Are Union leaders selling out Wisconsin workers?

[Fuddnik]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41692914/ns/us_news-life/

(snip)

Hundreds of pro-union protesters gathered inside the Capitol on Sunday, as snow turned into freezing rain that made walking outside the building a challenge. The demonstrators banged on drums and danced in the Capitol Rotunda while they chanted, "This is what Democracy looks like" and "Union busting!"

Mary Bell, the president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said Sunday that teachers should return to their classrooms on Monday or on Tuesday if they're off Monday for the Presidents Day holiday.

"It's time for educators to be back in the classroom with the students," Bell told reporters in a teleconference, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

Democratic lawmakers have said they and union members would agree to financial concessions that the Republican governor wants in exchange for allowing workers to keep their collective bargaining rights. But Walker said he wasn't willing to budge, and he expected the bill to pass as is.

(snip)
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And we wonder why labor is in such a sorry state in America.

It's is not the time to capitulate. This is the time to escalate. You're on strike. You have the Governor by the proverbial balls. IF YOU RETURN TO WORK WITHOUT YOUR DEMANDS HAVING BEEN MET, YOU LOSE!!!

If you return to work, the bill passes. You've already agreed to all the concessions the Governor demanded, which in my opinion, you shouldn't have, but if you return to work, he get's complete victory. You've put on a nice show for a week, but, you lose.

Now is the time to march on the Governor's Mansion and evict that piece of shit teabagger. You can't return to work without your most basic demands be met. Demand HIS resignation.

If you return to work, he's going to turn the full power of the state against you and your union, and you'll never have this opportunity again.

Stay out! Stay out! Stay out!

[inademv]

1. Did they urge anyone but teachers back to their jobs?

If the teachers continued the protests like they were without organizing a proper strike then they would do more harm than good to their cause at this point. They'll probably be back out come weekend anyways.

[icnorth]

3. A certain demographic of the repugs is really upset

about the teachers; not so much about their kids losing out on an education, but the loss of free child care while they pursue their god, mammon.

[Karia]

27. And a huge RW body is pissed that teachers are NOT striking

because it is easier for them to smear strikers than working, tax-paying protesters.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Dennis Donovan]

4. The teachers are using their personal and vacation time right now...

...so it's not technically a strike. When they run out of time, they'll have no choice but to return. Keep in mind that the teachers have family members and friends who can keep the pressure on.

[alc]

5. union image and non-union public support is important

The longer working parents have to find day care for their kids while schools are closed, the more the public will think that public unions are bad and strikes should be outlawed.

[icnorth]

7. Yeah, working parents who don't give a damn

about working conditions, reasonable living wage, health insurance, job protection, pension benefits; all those little things they enjoy as a result of union action over the decades. Just don't cause me any inconvenience today. :grr:

[Fuddnik]

9. Sorry, but it's do or die time.

This ain't a PR campaign. It's about lives, and if some people are inconvenienced, that's too fucking bad. That's life.

Somebody should give up their wages, benefits, pension, and organizing rights so somebody else doesn't have to hire a babysitter?

[alc]

11. the democratic senators represent their constituents

In a public union, PR is very important because the union negotiating with representatives of the people. Loose the people and you'll loose their representatives.

[Fuddnik]

14. That's it! Loose the people!

Turn them loose otherwise you lose them.

[sabrina 1]

24. Working parents then should join the protest to make sure

of the future of their children and that this will not become necessary again.

The Teachers' Union is selling out, sadly. Walker can relax now. The pressure is off.

The trick is to place the blame where it belongs, on HIM.

[HereSince1628]

6. The issue is alienating the public. The protest NEEDS public support

two things to remember--

When schools close, parents often lose workdays. And many of those parents have no protection from business that want to punish them for their absence. Putting parents at risk of job loss isn't a winning play.

The School districts are up in arms over the teacher absences. They are ready and willing to fire the teachers for absences that aren't proven to be medically related. The public sector unions have clauses in their contracts that preclude strikes/job actions. This issue must be finessed.

Don't be so quick to condemn them for making decisions that we as spectators don't understand.

[elocs]

8. This is NOT a teacher's strike. They called in sick to "protest".

It is sure damned easy for outsiders to call for Wisconsin teachers to stay out of work and risk losing their jobs. Is this really entertaining to sit at home all comfy by your computer and demand that teachers stay out of work? What, they're not jumping through your hoops properly?

