Busting unions will 'wake sleeping giant,' local boss says
Local unions are closely watching Wisconsin's public union showdown with an eye toward protecting their members from what some see as a movement sweeping the nation to limit bargaining rights.
"We're preparing them that they may come under attack for their bargaining rights and (they need to) be able to do something about it," said Barbara Watson of the Service Employees International Union, which represents Palm Beach County School District custodians, bus drivers and secretaries.
Florida is already a right-to-work state, which means unions can't require employees to be members. This year, the legislature will consider a bill that would remove the unions' ability to deduct dues automatically from members' paychecks.
"Those kinds of laws that are intending to break the unions and take away teacher voices are sweeping the country," said Robert Dow, president of the Palm Beach County teachers union. "It's not just teacher unions; it's all unions."
Long before Wisconsin's teachers, police officers and firefighters walked off the job to protest at the capital, Florida claimed a