Public school teachers in Wisconsin on massive work stopage
Boy can you imagine the horrors of making public school teachers pay the same share of their retirement contributions as everyone else.
At the same time Americans’ support for unions dropped to the lowest levels since 1985, with just 42 percent of Americans saying they had favorable views of unions.
One can see possibly why the Republican state legislators were sent home for their own safety here.
Dozens of schools closed as a result of high absences as thousands of protesters, including students and teachers, marched on the Capitol building to demand state lawmakers strike down a bill that would require union concessions worth $30 million by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years.
The bill, which also bans collective bargaining rights for teachers, requires educators to contribute 5.8 percent to their pensions and 12.6 percent to their health care. Currently, educators pay 0.2 percent for their pensions and 4 to 6 percent of their health care costs. . . .
At the same time Americans’ support for unions dropped to the lowest levels since 1985, with just 42 percent of Americans saying they had favorable views of unions.
Favorable views of labor unions have plummeted since 2007, amid growing public skepticism about unions’ purpose and power. Currently, 41% say they have a favorable opinion of labor unions while about as many (42%) express an unfavorable opinion. In January 2007, a clear majority (58%) had a favorable view of unions while just 31% had an unfavorable impression.
The latest nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Feb. 3-9 among 1,383 adults reached on cell phones and landlines, finds that favorable opinions of unions have fallen across demographic and partisan groups. Still, far more Democrats have favorable views of unions (56%) than do independents (38%) or Republicans (29%). . . .
One can see possibly why the Republican state legislators were sent home for their own safety here.
Labels: Unions
posted by John Lott at 10:05 AM
1 Comments:
It would appear that Michigan is next. Having lived in Michigan all my life, I can say that every time that I heard about someone securing a 'State Job', it was always followed up with 'Gee, they have it made for life'.
In my last job before I retired, our health care costs, and benefits were being reduced every quarter due to rising costs and reduced business. We simply were happy to have a job, as many folks were losing theirs (and still are).
As far as I am concerned, it is about time that State workers face the same realities that most folks have to face in the midst of a recession. We the people did not engage in fiscal irresponsibility. The State Governments did, and the Unions assisted. All in the name of votes, no less.
Last, but not least, why should we as taxpayers fund cradle to grave benefits, that we cannot have?
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