Wisco: "Worst type of favoritism there could be"

We're hearing that there may be a floor vote on Gov. Scott Walker's insane budget proposal as soon as Thursday!

People are mobilizing as never before. All week long, there will be rallies, vigils, news conferences and lobby days. The Teamsters are engaged, as we represent corrections officers, law enforcement officers, snowplow drivers, 911 dispatchers, public health nurses, zookeepers, crossing guards -- to name a few -- in Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised in the news media (as if there's a question!) about whether Walker is paying back his political backers. The Associated Press reports that some unions that supported Walker's campaign -- firefighters, police officers and state troopers -- are exempt from his draconian efforts to lower pay by 9 percent and eliminate nearly all collective bargaining rights. Reports the AP,

Walker has introduced a bill that would strip public employees across the board — from teachers to snowplow drivers — of their right to collectively bargain for sick leave, vacation, even the hours they work. But absolutely nothing would change for local police, fire departments and the State Patrol.


The bill smacks of political favoritism for public safety unions that supported Walker's election bid last year and sets up new haves and have-nots in Wisconsin government, said Paul Secunda, a Marquette University professor who specializes in labor law.

"That's called 'thank you, I got your back,'" Secunda said. "There's no surprise there. This is the worst type of favoritism there could be."

There's lots you can do online to fight this savage attack on the middle class, even if you sit at a computer all day.

Go to OneWisconsinNow.org and sign a petition against the budget.

Go to the http://www.notmywisconsin.com/ website and sign up for email alerts.

Join the Teamsters' "STOP Right to Work (for LESS) Facebook page. Or post this as your status on your own Facebook page: Let's see how many people would be negatively affected by Scott Walker's "nuclear option" of eliminating 50 years of peaceful collective bargaining in Wisconsin.

If you live in Wisconsin, or have a friend of family member who does, here's the Legislature's website where you can find out who to email or call to oppose Walker's budget: legis.wisconsin.gov.