason. Better to give unsustainable wages and benefits, then the unions will love you and keep you in your position.
2) Govt's can't go bankrupt. Unlike the private sector, if a union pushes too hard, the company may cease to exist. Makes for a balanced approach. The unions know they can only go so far. With govt, the sky is the limit. Push as hard as you want. The govt can alway go to the other citizens who aren't in govt unions and make those people pay for your massive benefits.
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
You don't give up your rights as a citizen when you are a civilian employee of the government. Though I am not surprised at your responses, I have seen a trend of some conservatives wanting to strip rights from groups they disagree with.
archer wrote: You don't give up your rights as a citizen when you are a civilian employee of the government. Though I am not surprised at your responses, I have seen a trend of some conservatives wanting to strip rights from groups they disagree with.
You probably don't think taxpayers have the "right" to make sure their hard earned money isn't being wasted by government programs and employees that are not held to the same accountability standards as a person or business in the private sector. Which "rights" are you taking about?
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
