http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/16/wisconsin.budget/index.html?iref=allsearch
Thousands march in Wisconsin over proposed budget cuts
By Phil Gast, CNN
February 16, 2011 8:01 p.m. EST
On Wednesday, 10,000 people demonstrated against the Wisconsin
governor's budget, an official says.
On Wednesday, 10,000 people demonstrated against the Wisconsin
governor's budget, an official says.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Unions argue budget bill is an assault on worker rights in Wisconsin
* Republican governor says he is trying to address budget crisis
* Legislation would call on employees to pay more for health care, pensions
* Thousands have rallied at state Capitol in Madison
RELATED TOPICS
* Wisconsin
* Labor Unions
* Protests and Demonstrations
(CNN) -- Furor over a bill that would strip Wisconsin public employees
of most of their collective bargaining rights and have them pay
dramatically more for benefits drew at least 10,000 protesters to the
state Capitol on Wednesday and forced the cancellation of classes in
one large school district because of a teacher sick-out.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker said he is dealing with a budget crisis.
Employees and unions contend his bill is an assault on worker rights.
Walker is asking legislators to pass his "Budget Repair Bill" to
combat a $137 million shortfall through June 30. An upcoming two-year
budget for 2011-13 must address a pending $3.6 billion deficit, he
said.
In a budgetary scenario being played out in other cash-strapped states
and municipalities, the legislation requires workers to cover more of
their health care premiums and pension contributions, although
supporters say local governments will decide on health care
contributions for their employees.
The legislation also requires collective bargaining units to conduct
annual votes to maintain certification. Unions would lose the right to
have dues deducted from worker paychecks and collective bargaining can
only cover wages.
The bill has prompted protests from public employees and supporters.
On Tuesday, an estimated 13,000 people thronged Tuesday to the
Capitol, followed by 10,000 Wednesday, said Carla Vigue, spokeswoman
for the Department of Administration.
Unions said the number of protesters was much higher.
"I appreciate the fact that the folks here today will have a chance to
have their voices heard," Walker told reporters Wednesday. "But I want
to be sure the taxpayers of Wisconsin will have their chance to have
their voices heard."
"Calling this a budget bill is a smokescreen," said Bryan Kennedy,
president of AFT-Wisconsin, which represents about 17,000 employees.
"This is an attack on all labor organizations."
Sign-carrying protesters jammed the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday and
Wednesday, chanting "Kill the bill" and "Workers Unite." Thousands
more marched outside in the snow.
The governor, who took his campaign for the bill to his Twitter
account, said he was talking with some legislators about protections
for workers.
Walker's press secretary, Cullen Werwie, said he expects the measure
to reach the Senate on Thursday and, possibly, the Assembly (lower
chamber) on Friday. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans, but
the legislation likely faces a tougher test in the Senate.
Under the bill, public employees in the Wisconsin Retirement System
would pay about 5.8% of their salaries toward pensions, up
significantly from 0.2%, Werwie said. And state workers would pay for
12.6% of their monthly health care premiums, up from between 4% and 6%
percent.
Pay raises would be limited to inflation, unless a referendum approves
of a larger increase.
"This is not something unusual," Walker said of the employee
contributions. "That is what middle-class workers in this state have
experienced."
The legislation would save the state about $30 million between now and
the end of June and, if continued, an estimated $300 million during
the next two years, Walker has said. He said workers in the private
sector pay higher percentages of their pay for health care and
pensions.
The governor visited private businesses on Tuesday, arguing the bill
would end furloughs and prevent layoffs.
"People viewed what we are proposing as modest," he said.
The changes do not apply to police, firefighters and state troopers,
who would continue to bargain for their benefits.
But the proposed curtailing of most collective bargaining rights among
public employees has drawn the most vocal complaints. There are about
300,000 state and local workers in the heavily unionized state.
Of 425 primary and secondary school systems, for example, employees at
all but two are covered by AFT-Wisconsin or the National Education
Association, Kennedy said.
Walker, he said, is ignoring $100 million in previous employee
concessions and wants to take his measure directly to a vote rather
than negotiate.
Calling Wisconsin a "state in turmoil," Kennedy said the debate is
"not a financial issue. It is about worker rights."
His group is calling for more rallies on Thursday to "keep the pressure on."
The website for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees featured a video of interviews with union workers.
"This is the state where collective bargaining for public employees
started," one said. "If Wisconsin falls, so does the nation."
Ken Syke, a spokesman for the Madison Metropolitan School District,
said about 40% of 2,600 teachers, assistants, social workers and
psychologists in the bargaining unit called in sick, forcing the
district to cancel Wednesday's classes for 24,500 students.
Because of the budget imbroglio, the district warned teachers that
they would be docked pay if they were sick Wednesday through Friday
and returned without a note from a medical provider, Syke said. They
may face other sanctions.
Although Superintendent Daniel A. Nerad wrote Walker, asking him to
return to the table to discuss collective bargaining, he also has said
"our No. 1 responsibility is to instruct students," Syke said.
Some students left school Tuesday to join the protests, the spokesman said.
Many states, including California and New York, are grappling with
budget deficit crises.
A month after Illinois lawmakers approved a massive tax increase, Gov.
Pat Quinn on Wednesday unveiled a $35.4 billion budget that depends on
state lawmakers approving $8.7 billion in new borrowing largely to
clear a towering stack of unpaid bills.
The budget, which increases spending by $1.7 billion from the previous
year and closes a $13 billion gap, slashes programs for the elderly,
the poor and the disabled, but leaves education funding largely
untouched. No layoffs of state workers are suggested.
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