Essay 3.2

Mark Melchior

Eleanor Henderson

Academic Writing

March 28, 2011

 Public Sector Struggle:

A Rogerian examination of Wisconsin Union Troubles

            The American workforce has come a long way since the days of Carnegie and Rockefeller. Working conditions have made incredible advancements, along with salaries, benefits, and health insurance. Trade unions have been an essential piece of the public sector workforce since their establishment in early American history, and they have always proven that tradesmen need organizations to remain strong against private companies. Recently, Republicans legislature in Wisconsin has given an impressive blow to union power.

            It’s a shame to see such a great nation struggling. Between several military conflicts, trillions of dollars in debt, unemployment, and a wounded economy, America has an enormous struggle to overcome. All over the nation governments are piecing together solutions to solve these issues. In Wisconsin, Republican Governor Scott Walker has devised a plan to save money and aid the state budget. However, his plan involves restricting the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin unions. Under this bill, labor unions are no longer able to negotiate job condtions other than base wages. Other restrictions include no negotiation of overtime, premium, or merit pay. Municipal union employees are actually now no longer able to strike, “Nothing contained in this subchapter constitutes a grant of the right to strike by any municipal employee or labor organization,” (Wisconsin Act 10, 27). Other provisions of the bill include prohibiting unions to receive union dues from paychecks and annual elections on whether or not workers want to remain unionized (Lewis, par. 19, 20). These are only a few of the new laws passed in late March.

            Mr. Walker believes that his plan is in the correct interest of the state. I am happy to see that a politician is risking his reputation, and chance of reelection in order to carry out what he considers is the best solution. It takes an incredible effort to run a government and to keep a state, or nation, united. I have to say that I’m impressed with his endeavor to aid the state and country he loves. Some goals of the plan are to create an abundance of private sector jobs. He aims for about 250,000 to be created by the year 2015. In addition, he claims that this bill will actually save taxpayers money. According to news reports, Governor Walker has already amassed an incredible disapproval rating in the short time he has been in office. I applaud Mr. Walker not because he is considered crooked or unfair, but that this is an indication of his hard work. Although the bill would seem wrong, he has proven that he is not afraid to take action against a problem. Also, Mr. Walker has continued to remain visible to his people by appearing on television and speaking to protestors in the capitol in Madison, and this is an admirable trait.

            Unfortunately, Governor Walker hasn’t quite won my vote yet. Unions are absolutely essential to our society. Since their introduction they have been what is likely the most important force in improving the lives of public workers. I said before that I believe this budget plan is wrong and I am not without support. A recent survey from the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute shows that 65 percent of those polled believed that a more acceptable compromise should be determined. A major factor in the poll was the 70% of Independent voters that said they are against the new laws (WPRI). Some may be asking, what do unions really do? What do they provide? Almost every line of work has a union. Nearly everything from actors to construction workers belongs to a union. Growing up in a union family I was exposed to their importance very early. Blue Collar work is not exactly glamorous, nor is the lifestyle that comes with it. There were certainly days that my parents did not get to eat because they had four children to feed. I can remember the fear in Mom and Dad’s eyes when they told us he was laid off from work. I recall standing in line for school “lunch tickets”; A small piece of paper that amounted, basically, to a food stamp in the school cafeteria. Forty-cent lunches don’t exactly make you the coolest kid in the lunchroom either. Nonetheless, these people need those bargaining rights to provide for their families. We’re not seeing any construction workers get rich. They pay their taxes and provide for the community as well. They provide great lessons for children also. I learned that what is valued most in the workforce is dedication, and to not be lazy. It’s unfair to make these hard-working people suffer whilst companies like General Electric paid zero dollars on taxes in 2010 (Tapper, par. 1). Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was quoted saying, “Let’s not forget who we are really talking about. We are talking about police officers that put their lives on the line to make our families safe and elementary school teachers who make sure our kids know their ABC’s,” (Lewis, par. 7).  These people are some of the most essential members of our community. It is in the nature of unions to negotiate, because it was that principle that they were formed. By limiting the core of their power we could be prone to a private sector with enormous dominance. Worker’s rights are incredibly important. In a country that was founded on freedom, and the right to choose, this bill is awfully counterintuitive to the nature of American philosophy.

            I, of course, am not a politician like Mr. Walker. I do not know enough about public policy to make the decisions that he and his committee do. I’m certain that, like myself, he truly values and cares for the well being of Americans. The GOP has a history of “union-busting” but I doubt this is his contribution to that cause. Limiting union power is wrong, and I like to think that he is not doing so out of malice or discontent. I trust that he wishes that he could save the jobs of those hard working people that have been laid off or provide support for public schools that have lost thousands in government funding. I believe he is simply doing so to improve our society by what he considers is the right thing. We see that unity is the one of the most important factors in repairing a nation. There no single policy that everyone is going to agree with. I think that it’s safe to say, however, with such an immense opposition to Governor Walker’s plan there has to be a more effective way to mend Wisconsin’s $3.6 billion deficit. If a different plan of action is not as effective, than maybe it could be more respectable. There have to be more ways to save money than damaging union’s ability to negotiate terms. It is, after all, one of the main reasons they are able to thrive.

            We cannot afford to add to America’s extensive list of socio-economic problems. Sadly, because Governor Walker pushed Act 10 into law this is exactly what has happened. What I would ask of the Mr. Walker, and other state officials, is that they make it a point to find solutions that will not hurt the equality in American business. There is no way around the struggle that is ahead. It has been made clear by our government that we will have to make some sacrifices. However, I think that it’s fair to say that solutions should be in the interest of all Americans.

Works Cited

Bauer, Scott. “Wisconsin Union Law Published Despite Court Order.” ABCNews.com.             26 March, 2011. ABC News. Associated Press. Web. 27 March, 2011.

Lewis, Finlay. “Should Unionizing Be a Purely Private Right?” CQ Weekly 14 March             2011: 565. Print.

Tapper, Jake. “General Electric Paid No Taxes in 2010.” ABCNews.com. ABC News.             March 25, 2011. Web. April 13, 2011.

2011 Wisconsin Act 10. State of Wisconsin. Legislative Reference Bureau. 28 March             2011. Web.

Wisconsin Policy Research Institute. “Public Opinion Backs Unions.” CQ Weekly             (2011): 566. Print.