Myself, a Wisconsin resident who has been to the pro-union rallies here in La Crosse, I trust the teachers to do what they think is right because they know the details and the situation. There will still be plenty of protesters there.

No, Walker is not going to resign (if you want to fantasize go for something much bigger than that) and the Republican controlled assembly is not going to impeach him. The other reality (and I know reality is not popular at DU) is that the Wisconsin constitution says that Walker cannot be recalled until he has served a year, so any recall of Walker is at least a year away. However, if the hundreds of thousands of Democrats who voted in 2008 had found it important enough to show up and vote in the 2010 election I would not have to endure a Republican governor in my state and maybe Russ Feingold would have been reelected.

So, this is not a strike and I trust the teachers here to do what is right. Yes, they can return to work for awhile. Not every teacher has to stay there everyday. Hopefully there will be enough protester in Madison to keep it entertaining for everyone watching now that the protests in Cairo are over.

[Fuddnik]

10. Sorry, but I've been there.

I was governed under the Railway Labor Act. We weren't allowed to go on strike unless released by a federal mediator to do so. We worked without a contract for 5 years and could not get released. We took our only action available. An ILLEGAL slowdown.

If the workers return to work, they're going to get fucked. Period.

[elocs]

12. Sorry, I disagree. I trust WI teachers to do what is right whatever "they" decide.

Teachers are not railway workers and if they stay out too long they will begin to lose much of the public support and sympathy that they have and that will encourage Walker to stick to his guns.

If the teachers decide to return to work, then that is their business and decision, and not that of anybody else.

[Fuddnik]

13. If they return, it's also a victory for their Governor.

All they've managed to do is put on a dog and pony show.

They have the momentum. Use it!

[sabrina 1]

25. Yes, they will. Thank you. We are worried about what the right will

think of us. Worried about acting like good little girls and boys, as always, which is why we cannot win these battles. The right doesn't care what we think, I fail to understand why we care one bit about what they think.

[bemildred]

15. They will try, if the rank and file lets them.

Being union leader is a cushy job, why risk it? Can't we all get along?

[madmom]

16. How about they go back to work and teach about unions and union history?

[bemildred]

17. Teachins! I like. nt

[Karia]

18. I think it is a good strategy

They recommend teachers teach as scheduled, and protest whenever they can outside of working hours. This way:
1. Teachers continue to receive much-needed paychecks. All of the WI teachers I know are already living on a shoestring. Striking would mean starving their families and losing their homes.
2. No one can accuse the teachers of "cheating" and collecting pay while protesting (I know, I know, but that IS one of the RW talking points from last week).
3. When teachers strike, the RW claims that strikes hurt kids, therefore the teachers are hurting kids.
4. In the past, strikes have pushed the fence-sitters to the opposite side.
5. It is a good PR move all around.

[yurbud]

21. strikes pushed fence sitters to other side? pushed workers or public?

[Karia]

26. Both, sadly

Faced with income loss, some strikers resent their own unions. And strikes get spun by the RW that "teachers are selfish and don't care about kids."

[yurbud]

28. we have a limited number of tools at our disposal, and mass protest and work stoppage is about as

effective as it gets.

Take away those two, and the right's media advantage is nearly unsurmoutable.

Keep protesting, and as people see faces they recognize on TV or even here about kinds of workers they know personally being attacked, and they will fall off the fence on the right side.

[GillesDeleuze]

19. I support workers who make either decision..

But please understand there is litigation at work, and its illegal for teachers to strike.

Popular support will continue, has GIGANTIC protests are planned for this evening and tomorrow.

[TJPHILLY2]

20. The moment is Now!

I am hoping that events happening in Wisconsin will become the "shot heard around the world" for working Americans and prompt people to protest and effectively organize against the radical right.

It's time for the truth to come into focus: ...The radical right wing is mounting an assault on ordinary people all over this country.
Destroying what little is left of organized labor is the radical right wing's post midterm election opening salvo and it echoes loud and clear from Wisconsin.

If Walker and his Koch brother sponsored minions succeed in taking away workers' fundamental right to collective bargaining then our rallying cry for the 2012 elections should be "Remember Wisconsin!"

It's time to wake up - the moment is now!

[yurbud]

22. unfortunately, union leaders too often follow dem party playbook when they have a winning hand...

fold before the other side gives up anything.

I have to wonder if she hasn't been either bribed or threatened.

[yurbud]

23. the teachers union has suspended most parts of their webpage including contact info