If You Have Sat. Off Thank a Union

Wisconsin Republican governor Scott Walker insists crushing public employee unions and bargaining rights is essential to balance Wisconsin's budget. Well, except for unions that supported him in the fall election. They still will be allowed the full range of negotiations permitted under state law. Most of those voting for his Democratic rival, not so much. It's good to be king.

Then you've got Wisconsin legislators, who set their own salary, benefits, pensions and working conditions without having to negotiate with anyone, griping about state employees' being privileged. Jeesh! Remember union members have what they have because some governor, school superintendent or county executive signed a contract with them to provide services the public expects.

Evidently it's okay for corporations to negotiate out of self interest with the government over all manner of contract overruns, tax compliance issues or earmarks but let a bunch of statehouse janitors, toll collectors and teachers try it and they're labeled shameless, greedy thugs.

The Wisconsin unions have already promised all the concessions on benefits and pensions for which Walker is insisting so why his need to nuke the bargaining table? This is about naked power not deficits. Sure Democrats benefit greatly from healthy union membership, but that's what Democrats do, standup for working men and women, so their collaboration makes perfect sense.

Republicans, on the other hand simply for political advantage, need to bust unions that traditionally support Democrats. Hence the get-out-of-jail-free cards for Republican-leaning police and firefighter unions. Can it get anymore crass?

Conservatives have been on a tear since last year's USA Today article famously noted public employees wages and benefits average $123,000 compared to the private workforce's $61,000. Amazing how cons dismiss mainstream media as liberal shills until it suits their purpose. The article since has been shown to be severely flawed and the right-wing echo chamber once more delirious.

A raft of subsequent reports shows when jobholders are compared by age, education and experience and jobs by complexity and location -- government ones tend to disproportionately cluster in high cost urban areas -- the disparity vanishes. In fact in Wisconsin the median wage for employees with a bachelor's degree is $52,000 in the public sector compared to $57,000 in the private sector.

Overwhelmingly, public employees are hard-working, dedicated fellow Americans struggling to make ends meet just like the rest of us. It's one thing to insist they be cognizant of their financial impact on state budgets and adjust their expectations appropriately. It's another to abolish collective bargaining, the whole point of which, for public as well as private sector workers, is to offer a counterweight to the "man."

Public entities can be just as autocratic, unreasonable and capricious as private ones. Walker's arrogant actions kind of make my point, huh?

Next week; The real cause of budget deficits.