Trumka: ‘This Is Not About a Budget Crisis’

[cal04]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/02/27/trumka-this-is-not-about-a-budget-crisis/

“No person should have to face the loss of their rights or the loss of their jobs,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said today on NBC’s Meet the Press. His remarks came in response to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) threat to begin laying off public employees if he doesn’t get his way on a sham budget bill that would strip away collective bargaining rights.

Governors with state budget problems who sit down and bargain with public employees can solve problems, Trumka said, but Walker’s attack is not about budgets. Public workers have agreed to fiscal concessions Walker’s budget bill seeks, but in his drive to kill bargaining rights Walker has refused.

Speaking with Meet the Press host David Gregory, Walker doubletalked his way around why he has refused the concessions. Ironically, Walker portrayed himself as the defender of local budgets against the big, bad public servants, ignoring a plea by more than 200 local officials that he stop his attack on middle-class workers and their rights. As a county executive, Walker launched an over-the-top attack on public employees, overstepping his own bargaining team, that was blocked by arbitrators and a restraining orders.

Walker’s refusal to accept the offer by public employees reveals that this fight is “not about a budget crisis,” Trumka said, citing studies showing that the state’s public workers are underpaid compared with private-sector workers, the state’s pension plan is almost fully funded and states that block collective bargaining have massive debts.

[nashville_brook]

1. whoa! union people on sunday shows...is the worm turning?

[dkf]

2. No person should face the loss of their job?

It's only the haves that can afford to think like this. Wow I've never had this luxury.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[deminks]

4. Mr. Trumka was there only after bloggers threw a fit over the original Sunday lineup

I would hope that Dances-with-Roves didn't talk over him so that he could be understood. But, pardon me if I don't watch the video. I will read the transcripts of what he said here on DU.

[eleny]

5. I loved it when Trumka reminded Barbour that state employees are tax payers, too

He turned towards Barbour, put his hand on the governor's shoulder, smiled and advised him of that fact. A nice moment near the end of the program.

And, btw, Lawrence O'Donnell used his time well pointing out how it's nuts not to have more tax brackets at the top. Gregory didn't allow any counter to that. Barbour looked like he was going to swallow his own tongue.

[Cleita]

6. Just tuned into the repeat on MSNBC

So far Walker admits to sending his kids to public school, yet he seems not to care if his kid's teachers get their rights taken away from them. What a POS!

[Overseas]

7. And it is mystifying to see Democrats allowing Republicans so much room

to destroy their most loyal base of voters.

Not really mystifying if you understand the conglomeration of our media into right wing hands, but still demoralizing to see so many Democrats pretending that they need to go after basic compassionate government anti-poverty programs and middle class workers' rights in order to be sensible and moderate.

Nothing moderate about the Republican plan which is merely to crush Democratic support so they can rule without opposition.

Sad that our media is so co-opted that it can't even discuss the issue as the clear cut power grab that it is.

And to think that Democrats had majorities after the GOP crashed the economy and trashed our national security and then got stomped in 2010.

You'd think the Democrats wanted our party to disappear.

[old mark]

8. K&R- Trumka for President!

As soon as possible!


mark
retired AFSCME Steward