Labor secretary Solis: GOP govs asking workers to give up their rights

[babylonsister]

Labor secretary: GOP govs asking workers to give up their rights
By Michael O'Brien - 02/26/11 10:36 AM ET


Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is trying to force workers in his state to give up their rights, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said Saturday.

Solis, speaking at the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Winter Meeting, accosted Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) for their efforts to reform collective bargaining rights for public workers in their states.

"We know that many states are facing tough budget decisions. We know there's room for shared sacrifice," Solis said. "But the governors in Wisconsin and Ohio aren't just asking workers to tighten their belts, they're asking them to give up their uniquely American rights as workers."

Members of the Obama administration have been careful about weighing in on the labor dispute in Wisconsin, which entered its 12th day on Saturday. President Obama has called Walker's proposals an "assault on unions," but has said little else about it.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/146257-labor-secretary-gop-governors-asking-workers-to-give-up-their-rights

[Avant Guardian]

1. The republicans want your pension

They want to give it to millionaires and billionaires. They are going to wake a sleeping giant with this one.

[Guilded Lilly]

3. The greed is surprising even in this wretched age of

Republicans supporting only the rich.

I just cannot figure out WHO these creatures really are. So damned ugly.

[Critters2]

6. Yes, they are! Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Kingofalldems]

2. K and R all Pro Union threads

[Golden Raisin]

4. Talk is cheap.

Solis should be IN Wisconsin.

[babylonsister]

5. To do what? The people are expressing themselves just fine w/o her. nt

[old mark]

7. K&R...No, actually the GOP is threatening to take our rights away!

They are not asking anything.

mark

[golfguru]

8. Is it really true what I am hearing that FDR was against

unions for government employees?

[Brickbat]

9. No, he was against government employees striking. He was also concerned about communist-leaning

and more radical unions having a place in the government.

[AdHocSolver]

10. Walker's proposals are an assault on the MIDDLE CLASS, not just the unions.

The assault on the unions began in earnest with Reagan's firing of the aircraft controllers. The assault picked up steam with the drive to offshore jobs. Unemployed union workers cannot afford to pay union dues (let alone taxes), weakening the Democratic Party which is heavily dependent on union support.

Removing collective bargaining rights from unions is a first step in taking away the right and ability of ALL employees to bargain for any aspect of their terms of employment.

Weakening the Democratic Party by gutting the unions will see the Republicans getting rid of unemployment compensation, workers compensation, OSHA. EPA, Medicare, Social Security, and every other program designed to protect the public from the greed and rapaciousness of the corporations.

Cutting taxes for the corporations and the wealthy does not reduce any deficits. The assault on the unions has nothing to do with reducing the deficits.

The corporations and their Republican toadies have declared open class warfare on the American people. They are not even trying to hide it because they think that the people are too gullible to understand that. Here's hoping that more people come to understand what is at stake here. We cannot afford to lose this one.