I want to start out by acknowledging my support for the public employees in the state of Wisconsin who are fighting for their professional lives. I support unions. My father was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (The Teamsters) for 36 years. My mother was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) for 25 years. I remember attending union meetings as a child with both of my parents. I have been a member of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). I believe in collective bargaining. In short, I am PRO UNION. Therefore, on behalf of all American unions and all American union members, I want to thank Governor Scott Walker (R) of Wisconsin.
In light of Governor Walker's unabashed efforts to bust public employee unions in his state, you may wonder why I, an unabashed union supporter, am thanking Governor Walker. Judging by the reaction of the people of Wisconsin and the national reaction, I am thanking Governor Walker for igniting the labor movement in America. Governor Walker and Wisconsin's Republican controlled legislature have set off a bonfire under the feet of not only unions and their members, but of wage earners all over the country. In fact, if any of you ever wanted to work for a labor union, I would suspect there will be a mass recruitment for union organizers all overAmerica Wisconsin
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership in America has slipped from a high of 36% of all American workers (1945) to just over 13% today. However, union membership has had a renaissance of sorts since 2007. There has been a steady upward trend in union membership since then and with this concerted union busting effort in Wisconsin, those number should continue to trend upward. Americans appear to be supporting the public employees in Wisconsin. According to a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll, a whopping 61% of Americans would be opposed to legislation that would eliminate the right to collectively bargain. This does not bode well for other states that want to place limits on or eliminate completely collective bargaining rights of public employees. Nor does it bode well for the states that have proposed "Right to Work" legislation on the table. It's a new day for labor organizing in America.
Governor Walker will go down in history as the one person who helped change the American labor movement in the early 21st century. However, he won't be immortalized for his intended reason. He will be remembered for galvanizing the labor movement in America and persuading more of the American workforce to be open to becoming a part of a bargaining unit. It is an exciting time in American labor history. All of this as a result of Scott Walker's desire to bust the public employee unions in the state of Wisconsin.
Those of us who support organized labor thank you, Governor Walker.
Peace, peace in the Middle East.
Craig Riggins
Follow me on Twitter: @TheProdigal517
Facebook: Craig Riggins
Email: theprodigalreturns517@gmail.com
In light of Governor Walker's unabashed efforts to bust public employee unions in his state, you may wonder why I, an unabashed union supporter, am thanking Governor Walker. Judging by the reaction of the people of Wisconsin and the national reaction, I am thanking Governor Walker for igniting the labor movement in America. Governor Walker and Wisconsin's Republican controlled legislature have set off a bonfire under the feet of not only unions and their members, but of wage earners all over the country. In fact, if any of you ever wanted to work for a labor union, I would suspect there will be a mass recruitment for union organizers all over
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership in America has slipped from a high of 36% of all American workers (1945) to just over 13% today. However, union membership has had a renaissance of sorts since 2007. There has been a steady upward trend in union membership since then and with this concerted union busting effort in Wisconsin, those number should continue to trend upward. Americans appear to be supporting the public employees in Wisconsin. According to a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll, a whopping 61% of Americans would be opposed to legislation that would eliminate the right to collectively bargain. This does not bode well for other states that want to place limits on or eliminate completely collective bargaining rights of public employees. Nor does it bode well for the states that have proposed "Right to Work" legislation on the table. It's a new day for labor organizing in America.
Governor Walker will go down in history as the one person who helped change the American labor movement in the early 21st century. However, he won't be immortalized for his intended reason. He will be remembered for galvanizing the labor movement in America and persuading more of the American workforce to be open to becoming a part of a bargaining unit. It is an exciting time in American labor history. All of this as a result of Scott Walker's desire to bust the public employee unions in the state of Wisconsin.
Those of us who support organized labor thank you, Governor Walker.
Peace, peace in the Middle East.
Craig Riggins
Follow me on Twitter: @TheProdigal517
Facebook: Craig Riggins
Email: theprodigalreturns517@gmail.com
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