Labor Rights are Under Attack!
Governor Christie, Senator Sweeney and the Wealthy Elite are trying to do what Governor Walker did in Wisconsin!
Governor Christie, Senator Sweeney and the Wealthy Elite are trying to do what Governor Walker did in Wisconsin!
WHY ARE UNIONS THE TARGET? Why must we gather support for them?
As cynical as things look in the political sphere for middle and working class communities the unions are still a stronghold for political support. The politicians know they need Union support in any upcoming election, and the corporate elite know Unions are an obstacle to their power struggle. Unions fund the democrat’s campaigns, canvass for them…. really do help them get them into office.
The “Right’s” or “Elite” plan is to wipe out the unions so they can wipe out the Middle class and prevent any influence from the working class on the political sphere, and the country at large.
This is what is happening in Wisconsin, and also in several other states.
Wisconsin:
Governor Walker was elected in this formerly progressive state where the unions started.
The first thing he did was pas a bill that limits the collective bargaining power of unions and mandates that they must have a vote every year to maintain certification, at the expense of the union (this would cost unions about 2 million per year). It also eliminates payroll deduction for dues, which hinders their ability to collect dues.
New Hampshire:
1. “Right to Work” legislation
Right to work legislation would make it legal for non union workers to not pay dues to unions even though the union fights on there behalf.
2. Repealing of the Evergreen Clause
The Evergreen Clause says that when contracts expire, if no new contract has been negotiated the contract remains until negotiations end. To repeal it means that the day the contract ends it ends even if negotiation isn’t done.
Maine:
- “Right to Work” legislation
- Budget cuts to public service sector.
The governor so blatantly hates union and workers rights because he destroyed the Cesar Chavez mural in the capitol building.
New York:
Cuomo’s budget requires 400 million in givebacks or lay off of 15,000 union workers.
Michigan:
1. Auto Workers shut down
2. Legislators passed an emergency bill where the governor can appoint a fiscal administrator to any local entity and can eliminate any union contracts, and remove elected officials.
Ohio:
Republican Legislators tried to pass a bill that would take away collective bargaining rights for all public workers except police or fireman. Two republicans voted against it and the governor kicked them out!
Indiana:
1. Legislation failed that tried to limit Collective Bargaining because of unions fighting back.
2. “Right to work” legislation failed because of unions fighting back.
What about New Jersey?
Last Gubernatorial Race in Jersey…
How the heck did we get Governor Christie?
He was previous 1 term freeholder; even his own colleagues booted him out!
Nobody thought he could get elected.
But he has the support of the right wing agenda…
He had previously met with Bush’s operatives even though he was supposed to be unbiased as a federally appointed prosecutor. It was the first meeting in which they discussed replacing the governors of traditionally “D” states to gain a right wing balance of power permanently in this country.
He had his Shake Up Trenton campaign, and won.
AFSCME’s Stand Up campaign was the response, as they and the other unions did not support him, and the prelude to what the unions have to do now.
He has already tried to hurt unions and limit workers’ rights in New Jersey.
His first act as governor was to link unions to the ban on pay to play.
A ban on pay to play means that if you contribute to a campaign you can’t get a contract from the government. If he had succeeded public unions would no longer have the right to contribute to candidates and provide union organizing to employees in the public sphere.
Unions came together and filed a lawsuit and won on a right to choose basis.
In June 2010 he signed legislation that says the state has to get 1.5 % to give to health care, that no local could negotiate for less than that.
With the legislation new employees would also be on a different pension plan, retirement age, years of service, living adjustments than retirees or veteran workers.
Feb 2011- there’s a hole in the budget! Of 7.9 in state budget!
To make up for it he says public employees should pay 30% for the state health benefit plan and that Vineland Development Center, or a different Public facility center would close (Ancora or Woodlawn).
But Christie won’t give up…
Christie’s budget has several initiatives that hurt unions:
- It would allow him to place a spending cap on unions for local governments. Not cool because he was elected to govern the state, not the towns. Local towns and unions have the right to negotiate their own business together.
