By order of a judge, thousands of activists peacefully evicted last Friday the Wisconsin Capitol, where they had camped a couple of weeks. However, the swords remain high in the conflict between the Republican governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, with the unions of state officials. Far from resolved, the labor and political battle has spread to the neighboring states of Ohio and Indiana, whose governors intend to approve a proposal similar to those of Walker.
At stake is not only the salaries of officials of these three states, but also the collective bargaining rights of unions. In the red because of falling revenues from the crisis, and no borrowing capacity by law, the governors of many states they are not too many options other than to cut wages or social benefits of public employees, representing most of their budgets.
However, trade unions and their allies in the Democratic Party, argue that the real aim of Walker, an ultra-conservative politician who has the support Tea Party, is political, not fiscal. Union representatives gave the governor a compromise whereby they would accept the proposed pay cuts in exchange for his resignation to modify the existing industrial relations system.
A defiant Walker rejected the offer and intensified the pressure on his opponents by announcing that if his proposal was not approved in 15 days would be forced to lay off 1,500 staff. In addition, issued a warrant for the arrest of the 14 Democratic senators who fled to the neighboring state of Illinois to prevent the legislature of Wisconsin has a quorum to give green light to the governor's initiative.
Since the Republicans have a majority in the House, absenteeism is the only option left for the Democrats to block the plans of Walker. The same strategy adopted on 21 February its brethren in Indiana, faced a similar situation. As many as 40 members of the lower house of state are in Illinois, a state become a haven for Democrats 'in exile', it is the only region that did not turn to the right in November.
The Republican Congress did have sufficient quorum on Friday to approve a resolution that imposes a fine of 175 euros per day for his absences. In Ohio, where Republicans have a 'super' legislation, the Democrats have no or even resort to absenteeism. Although the budget proposal of Governor John Kasich still contains a more draconian conditions for staff, Democrats were left with no choice but to enter into negotiations with their adversaries to moderate the content of the initiative.
So, no output is visible next to the conflicts in Wisconsin and Indiana. The best hope for the unions is that public pressure will finally break the political backbone of Walker. According to recent polls, his popularity has fallen to 43% and up to 66% of people reject their assault on the collective rights of union officials.
The public sector is the last bastion of American unionism, which is in retreat for decades in the private sector. Their rate of enrollment in this area is only 7%, a figure that rises to 36% among public employees. The erosion of collective representation ability of trade unions could end up becoming a marginal social and political actor, which would have a direct political impact.
Between 1990 and 2008, a group of employees made political contributions totaling $ 614 million, 92% of which went to Democratic coffers. 
At stake is not only the salaries of officials of these three states, but also the collective bargaining rights of unions. In the red because of falling revenues from the crisis, and no borrowing capacity by law, the governors of many states they are not too many options other than to cut wages or social benefits of public employees, representing most of their budgets.
However, trade unions and their allies in the Democratic Party, argue that the real aim of Walker, an ultra-conservative politician who has the support Tea Party, is political, not fiscal. Union representatives gave the governor a compromise whereby they would accept the proposed pay cuts in exchange for his resignation to modify the existing industrial relations system.
A defiant Walker rejected the offer and intensified the pressure on his opponents by announcing that if his proposal was not approved in 15 days would be forced to lay off 1,500 staff. In addition, issued a warrant for the arrest of the 14 Democratic senators who fled to the neighboring state of Illinois to prevent the legislature of Wisconsin has a quorum to give green light to the governor's initiative.
Since the Republicans have a majority in the House, absenteeism is the only option left for the Democrats to block the plans of Walker. The same strategy adopted on 21 February its brethren in Indiana, faced a similar situation. As many as 40 members of the lower house of state are in Illinois, a state become a haven for Democrats 'in exile', it is the only region that did not turn to the right in November.
The Republican Congress did have sufficient quorum on Friday to approve a resolution that imposes a fine of 175 euros per day for his absences. In Ohio, where Republicans have a 'super' legislation, the Democrats have no or even resort to absenteeism. Although the budget proposal of Governor John Kasich still contains a more draconian conditions for staff, Democrats were left with no choice but to enter into negotiations with their adversaries to moderate the content of the initiative.
So, no output is visible next to the conflicts in Wisconsin and Indiana. The best hope for the unions is that public pressure will finally break the political backbone of Walker. According to recent polls, his popularity has fallen to 43% and up to 66% of people reject their assault on the collective rights of union officials.
The public sector is the last bastion of American unionism, which is in retreat for decades in the private sector. Their rate of enrollment in this area is only 7%, a figure that rises to 36% among public employees. The erosion of collective representation ability of trade unions could end up becoming a marginal social and political actor, which would have a direct political impact.
Between 1990 and 2008, a group of employees made political contributions totaling $ 614 million, 92% of which went to Democratic coffers.
- Indiana's Jud McMillin: A Tale of Glass Houses and Rocks (03/03/2011)
- Indiana's Jud McMillin: A Tale of Glass Houses & Rocks (02/03/2011)
- Ohio Set to Curb Unions (03/03/2011)
- Indiana Democrats Flee to Illinois, Too (22/02/2011)
- Ohio Senate passes bill aimed at diminishing collective bargaining - STLtoday.com (03/03/2011)
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