Should public employee unions in Wisconsin call a General Strike?

[coalition_unwilling]

Since Wisconsin Governor Walker has thrown down the gauntlet and threatened to call out the state National Guard to suppress any strikes by public employee unions, the discussion should now shift to the advisability of a general strike by all Wisconsin public employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, in my opinion.

What are the arguments for and against a general strike by public sector employees? And what is your opinion about whether a general strike should be on the table at this point?

Edited for typo

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

1. Give Walker a chance to back down.

If he doesn't, strike hard and fast. POWER TO THE PEOPLE !

[coalition_unwilling]

2. Have been paying close attention to this and from all I've heard,

Walker shows no signs of backing down. In my opinion, the only language pricks like him understand is mass collective action.

FWIW, I used to be a shop steward in UW-Madison's Teaching Assistant's Association a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

[Vincardog]

3. Tell Walker to stop the shit or STRIKE TOMORROW. Start with the National guard

[coalition_unwilling]

4. I'm with you in spirit and it's a small technicality but, as far as I know,

the Wisconsin National Guard is not included in a collective bargaining unit. I do think the average Guard member's class interests align far more closely with Wisconsin public sector employees than either does with Walker and the elite. But for a member of the Gurad to disobey orders would subject him or her to (I think) military discipline.

[Vincardog]

5. Evey member of the military has the moral and legal responsibility to refuse illegal orders.

That includes firing of peaceful demonstrators and or strikers

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Could not agree with you more. As big a prick as Walker is, though, I don't

think he would order the Guard to fire on civilians. He would, though, have no compunction about ordering the Guard to scab for striking public employees. It would then fall upon the Guard to decide whether such an order to scab was lawful.

[madrchsod]

6. no.....

[Taverner]

8. Yesh

Fight the power

Anything else is capitulation

[lonestarnot]

9. Hells yeah!

I see a spark! It's on!