Busting Myths Instead of Unions in Wisconsin
There’s an old saying that the first casualty of war is the truth.
Welcome to Wisconsin.
As teachers and other public employees battle to hold off legislation that would gut their collective bargaining rights, the conversation around the country tends to reinforce myths and ignore facts.
In the interest of an honest discussion, here are a few myths we encourage you to rethink:
- Myth #1: Public employees in Wisconsin and elsewhere are overpaid. The truth is they’re probably underpaid when you factor in things like level of education. In Wisconsin, nearly 60 percent of public employees hold at least a four-year college degree – double the private sector workforce. That’s because many are teachers and other professionals. When you compare apples to apples, they earn 4.8 percent less than comparable private sector workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
- Myth #2: Public employees aren’t sacrificing their fair share. In the last round of bargaining in Wisconsin, the American Federation of Teachers alone offered more than $100 million in concessions in the form of higher health insurance premiums, furlough days and increased pension contributions. In Ohio, unions representing public employees gave back more than $200 million in concessions, essentially