I am not a union member and not privy to all the details. I'm just the guy that pays the bill.
The main complaint I am hearing boils down to one thing: unions for private workers are part of our free market system, and overly aggressive demands can send their jobs to another state or country.
But an overly aggressive public union increases taxes for an unwilling and in most cases a non-wealthy public. And demanding smaller class sizes simply increases the number of teachers ... and union members and union dues ... and the only winners are the salaries of union bosses. Education value is not enhanced.
Thus authorities and the public are held captive, and it's often a monopoly that not even all of the union members support. Many want their value increased, yet are seeing the reverse occur.
However, IF we are balancing the budget on the backs of public workers, that is wrong. But IF they are excessively paid they are part of the problem. We need the answer.
I simply don't know whether teachers are overpaid or underpaid, and I doubt our politicians do either. But the Governor has the authority to call for a study by our non-partisan Government Accountability Board or Fiscal Bureau. He should use that authority and get to the bottom of it --- if he really wants the answer, which I don't think he does --- and give the public facts rather than just rhetoric.
If it is found that teachers are underpaid, as they claim, let's be fair and increase their wages. But if they are already overpaid let's equalize them with private wages. Problem solved.
It doesn't help that in some states bad teachers are simply put into a do-nothing "green room" with full pay. Even sexual predators have tenure and can't be fired. And advancement and pay is based on seniority rather than personal capability, hard work and dedication.
Some unions have made themselves very unattractive partners. It's bad enough to have competitors, but when they work for your own company it is disheartening.
However, we must protect private unions with all of our might. We indeed have executives who are more dedicated to profits and shareholders and everything they can squeeze out of workers goes to (their) bottom line. Corporate law, too, should be reformed to give shareholders (which in many cases are worker retirement plans) more power to adjust rules and management.
Yes, some of their arguments are valid; private unions have indeed increased even non-union salaries. But I worry that this (combined) has increased the gap between ours and foreign wages.
Public union members can indeed be protected.
Clearly state governments can pass laws that equalize public pay with private pay, controlled for education. Pay need not be any higher or lower than their private counterparts, thus employees are well protected.
But as well, we should do away with private retirement plans unless they are guaranteed by insurance, in the event the company goes bankrupt. And we must eliminate unneeded and inefficient state departments.
On the subject of schools, I think we best start looking at futuristic solutions. Limited class sizes must give way to reduced school attendance and more on-line learning, perhaps two days per week. Kids absolutely must get better at dealing with computers, and those without can go to the library.
When I hear Walker say the words "We're broke!" I keep recalling the $137 million in tax breaks he gave away in January. I'd sure feel better if he were not on the payroll of corporations.
And I keep hearing "We can't
afford it!" Dammit, let's increase taxes progressively
and then correct the corrupt political system that
causes high costs!!! Then we can reduce them further
than we increased them!