BREAKING: Wisconsin governor issues union layoff notices

[Paradoxical]

Source: CNN

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has issued union layoff notices that could take effect as early as April 1, a governor spokesman said Friday.

The measure "may be able to be rescinded and layoffs avoided" if 14 Senate Democrats return to the state capitol.

"Without Senate action within 15 days, individual employees may begin to receive potential termination notifications," said spokesman Cullen Werwie.


Read more: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/04/wisconsin-governor-issues-union-layoff-notices/

---

It just won't end.

[JuniperLea]

That is blackmail!

Either you do it, our you don't. Either it is legal and ethical to do it, or it isn't.

This asshat needs to go.

[northoftheborder]

2. It is indeed blackmail IMO.

[Paradoxical]

6. This has to be blackmail.

I'd have a hard time believing it's legal.

[northoftheborder]

1. Does he pull their names out of a hat, or are these political enemies?

[glinda]

15. Imagine that they are Dems as well as desirable positions he wants to fill with thugs.

[Lindsay]

3. "Gimme what I want

or your little dog gets it."

Who needs negotiations when you've been elected Overlord of Wisconsin, I guess.

[bluestateguy]

4. They should just show up to their jobs anyway and ignore the layoff notices

nt

[hlthe2b]

5. This escalation is like open warfare...

I hate to say this, but I am fearful that someone may do something very desperate or due to a momentary loss of rationality... I'm not going to put words to the thought, but I'm guessing my thinking is not unclear.

[Orlandodem]

7. The mantra/meme needs to be this didn't need to be if he'd compromise.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Often.

[Drale]

8. Can he do that?

Don't those people have contracts? I hope everyone of those people sue the state of Wisconsin.

[CLANG]

9. Never respond to blackmail.

[tblue37]

12. Or--Don't negotiate with terrorists! nt

[pam4water]

10. K&R

[RBInMaine]

11. This guy is evil incarnate. Re-call the bastard ASAP !

[glinda]

16. Re-call is not soon enough. He must be charged with something asap.

[reformist2]

13. He's delusional. He thinks he's following in Reagan's footsteps.

He won't be cured of his delusions until he's booted out of office.

[prolesunited]

14. With these kind of tactics

what is his favorability ratings these days?

[wysingm]

18. what is his favorability ratings these days?

(R)asmussen: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker disapproval at 57% of voters statewide.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/wisconsin/wisconsin_governor_walker_43_approval_rating">Poll link

President Obama is viewed favorably by 55% of voters statewide. Typically, a president’s reelection vote total is similar to his job approval rating. Therefore, if the election were held today in Wisconsin, Obama would be heavily favored to win the state’s Electoral College votes.

.

[AsahinaKimi]

17. Its time for a state shutdown

I hope it can be organized. NO ONE goes to work..unless they support Walker. Shut it down! The entire state should PUT THE ENTIRE WEIGHT of WISCONSIN on his BACK.

[blackspade]

19. What a douche.

[A Simple Game]

20. I don't believe there is any way the layoffs can be avoided.

Walker is going to lay these people of either way.

Why?

Because he wants to show everyone who is boss.

[L. Coyote]

21. Time to form a National Minimun Wage Union

Maybe we need an organization with some power nationally, not just a lot of disparate unions, and not just union open to only selected members.

[StarsInHerHair]

27. an easy thing would be to form Mega-Unions & spread this everywhere

every union supporting every union. use twitter, txt msg, email for communications

[yurbud]

22. I hope some DA's and labor law enforcement people are preparing indictments.

[deacon]

23. He is using working people as hostages. n/t

[brentspeak]

24. How is Walker not an extortionist?

Can't wait to see this clown bounced out of office a year from now after he's recalled.

[primavera]

41. I've been wondering that myself

Perhaps someone needs to remind the DA's office of Wisconsin's extortion statute:

Wis. Stat. § 943.30 (2010)

943.30. Threats to injure or accuse of crime.

(1) Whoever, either verbally or by any written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse or accuses another of any crime or offense, or threatens or commits any injury to the person, property, business, profession, calling or trade, or the profits and income of any business, profession, calling or trade of another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened to do any act against the persons will or omit to do any lawful act, is guilty of a Class H felony.

[Major Hogwash]

25. The police state of Wisconsin, with Hosni Walker as dick tater!

They need to recall that bastard as soon as possible.

