Good news

Look who is laying off in Wisconsin

August 17, 2011 by Don Surber

The Battle of Madison was to reduce costs so that teachers (and other public employees) could keep their jobs. True, their share of paying for benefits rose — but it was offset by the end of payroll deductions for union dues.

Unions would have to do their own collection of their dues from their members.

Look who is laying off now.

From the Associated Press: “MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s powerful statewide teachers union said 40 percent of its staff members were laid off Monday as a result of the law pushed by Gov. Scott Walker and passed by the Legislature curbing collective bargaining rights. Wisconsin Education Association Council executive director Dan Burkhalter said the laying off of 42 workers resulted from what he called Walker’s union-busting bill. Opponents had argued one of the law’s goals was weakening the power of unions like WEAC, which is typically one of the biggest spenders in campaigns on behalf of Democrats. The law takes away the right of teachers and other public workers to collectively bargain over anything except salary increases no greater than the rate of inflation. It also disallows the automatic withdrawal of union dues from workers’ pay checks and requires unions to vote annually on staying organized, making it tougher for public sector unions to stay viable.”

That’s pretty bad for the unions. The union bosses are so desperate for money that they are laying off relatives.

The 40% drop in staff reflects some percentage drop in union membership.

From the Associated Press: “WEAC has been working to get those teachers to become members, Burkhalter said. He refused to say how many had actually been signed up, saying those were ‘internal figures.’ The cuts announced Monday were necessary due to drops in school district employees caused by lay-offs and retirements, not any projections about where union membership will stand later in the year, Burkhalter said. The work to sign up previously covered teachers into the union is ongoing, Burkhalter said, and he expects to see a spike in membership once school resumes in the fall.”

Membership in teacher and other public employee unions is voluntary in West Virginia, where we do not have collective bargaining. Given that they can all retire at 55 with health insurance, I do not think they need it.

One more thing from the Associated Press: “Before the law was passed, WEAC had about 98,000 members and was one of the most powerful unions in the state… It has reported spending $500,000 in support of Democratic candidates in this summer’s recall elections.”

Why would a Republican teacher join such an organization?