Right to Work Compromise?
It is not clear at all whether a compromise in the standoff with Governor Scott Walker is possible. It could be his way or the highway. But consider this…
Collective bargaining is a bed rock principle with American labor. With a rich history of weak kneed or unabashedly opportunistic State political leaders, unionized State workers should make everyone take notice. Unless performed well, public sector unions represent an outright license to take advantage of tax payers.
On top of the bargaining process, unions have insisted upon “closed shops”. This requires any State worker covered by a union agreement to be a “dues paying” member. No dues, no work.
As a consequence, State workers’ unions have large sums of money with which to back politicians or influence the public through advertisements. Teachers’ unions have been very effective at expanding their influence. But now the pendulum is poised to retreat in a less generous direction.
At the bottom of the forces driving this reversal is the resistance of citizens to pay higher taxes. It is not that they would not pay more in taxes if they thought it was necessary and fair, but they do not. The average voter feels the tax burden is falling disproportionately upon their shoulders.
While there are many reasons for this, one important factor has been the stagnation of middle class wages and salaries over the past 25 years. During this same period, globalization has blossomed and thousands of American jobs have disappear. In their place are goods and services imported from countries in Southeast Asia. The middle class now sees the rich getting richer and themselves getting squeezed.
Enter public sector service jobs. All of a sudden, their wages, salaries, and benefits look very attractive. No good politician has ever lost the opportunity to pick on some group if the politician thought he could divert the public’s attention. An enemy exposed is time bought.
There are arguments to be made that public service workers should pay more for their health care or retirement funds. They should at least be on a par with similar private sector employees. And the notion of closed shops and automatic dues deductions seems a bit outdated. There certainly seems room for movement without unilaterally repealing workers rights to organize.
There are two questions.
- Will the unions and the State governors be willing to compromise?
- Why does anyone think that when the State workers’ beast is slain, life will be any better for the middle class?
The real issue facing all State workers and taxpayers is how can we begin to grow in the general economy, and raise all boats (public and private sector).
This entry was posted on February 27, 2011 at 11:58 am and is filed under Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Politics, Republican Party. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments.
Tags: globalization, outsourcing, public sector workers, right to work, scott walker, teacher unions, unions, wisconsin
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