Posted by Edward Ring at 4:49 pm on Aug 06, 2013 Comments Off on Will a Bipartisan Coalition Restrict Public Safety Unions?
During the effort to curb collective bargaining rights for
public employees in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker suggested the
exemption for public safety employees was necessary to avoid the
possibility of a strike by “first responders.” The real reason may
have been a political calculation; restricting the bargaining
rights of all public employees including public safety could have
triggered a losing battle. Cynics may argue that Walker, and other
Republicans – from Ohio to Orange County – have stood on principle
against public employee unions in general, but exempted public
safety unions in particular since they tend to be heavier
contributors to Republican political campaigns.
Fortunately, public sector union reform is something even
Democrats are realizing is essential if governments are going to
get budgets under control, implement labor-saving new technologies,
reform public education, and have funds left over to rebuild and
upgrade infrastructure.
Now a Democratic Senator in Wisconsin, Tim Carpenter, has picked
up where Gov. Walker left off. An article in the Wisconsin Reporter
entitled “… Read More