Dave, has your Gov. proposed any taxes on corporate entities, or is it just private citizens?

 

Well I am a state of WI employee, my wife is, and I have a daughter that is a teacher. I'm not a union member and the other two are, even though not big on it.

First the Democrats leaving the state. Many people are upset about them leaving I'm not. The budget repair bill was brought up by the Governor with him hoping that the bill would be pushed through immediately since both houses have a majority of Republicans. Which is exactly what would have happened. There wasn't going to be any time for discussion. It was asked that more time be given but other parts of the bill needed to be passed quickly. It is my opinion that this should have been brought up when the Governor was campaigning for office and discussion should have occurred around the state to get input. Then if after discussion it was voted on then what ever happens then happens. I'm glad the Democrats left the state so more discussion could take place or may still.

As far as state employees paying more for health insurance and into their retirement. It is time that be done. We've had it pretty good and the unions would tell you that they've given up other things in order to not pay more. This is true but it is still time to suck it up and pay more. For me I haven't had a raise in pay for 3 years, my insurance has gone up (will be going up more).

My daughter as a teacher (Special Education) has at times not received wage increases because the state had a law that limited what could be offered. She may have gotten a raise of 2% and then her health insurance would go up 3%. Her concern about losing collective bargaining rights is about the students and other things that may or may not be taken away. She also has not problem with paying more for her insurance and more money into her retirement.

There are other parts of the bill that bother me more. They are changing the health care for lower income (Badger Care) which will those already on it. Like anything there are some who take advantage of the system but I have relatives that need this health care.

Another part of the bill gives more power to the Governor, we already have a Governor position that has more power than almost any other state.

The police, firefighters, and state troopers are exempt from this budget bill. They will have all the rights they had previously. Both of these groups had lobby groups working for them that supported the Governor in election. The other part of the collective bargaining issue states that the State of WI will no longer allow union dues to be collected by the State and that only wages can be bargained for.

The unions in my opinion overall have been good and I haven't been a union member since 1980. The problem is they need to work with the State to set things right.

Okay that's enough for now & any of you that know me or have seen my posts realize this is really long for me.

 

I agree with this.
I am a union member in an open house, Federal employee.
I do not always agree with what my union does, but I know with out them, my working conditions would be a lot worst.

Bush tried to break the controllers union and may other federal unions, and to cut cost, did freeze my pay, hire new controller at 1/2 pay, but kept giving all the managers pay raise. I saw newly promotive Managers get a $50k (not a error, yes that much) pay raise just by becoming managers.

Where I have a problem with this, is what are all the other state employees giving up, like the Governor, members of the House or Senate. If it is needed to fix the money problem, then everyone needs to be hit equally.

 

I dont belive it would come to that, but i see your point. If states dont have funding
they simply dont have it. Its going to get ugly in other states too. Both sides have to give alittle.

 

Appreciate all the responses. Tommy thanks for the post, with the bird's eye view!

 

I suggest that you listen to this piece on NPR before reading the rest of my post.

My beliefs regarding unions are based on the following experiences although I have NEVER been a union member.

I grew up in New York City and remember very well one of my High School "teachers" that sat with his feet up on his desk doing the NY Times cross word puzzle and proclaimed: "I get paid whether you kids learn or not".

In the late 1970's the UAW threatened to strike after GM laid off workers unless GM paid into a pool to pay those laid off workers not to work. All they had to do was show up at the union hall in the morning to sign in. Several years ago National Public Radio did a piece on this when it came to light that almost $1400 per vehicle was going towards the legacy costs associated with UAW contracts from the past. They interviewed one worker that had been collecting a pay check for eighteen years since he last worked on an assembly line at a GM plant. In my world, it is my opinion that both the union management and GM management were insane for coming to this agreement. Paying people not to work?

My Sister-in-Law is a retired "Correction Officer" (jail guard). She was in what she refers to as a "Tier One" (untouchable) union employee as subsequent contracts applied to new hires. Her retirement income is based on her last three years of total earnings including overtime. So, for the last three years there was apparently a scheme where people would take turns calling in sick so that the people in the retirement queue could pick up extra shifts and earn the overtime. I don't blame her as much for taking advantage of this as I do the management and the union that allowed this scam to occur.

Furthermore, her health care even in retirement has no co-pay. I "fries" me that my Brother goes to a Podiatrist to have his toe nail cut. If he had an out of pocket expense do you think that he would do this?

My last comment really "fries me": How many people on this forum could not show up for work for more than three days as the politicians in Wisconsin have and not been fired for abandoning their jobs. I would have been fired. How about you?

It is long past the time that our elected officials play by the same rules that the rest of us have to play by regardless of their party.

That is my two cents.

 

Although I'm an "exempt, salaried employee" I am "Labor" not "Management."

The Ohio Legislature is considering a similar bill. A former Fraternal Order of Police (union) official pointed out that the employers wouldn't buy "vests" for the hired help until the union negotiated it for them.

Are there abuses; you bet. Should it be 'management's way or the highway?" IMHO, no.

I don't know how it works in WI, but in OH teachers are employees of the local school district, not the state. But teachers' unions have traditionally been big supporters of the D's; bust the union and the R's ensure their power for a decade or so. <sarcasm>But I'm sure that has nothing to do with Governors Walker's and Kasich's motivation. </sarcasm>

 

His proposal shifts the tax burden away from businesses. Under Snyder’s plan, the Michigan Business Tax will be axed and a new six percent corporate tax will replace only part of the MBT revenues. Overall, businesses will see a reduction in their taxes of nearly $1.8 billion.

Wow, there's a mgt side of me that says, ok lets rock and roll, what MI needs is to attract business and if I really believe that all I'm giving up would do it..

 

If they just fire all the state employees and hire random unemployed people off the street for half the salary, that would save the state a ton of money. Maybe they should try that.

 

So your point is?