Great support

There, newly-elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker is insisting that the Wisconsin Legislature pass a bill that will strip away the collective bargaining rights of public unions, whose ranks include public school teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

Without going in to all the details, here are the basics: For days, tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators have crowded into the state capital building and grounds in Madison, Wisc., to protest the proposed bill Walker is pushing. Democratic Party legislators have fled the state to prevent a vote on the bill because their absence denies a quorum.

Walker claims his legislation is necessary to balance the budget, while union supporters claim it is an effort to crush the unions for political reasons.

We think the facts support the latter view: It appears that Walker's primary goal is to get rid of the unions, and has little to do with budget concerns. That is made clear by the fact that the unions have agreed to all the cuts in pay and benefits the governor said he needed to balance the budget. The union members are insisting, however, that they be able to keep their negotiating rights for the future.

Walker's response has been to proclaim that he won't negotiate -- it has to be all his way or no way. In fact, he has threatened that if the absent Democratic legislators won't return so his plan can be approved (the Republicans hold a majority in the Legislature and would almost certainly be able to pass the bill taking away collective bargaining rights once there is a quorum) he will hand out layoff notices to thousands of government workers.

Walker is treating the state's workers as if they are hostages: "Come back and do my bidding or the workers get it!" he seems to be saying to the legislators who are holding out.

Whether you believe in unions or not, we believe it is completely wrong, unfair, and even anti-American for a governor to seek to take away anyone's right to negotiate for a better deal.

If the rights of everyday workers can be taken away by this type of political power play, we have to wonder who will be next. That's why this struggle is so important. If this troubling effort is successful, it is not likely to stop with public employees in Wisconsin.

JB