Wisconsin has traditionally been a bastion of liberal economics, strong governments, and workers’ rights. However, Republican Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has teamed up with conservatives there to attempt to drastically reduce pensions for public employees and remove certain rights of federal unions in the Midwestern state. But the policy in Madison affects the whole nation.
In Wisconsin, many laborers and union officials are protesting in the Capitol building in Madison. Republican state congressmen are attempting to shove through the bill, although many Democratic state senators have escaped Wisconsin to stall voting on the matter (www.nytimes.com). Some conservatives, like right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, have criticized the Democrats for being cowards, while many liberals have praised them for their boldness.
It must be understood that Wisconsin has a serious deficit problem. Wisconsin has a budget deficit of approximately $3.6 billion dollars (www. dailyitem.com). This large debt naturally needs to be reduced, and the very conservative Gov. Walker has made it his goal to tackle this sky-high state deficit. Some liberal pundits, like the Stanford-educated Rachel Maddow, have criticized Walker for creating $137 million dollar tax cuts for the wealthy in Wisconsin, even as he is attempting to curb pension spending to save the nation’s state public finances (www.nationalreview.com). Freshman Benjamin Lee Stalkaker insists that “considering Wisconsin’s economic situation, [the new policy] is necessary.”
The influential labor union AFL-CIO reported that “Gov. Scott Walker has a Republican-controlled legislature that is on board with his radical plan to eliminate collective bargaining for public-sector worker[s]” (www.blog.aflcio.org). Collective bargaining is a fundamental aspect of modern labor and ensures a proper workplace democracy. Understandably, Walker wants to curb Wisconsin’s soaring debt, but many argue that his methods with labor are inhumane and unconstitutional.
Junior IB Diploma student Kimber Wong argued, “[Gov. Walker’s plan] is just mean!”
The union issue is perhaps the most controversial aspect of the labor dispute. Canada’s Globe and Mail boldly announced that “Wisconsin creates the future […] unemployment benefits and workers compensation were first instituted there” (www.theglobeandmail.com). Wisconsin is the birthplace of modern American labor unions and conventional American socialism, yet currently unions are threatened to be severed there. The implications of Wisconsin could affect the entire continent; other states, including Pennsylvania, could dramatically change their labor relations policies.
Tom Corbett, Governor of our Commonwealth, has been pressured as of late to institute similar reforms as the PA debt is over $4 billion dollars (www.pittsburghlive.com). Act 195 has instituted federal collective bargaining since 1970 in Pennsylvania and Tom Corbett actually appreciates Act 195. “”This is Pennsylvania, not Wisconsin,” Tom Corbett said, “[and] I don’t think a bill [repealing Act 195] has a chance in Pennsylvania” (www.latimes.com).
But for the whole nation, no matter what the outcome, the Wisconsin crisis shows great implications for the future of American industrial relations. History instructor Pat Manion stated that “the protesting workers are showing the pure power of democracy.” If the protestors win this tough dispute, then labor standards in America will almost certainly improve. If the conservatives win, then unions nationwide and maybe even worldwide could have their days numbered.