[StarsInHerHair]

26. gotta LOVE the JOB-KILLING REPUBLISCUM-is blackmail illegal? are his actions

legal-to fire a union employee out of spite towards Dem Legislators? there is NO CONNECTION between the two, & personal revenge firing IS ILLEGAL UNDER MOST ANY UNION RULES.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

28. Absolutely blackmail. Using working people as sacrificial lambs

to get their way.

If this was a civilized country, this would be considered CRIMINAL.

[bemildred]

29. "Nobody move, or the bunny gets it!"

[Trajan]

30. Look ... Layoffs happen ....

I have been laid off at least 8 times over the last 25 years ... NOBODY has a guaranteed job ....

The fight here has been to defend and protect the right to bargain collectively as a union of workers - And THAT fight has been engaged strongly ...

Nevertheless - Issuing layoff notices can possibly be justified if funds do not exist ....


Mr. Walker will be exposed politically if it appears he is doing this out of spite or revenge ...

But let's face it - If they DONT have enough money, and they need to trim rosters to stay within budget; As much as we hate to see people lose their jobs, it could be that some will have to get laid off ...

It happens ALL the time for people like you and me ....


500,000 aerospace jobs were lost in Southern California during the 80's and 90's .... There was little outcry ....

[apnu]

31. They don't have enough money because Walker has already cut revenues to the state.

In the form of big corporate tax cuts. 117 million of his 137 million short fall came from his elimination of a key revenue stream for WI.

See: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/what_gov_walker_wont_tell_you_20110220

So there's your "crisis," it is self made by this little man. Only to Republicans is it cool to cut revenues in public operations. They're insane.

[plumbob]

33. They ARE insane. Yesterday, Rick Perry (Texas' own cross) talked

about Juarez, Mexico, as if it were in the US.

BTW, he turned down $830 million from the feds because the law required him to use it as a supplement, not a replacement for, state funds. Now 100,000 teachers in Texas and 10,000 state employees face the ax in June.

[tcaudilllg]

34. Historically, Walker is doomed. n/t

[Trajan]

35. I understand ...

And the battle against him and his party is a worthy one ... yet; THEY hold the keys to the governor's mansion and the state legislature ...

The Dems had up and left to deny them a quorum knowing that layoffs could be the result - They made that choice to preserve collective bargaining, at the expense of jobs ....

I also agree that the shortfall is self induced, and was crafted to enable the mighty to ignore any responsibilities whatsoever to the commons ... It is absolutely wrong ....

Yet ... There it is ..... The voters of Wisconsin voted these assholes in .... and this is the fallout from that choice ....

I totally agree with limiting the damage as best as can be done, but there will be a price to pay .... and it will most likely be state jobs that are lost ....

[1monster]

36. But... In the past, budgets are passed for the follfowing year. Thus, 2011's budget (at least

through fiscal year June 30, 2011) is already set. Walker's budget year would not start until, at the earliest, July 1, 2011. The money was already in the budget and already appropriated.

As I understand it, somehow Walker has elimiated the funding that was already appropriated by giving it to the corporations in the form of a tax cut for a fiscal year which was already budgeted before Walker's term as governor began. Funds that had already been budgeted elsewhere by the previous legislature and governor.

That means that Walker has misappropriated funds that would have covered the wages and benefits of those now being issued layoff notices.

Isn't the misappropriation of funds illegal?

[quakerboy]

39. I think you are accepting a false frame.

The choice is not collective bargaining or layoffs. The choice was made before the 14 left the state, and in reality has nothing to do with them. The choice was Tax cuts for corporations over preventing layoffs.

[MadMaddie]

37. The state was stable until Walker gave tax cuts to corporations

and guess what the difference is? The exact amount that he claims the state deficit is.

The fact is tax cuts create deficits. This is the perfect example.

The aerospace jobs happened because of poor management in that industry. Specialty industries have to have a forward looking plan and not live in the moment.

These workers in Wisconsin are in high demand, their industries police, nursing, firefighting, state workers etc are not having a downturn in their industry. Walker wants to pay them pennies on the dollar for their education and their work.

[slay]

32. Class warfare and union busting - pure and simple

this can not be allowed to occur. AND collective bargaining aint the only REALLY bad thing in this so called "budget bill". If I were the 14 I wouldn't come back until he agreed to COMPROMISE on ALL OF IT. :mad:

[Bunny]

38. Jeez, he's really the Mayor of Douchetown, isn't he?

What a dick.

[sarcasmo]

40. Time for a recall.

[NuttyFluffers]

42. using terror to command obedience. why, in other people we call that terrorism.

funny, this Gov. Walker calls this governance...

[Posteritatis]

43. "May be able to be rescinded if" = "Will not be rescinded even if." (nt)