Public employee in Wisconsin? You, too, are an "illegal" according to GOP lawmakers
Despite the anti-union measures in Walker's Act 10 law, a number of local and regional units of government in Wisconsin have continued not only to formally bargain with their employee unions, but also on occasion sit down to talk informally with representatives of their employees. Given the uncertain legal status of the law, neither of these actions are, at least at the moment, whatsoever illegal. But to hear Republicans whining about it, you'd think these interactions were not only counterproductive, but out and out criminal.
Case in point: A committee of the Milwauke County Board has been sitting across a table from representatives of District Council 48, the county government unit of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The chair of the county board, heavily criticized for this by two GOP senators, responded that no contract was being contemplated but that the two sides were indeed having discussions.
Well, to Repubs it doesn't matter whether the two sides in Milwaukee County are actually bargaining (which, as we've noted, isn't at the moment illegal, given stays on Act 10 imposed by a court hearing the pending case) or just talking (which, between employers and employees, is always a good idea). Repubs are outraged! Outraged!
"This irritates the heck out of me," said State Senate President Michael Ellis, who was joined in his criticism by State Sen. Alberta Darling. He called the talks "advancing an agenda in violation of state law." You see, the county's agenda should, in the minds of Republicans, be set in Madison, not locally.
http://www.uppitywis.org/blogarticle/public-employee-wisconsin-you-too-are-illegal-according-gop-lawm
Why is Madison telling Milwaukee County how to operate?
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