The Electrical Worker Online


April 2011
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www.ibew.org

Wisconsin Ground Zero for Attacks on Workers

Ohio Workers Stand Up to Anti-Worker Legislation

New Hampshire: 'The Toughest Fight Yet'

Florida Workers: Standing Together

Indiana Right-to-Work
Effort Derailed by Labor Pushback

Meanwhile, Back in Washington, D.C.: GOP Plan Calls for Gutting Rights, Slashing Jobs

Activists Keep up the Pressure on Michigan Lawmakers

Maine Workers Tell Gov.: 'We Need Good Jobs, Not Partisan Attacks'

IBEW uncovers wage theft in Fla.

North of 49°
Saskatchewan Crown Corporation Workers Unite for Fair Contract

Au nord du 49° parallèle
Les travailleurs des sociétés d'État s'unissent afin d'obtenir un contrat équitable

Annual Funding Notice

February 2011 Executive Council Meeting

THE WAR ON WORKERS
IBEW, Working Families
Unite Against Widespread
Anti-Worker Attacks

In Wisconsin, tens of thousands of working people and their allies have taken on an epic fight against Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public workers.

Sadly, he is no rogue operator. This year a crop of new hyper-partisan governors and state lawmakers took office, often by razor-thin margins, capitalizing on voter malaise and a weak economy.

Last year was the first election that was influenced by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which lifted corporate limits on campaign spending. The vehemence of the attacks on working Americans rose in direct proportion.

Corporate lobbyists and anti-worker special interest groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Builders and Contractors invested a record amount of money to elect politicians who were committed to doing their bidding at the expense of middle-class families.

In Wisconsin, Koch Industries was one of the largest contributors to Walker's campaign. The Kochs' interest in curtailing the power of labor unions is no secret. Koch Industries is also behind one of the largest anti-worker lobbyist organizations, Americans for Prosperity, and a major source of income for most of the other prominent right-wing groups and think tanks.

In Ohio and Florida, Koch allies Govs. John Kasich and Rick Scott are also committed to slashing bargaining rights for public workers, while lawmakers in 14 states are trying to ram through right-to-work legislation.

At a time when the American people want lawmakers to make jobs their No. 1 focus, some state officials are going after the hard-earned rights of working families, using the recession and state budgetary woes as a cover for their partisan agenda.

While politicians are spinning their attacks on public workers as a budget issue, chipping away at workers' rights and decent working standards keeps our economy on the wrong path, adding to the nation's financial problems.

There are already signs that many of these anti-worker politicians have overreached. Walker's approval ratings have dropped to record lows, while a statewide recall effort against those state senators who supported his anti-worker attacks is quickly gaining momentum.