In the last two weeks, Madison, Wisconsin has had protests not seen since the days of the Vietnam War. Almost 100,000 demonstrators, according to Madison police estimates, have hit the streets to voice their opposition to Gov. Walker's "Budget Repair Bill." Solidarity protests have occurred in all 50 states.
The new budget plans to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public empolyees, as well as to force unions to re-certify annually, collect union fees themselves, cut funding to local governments, and cut education spending by $900 million. The budget plan proposes to fix the projected $3.6 billion shortfall in the 2011-2013 budget. Wisconsin currently has a deficit of $137 million, and Gov. Walker has made it clear that the public-sector workers have to take the hit in order to bail Wisconsin out.
The Wisconsin Assembly has approved the bill as of February 25. It passed 51-17, in a vote which lasted "seconds," with many Democrats not being able to vote in time, according to CBS News, creating a chaotic and tearful scene. The vote still needs to pass through Senate, but Democratic senators have fled to Illinois in order to stall the vote. 20 senators are needed to make quorum, whereas there are only 19 Republican senators. The Democrats are waiting for Gov. Walker to compromise on the budget plans. After two weeks of protest, including an occupation by hundreds of the Wisconsin State Capitol building, Gov. Walker is not budging.
The governor ordered that the capitol building "be emptied," but the police did not enforce his demands. Although the proposed collective bargaining ban would not affect police or firefighters' unions, they have both expressed contempt for the budget plan. The police have made no arrests, and the protests have been peaceful. This is surely an easier feat when the police actively support the protest, and aren't afraid to say so (into a megaphone).
In a video quickly gone viral, the police joined in with the protestors in a stunning show of solidarity. Brian Austin of the Madison Professional Police Officers Association spoke to the crowds of protesters occupying the building."This is not a budget issue, this is a civil rights issue [...] We're not here to do your bidding. This is not your house, this is all of our house," he said, addressing Gov. Walker to wide applause. The Firefighters Union marched through the building, with signs such as "Firefighters for Worker's Rights." In an interview with Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, the president of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association said "What [Walker is] not talking about is that the collective bargaining provisions take away the rights of American workers, Wisconsin workers."
Gov. Walker's Republicans are convinced that it is public-sector employees that should pay for the deficit. In a press release, Walker condemns "union bosses who say one thing and do another." There is a common belief which Walker's Republicans and their supporters have perpetuated. They have constructed public-sector workers as being better paid than their private sector counterparts, therefore, in dismantling their union rights, Walker can create a system that's more fair for the 'taxpayer.'
"Walker believes that public employee compensation must be cut to make it comparable to private sector pay at the state, local, and school levels [...]However, the data indicates that state and local government employees in Wisconsin are not overpaid [...] employees of both state and local governments in Wisconsin earn less than comparable private sector employees," states a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute (briefing paper #290) called "Are Wisconsin Public Employees Over Compensated?" The short answer? No.
"Employees in Wisconsin are under-compensated by 8.2% compared with otherwise similar private sector workers. This compensation disadvantage is smaller but still significant when hours worked are factored in. Full-time public employees work fewer annual hours, particularly employees with bachelor's, master's, and professional degrees (because many are teachers or university professors)."
Whether it's public-sector or private-sector workers that earn higher wages, the right to collectively bargaining for better wages and benefits is what most demonstrators are rallying around. A central organizing force in the United States, and particularly in Wisconsin, is called, aptly, "Save the American Dream."
In an interview with Democracy Now, the President of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters Association, was asked why they joined the protests when their union rights weren't being challenged. "He's basically trying to separate the middle class, separate the unions, pit us against ourselves, and get rid of unions and collective bargaining. And we couldn't just sit by and let that happen."
It appears that neither the government or the protestors are planning on sitting by and letting anything happen. The outcome of the battle is yet to be seen, but these historical protests have brought middle-class America into the wave of demonstrations for democratic rights across the world.
