An important article penned by Monica Davey for the New York Times gives detail on the ramifications of Governor Scott Walker’s successful push to cut collective bargaining rights for most public sector employees.
Davey writes that, “More than half of Wisconsin’s public workers were in unions before Mr. Walker’s cuts took effect. A little more than a quarter of them remain.”
Davey goes on to report that the number of union members has “fallen by more than a third by some estimates, with about 130,000 fewer members in the state. Some unions have dropped by more than half. Budgets have shrunk. Other union groups have failed recertification votes and vanished.”
In fact, AFSCME had to merge its three councils in Wisconsin because of the loss in membership.
Volunteer to do your part to put pro-labor candidates in office in your state or province. Contact your district council to find out how you can join the ranks of the IUPAT Army of Black and Gold at rallies and get out the vote efforts.