- Furloughs- it has always been that the unions and state must agree, but in MT. Laurel, the government started enacting furloughs without seeking agreement with the unions first. Christie would like to pass legislation that makes that legal in conjunction with the budget.
- Civil service- local governments can opt out of providing civil services.
- Appeals for suspension- if you are suspended less than 30 days you can’t appeal.
- Reduce government- Get rid of workers and programs with a target at senior people, because you have to pay them more. Vineland Development Center.
- Arbitrators- giving more than 2.5 cap not allowed. Who you arbitrate with you contract with.
- Contract Negotiations will start June 30th, when the contracts end. As it is now, if contracts expire but new negotiations are not over, the contract is extended until negotiations are not finished. Christie would like it to be so that if the contract ends and negotiations are not finished, no contract exists until negotiations are finished.
AFSCME, and the unions say nothing should close because it all works fine and because it really won’t save the state enough money.
Their position:
We understand that the state/country is in a tight squeeze, that the pension probably wont exist in its capacity for much longer,
But we don’t understand why public workers and the working class have to fix a plan that broke because of governmental choices. When the plan worked, public workers and working class people were not a part of the reward, were not the cause of the problem but are being asked to fix it.
We understand that health care needs revision…. but it needs to be negotiated and not legislated.
We don’t know the outcome; we know that money is scarce. We know we need sacrifice and dialogue on all fronts, and for everyone to take it to and at the table.
As for the unions, instead of 20 drafts of plans, unions should come together to draft one and fight together. People who are not it the unions need to come out in support of unions because if the unions lose there right to bargaining power, working class non-union workers will have no chance in fighting for theirs.
Senate Bill 2718
Proposed by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, this bill is another attack on collective bargaining being voted on along with the budget in New Jersey.
The Elections in June and November are absolutely critical. Legislative branches will be replaced, 80 in assembly, 40 in the senate, and redistricted.
The democrats need to recognize the fact that unions have helped them get where they are, and that collective bargaining and union organizing should be protected.
The democrats themselves are telling Unions that the State won’t save much money from closing Vineland Development Center, that it’s a philosophical logic that represents the larger war. Small government is better, bigger private sector is the aim.
They are trying to take away your rights to fight for better healthcare, good wages and safe working conditions.
The Budget Governor Christie proposed and Senate Bill 2718, proposed by Senate President Sweeney will limit Labor Unions right to fight for affordable healthcare, living wages and quality of life issues for the working class. They will close public centers, like Vineland Medical Center, and cause thousands of workers to lose their jobs.
For decades Unions have fought to defend Workers’ Rights!
We need to help them defend us!
We need to defend ourselves!
Pressure your state representatives to stick up for you and work for you like they are supposed to! You pay their wages with your tax dollars and you can fire them this coming election if they don’t do their jobs.
Tell Governor Christie, Senator Sweeney and all of New Jersey’s legislature to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 2718 and to protect our rights to collectively fight for what we need! Tell them their budget makes you pay for their mistakes and if they continue working as they are that you will fire them!
- Please write a letter to Governor Chris Christie and to Senate President Stephen Sweeney urging them to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 2718. Tell them that the budget they propose make poor and working class people suffer and pay for their mistakes.
- Handwritten letters are the most effective way to tell your politicians what you think. Because they are so personal, they must read them and if you ask them to they must write you back with their intentions.
Write as much as you want.
Even just one sentence is stronger than nothing! Or, you can write a book!
Save your self the hassle of postage and mailing…we will mail it for you. Just make sure you put your name and address so your letter counts! Please just contact us and we will come collect them please contact us at peoplesinitiative.uri@gmail.com or uripeoplesinitiative@gmail.com.
Here’s a sample letter:
Dear Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney,
Senate Bill 2718 and the budget that you have proposed will hurt the poor and working class people of New Jersey in order to benefit the wealthy. This is wrong and inhumane.
I am writing to urge to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 2718 and to protect workers’ rights and collective bargaining. Please write me back with your intentions.
Sincerely,
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