Wisc. Senate Strips Union Rights; State Assembly Votes Next

Note: This CNN video will give you a clue the feeling a little while ago at the state capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin. From what I’ve just heard on MSNBC, a number of protesters were removed by the police, but the capitol building is now open so that the imminent vote by the State Assembly to strip unions of collective bargaining rights would be considered legal. The State Assembly may only hold session when the capitol building is open.

Yesterday, in a surprise move by Wisconsin’s senate Republicans, a vote was taken without representation or attendance by senate Democrats to approved a provision stripping public employee unions of their right to collective bargaining. A bill was rammed through on short notice, in apparent violation of the state’s Open Public Meetings law.

After weeks of mass demonstrations and outcry at the state Capitol in Madison, and the prolonged absence of 14 senate Democrats in protest against Governor Scott Walker’s union-busting budget bill, the vote constitutes a departure from the rules of the state’s constitution requiring a quorum of both parties to vote on any budget related item.

Wisconsin’s senate Republicans removed the budget provisions from the bill, making it a stand-alone bill denying collective bargaining rights for public sector employees. By stripping the bill of fiscal and budget items, they eliminated the need for a quorum.

Recall petitions have been circulated against recently elected Republican state senators, and there are anticipated court challenges as to the constitutionality of last night’s vote. Even though budget provisions were stripped from the bill, the contract itself binding public sector employees and their unions with the state government is predicated on the state’s budget. There is obvious fiscal impact.

Last night’s vote is significant. Its an attempt to strike at the very heart of the labor movement in a state that’s historically a bedrock for labor organizing in this country. If you’re looking for a 21st Century Fort Sumter in a new civil war between workers and big business, which Gov. Scott Walker represents, Madison, Wisconsin would be it.