Before things get too rowdy back here — there just isn’t enough room in my office for a decent-sized demonstration — let’s set some terms of debate on the Wisconsin standoff.
First, I’m a dues-paying union guy. In my long-ago youth, I once was even described in a magazine article as a union activist. I don’t think unions are perfect, just as I don’t think governments are perfect or corporations are perfect. But I do think unions have done far more good than harm, Jimmy Hoffa notwithstanding.
Second, I love the Wisconsin walkout. It may not have been the most mature thing to have done, but I’ll confess, in private moments, that futile gestures have some appeal for me. That said, the Democratic legislators, the Wisconsin 14, need to go back to work soon, if only because it’s one thing to be on the run, it’s another thing to be on the run with gas costing more than $3 a gallon.
The walkout, by the way, was not simply a walkout-as-filibuster, in which Republicans are unable to reach a quorum without the 14 Democratic senators present. It was also meant to draw attention to Gov. Scott Walker’s assault on public unions, an assault that is part of a multistate Republican effort. Wisconsin just happened to go first, which is fitting since Wisconsin was apparently the first state to actually allow state workers to collectively bargain.
But elections do have consequences, and the consequence, in this case, is that Wisconsin elected a governor and legislature eager to roll back those rights.
Third, Democrats and union leaders are prepared to give in on the economic issues. You’d think that if this were about the budget deficit, then this would be a clear victory for Walker. But Walker is not ready to declare victory, because the issue here is not really about pensions (workers are prepared to pay half the cost) or about the big hike government workers would pay in health care costs.
In an economic downturn, it’s tempting to cast blame somewhere. Ask yourself why government workers with pensions seem to be the target. Does smaller government really mean the same thing as smaller pensions? Or maybe it’s the smaller 401 (k) statements talking.
In general, public-sector workers do have better benefits than private- sector workers. But there’s a study out by the Economic Policy Institute showing that even with benefits, public-sector workers are paid less — according to education level — than private-sector workers. There’s an interesting article about this in The Economist, under the headline: “Don’t join the government to get rich.” Let’s just say Secretary of State Scott Gessler would agree.
Now that we’ve set the terms — and you certainly don’t have to agree with all of them — let’s discuss what this is really about.
This has little to do with deficits — otherwise, the Wisconsin 14 would be back home — and everything to do with hardball politics. That’s why Barack Obama weighed in briefly.
This is about unions as critical Democratic allies, with union dues supporting get-out-the-vote efforts for candidates who nearly always just happen to be Democrats. As Joseph McMartin wrote in the New Republic, we’re seeing the Republican version of letting no crisis go to waste. There are budget crises in states across the, uh, union. You get at unions while saying it’s about budgets.
The real issue here is union-busting. The public sector is one of the few remaining healthy areas in the labor movement. That’s why thousands of demonstrators have come to Madison. Or did you think it was about the joy of carrying signs on a Wisconsin winter’s day?
If you read the bill — you’ve read the bill, right? — the union busting is in pretty plain language. The union can only negotiate salary — but, it turns out, any raises above inflation must be approved by referendum. You try putting your next raise up for a vote and see how it works out.
Under the bill, employers can’t collect dues. And it’s worse than that. Every year, under the bill, union members would have to vote to keep the union certified. You can figure this out. If the union can’t bargain, why would you keep voting to certify it — and also vote to keep paying your dues?
This comes on the heels of last year’s Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, making it easier for corporations to contribute to political campaigns. If I understand the law, the ruling said, in effect, that corporations were people. And public-sector employees? The jury is still out.
E-mail Mike Littwin at mlittwin@denverpost.com.
