Gov. Scott Walker To Call For Eliminating Federal Gov't Unions

[Capt. Obvious]

Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker called Monday for sweeping restrictions on organized labor in the U.S., seeking to replicate nationwide his successful effort as Wisconsin's governor to curb the power of unions.

At a town hall meeting in Las Vegas, Walker will propose eliminating unions for employees of the federal government, making all workplaces right-to-work unless individual states vote otherwise, scrapping the federal agency that oversees unfair labor practices and making it more difficult for unions to organize.

Labor law experts said such an effort, if successful, would substantially reduce the power of organized labor in America.

"This will not be easy," Walker said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Many — including the union bosses and the politicians they puppet — have long benefited from Washington rules that put the needs of special interests before needs of middle-class families."

While some of Walker's proposals would affect private-sector unions, many specifically target unions for workers at all levels of government.

"Our plan will eliminate the big government unions entirely and put the American people back in charge of their government," Walker planned to say later Monday, according to excerpts of his speech released by his campaign. "Federal employees should work for the taxpayers — not the other way around."

....

tpm