Last night I posted a diary about the anti-union goings-on in Arizona, where ALEC puppet Governor Jan Brewer and her merry band of Republican goons have introduced legislation that will prohibit public sector unions from sitting at the table -- any table: schools, police, social workers, you get the picture.
What makes Brewer's proposal "Wisconsin on steroids," as critics have described it, is that she includes police and fire in the mix, which Walker did not, as well as teachers. Natch. From yesterday's diary, here's the nut of SB 1485:
23-1422. Public employees; unions; prohibitions; enforcement
A. NO STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE IS VESTED OR POSSESSES ANY AUTHORITY TO:
1. RECOGNIZE ANY UNION AS A BARGAINING AGENT OF ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
2. COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN OR ENTER INTO ANY EMPLOYMENT BARGAIN WITH ANY UNION OR ITS AGENTS.
3. MEET AND CONFER WITH ANY UNION THAT REPRESENTS ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING OR REACHING ANY EMPLOYMENT BARGAIN.
Go away workers, we don't want to talk to you! As Ed Schultz reported tonight, the Arizona bills also ban payroll deductions for union dues, and they prohibit public worker compensation for union activities. In other words, all municipalities will not only not listen to people who represent workers, they'll make joining a union more difficult and more expensive, as Ed described the full-throttle assault tonight:
Arizona is ALREADY a so-called "right-to-work" state, which means unions have a severely diminished role. But they still have a seat at the bargaining table. They can still negotiate pay and benefits for members, to a certain extent. But these new Republican bills stamp out the few remaining union rights. They will completely do away with collective bargaining.
Happily, tonight Big Eddie hosted Arizona Democratic Senator David Schapira, who hopes to ignite a Wisconsin-like protest. Just launched within the hour, his website is asking citizens to protest these fast-tracked attacks on public sector employees:
The right of workers to organize and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions is a fundamental American right that ought to be protected, not vilified. Arizona's Tea Party Republicans should stop attacking workers and join us in focusing on real solutions to our economy.
When he announced the petition on The Ed Schultz Show this evening, I went to it immediately and there were a few dozen signatures. As I write there are more than 600. Please sign if you can. Thanks. [Now more than 800 in 20 minutes!]
www.solidarityaz.org
Video from the hearing today. The GOP can't understand why their over-reach is seen as an "attack" on workers. Duh.