If you have been keeping up on the news lately, you must have seen that the new Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder, a number of legislators and other organizations are making it clear that unions representing public workers are going to be squeezed as it relates to their pensions, health care, wages and other benefits.
It is alleged that this is a key reason why the State of Michigan has such a deficit. It is said that this must be brought under control in order to balance our State’s budget and advance our State in order to compete and become successful once again.
While they sound the trumpets on this pending attack, is this really THE answer? Is this really the key to a successful State? Or is it an anti-union agenda?
Many public worker unions (representing teachers, law enforcement, fire fighters, various municipalities and other government employees) across the State have already made many concessions as it relates to their wages and benefits. We don’t seem to hear much about that.
I came across an interesting article from the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. In this article a policy group by the name of Policy Matters Ohio have said the nine states that don’t allow unions to negotiate wages and benefits for members have budget deficits averaging 16.5 percent of revenue. The 15 states that grant unions full collective-bargaining authority have deficits averaging 16.2 percent of revenue, the group said (emphasis added).
Link to article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/12/31/group-curbing-public-unions-wont-fix-budget.html?sid=101
Although this is a group from the State of Ohio it is still interesting data…
So what is the ultimate agenda of those now in power in State government as it relates to public worker unions? Is it to create a more competitive State… or is it an agenda to erase the collective bargaining rights of public employees?
USW Local 12075 represents 9 public employee units. Without a doubt, these members will be dealing with this issue in the near future.
I fully understand the neccesity of being competitive… if you aren’t competitive you will not be successful. But the need to be competitive and how you become competitive is not to decimate the collective bargaining rights of employees. Nor is it to eliminate the ability of an employee to earn a decent wage and receive decent benefits for the job they do.
So… what will be the spin given by those seeking to address the public worker unions and their wages and benefits? At what cost or what balance will there be to get the State where it needs to be? Is it truly to make Michigan a successful and competitive state or just an opportunity to put it to organized labor?
Opinions will obviously vary… positions will obviously be different… but in the end, who would ultimately gain from what looks to be an imminent attack on unions? How would you gain?
USW Local 12075 President Kent Holsing
