The Battle Lines are Forming

It’s an issue that has long been simmering just below the area of public debate, and has now emerged full fledged in Wisconsin, and how it concludes will determine the limits of the rights of public employees.

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It’s an issue no one has dared to raise in public debate – should the people who work for us in local, state and federal governments be allowed to unionize as are employees of private firms. It all began when Gov. Scott Walker signed into law a bill to curb the power of Obama’s bloated public employee unions, asking them in the light of the fact that the state is flat broke to pay their fair share of retirement and other benefits, thus bringing down on himself the full fury of organized labor. Nobody dared to suggest that his action called into question the right of public employees – you know, the people who work for us - to organize as a labor union, just like those who work in the private sector, but that is what happened. A labor union that purports to represent those who work for us in local, state and federal governments obviously has the power to strike against the public interest – to hold the public hostage to their demands no matter how unreasonable they might be. The prospect of vital public services such as police and fire protection being used as a bargaining tool is simply unacceptable. Those who serve the public must be made to understand that they are servants of the public who pay their salaries and most often provide benefits not available to the rest of us, such as retirement at a relatively still-young age after a mere 20 years on the job. They must understand that these privileges must come at a price, in this case giving up the right to strike against the public interest. They work for us. When they apply for a job in the public sector with its often peculiar benefits they must be prepared to give up, among others, the right to strike against the public interest – it should be a given beyond question - work for us and you accept our authority and our rules. If you can’t, look elsewhere for employment. Public employment is a privilege, with certain restriction. It is not a right. The Wisconsin situation brought into the fore some pretty unsavory tactics as the thuggery that passes for union leadership emerged full blown there. For example, as the League of American voters reported, “Obama’s bloated public unions sunk to a new low, threatening the citizens who’ve donated to Gov. Walker. Wrote the League, which I proudly serve as a member of the board of directors “in a Mafia-like letter from the ‘Don’ of the Wisconsin police union, a local businessman was threatened with payback. The letter, exposed by WTMJ radio host Charlie Sykes, opens by informing the businessman that the police union knows he’s “among [Governor Walker’s] largest contributors.” Something like the underworld’s threat that” we know where you live.” Then like Don Corleone in "The Godfather," the police union boss offers the businessman “an offer he can’t refuse.” Here’s an excerpt from the letter: "The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts… In the event that you cannot support this effort… please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott… your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership." It was signed by the head of a Wisconsin police union! And that’s just the tip of the sleazeberg. At a fundraising event Gov. Walker’s supporters were greeted by a goon squad. According to the Duluth News Tribune “One person videotaped the license plates of at least some of the vehicles that entered,” reported the Duluth News Tribune. “Protesters banged pots, shook tambourines at car windows and sounded horns. Most of the drivers and their passengers stared straight ahead.” As the League noted, “shockingly, President Obama and his allies are trying to make Scott Walker and his supporters pay a heavy price for standing up for the taxpayers in their fight with the unions. “Already pro-Obama groups are setting up websites and circulating petitions to hold a recall election for Gov. Walker and eight Republicans who supported him. “Make no mistake about it, these far left groups are angry and furious.” Reuters explains why they are so hopping mad: “Unions -- a key source of funding for Democrats -- fear the Wisconsin law will bolster Republicans in other states to cut spending by targeting public workers. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Florida and Iowa have similar legislative moves pending.” One hopes we are approaching the point where public employment will carry with it the loss of any right to unionize and hold us all hostage to the thuggish labor union bosses.