The Wisconsin GOP's war on public sector unions--except those representing police officers, firefighters, and state troopers--is not only a craven attack on the Democratic base, but sexist, too, since predominantly male professions are deliberately protected while female ones are targeted.
About 80 percent of American teachers, for example, are female; at the
MADISON, WIS. - President Obama thrust himself and his political operation this week into Wisconsin's broiling budget battle, mobilizing opposition Thursday to a Republican bill that would curb public-worker benefits and planning similar protests in other state capitals.
Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an "assault" on unions in pushing emergency legislation that would change future collective-bargaining agreements that affect most public employees, including teachers.
The president's political machine worked in close coordination Thursday with state and national union officials to get thousands of protesters to gather in
Collective Bargaining Bill Will Have Damaging Impact on Public Employees |
Over a thousand teachers gathered at the Ohio Statehouse February 17th, 2011 to demonstrate their opposition to |
Opponents of Senate Bill 5 react for their cause in the atrium at the Statehouse on Thursday, February 17, 2011
Former Gov. Ted Strickland, not even two months out of office, appeared at the statehouse yesterday, stoking up the union crowds as they rallied against a bill that would wipe out collective bargaining for state workers.
In an interview with Gongwer News Service, which covers the statehouse, Strickland said:
“We had an election and the people chose Mr. Kasich, but they did not give him a mandate to do what he is doing,” Mr. Strickland said. “He got less than 50% of the vote – he got more votes than I did, and I acknowledge that, and I’m not trying to be a sore loser here – but most of the people in this state did not vote to embrace his radical agenda.”
“They did not vote for him to dismantle organized labor, they
“One of the things we’re trying to do is reach out more to the general public, especially through media, but also through a lot of this phone-calling and door-to-door efforts,” Andy Richards, the field communications director for the AFL-CIO in Ohio, said in an interview with The Huffington Post, noting that the protests have helped re-energize a base frustrated by the November elections. “But I think having them as an ally with that, and being able
The Kids Need Good, Experienced Teachers
By GABE PRESSMAN
NBC NY
Updated 6:00 PM EST, Tue, Feb 15, 2011
A battle is going on across the country for the soul of public education.
I went to public schools in the Bronx. They provided a pretty good education. The public school system has experienced ups and downs since then–but basic principles have remained intact: that every child deserves a good, free education, that teachers with experience are cherished, that parents should be invited into the educational process to work with teachers and administrators for the good of their children, that politicians and other outsiders have no business meddling with our educational system.
Today’s assault on public education is led by politicians across the country. Here in New York, Mayor Bloomberg and his advisers have far-reaching control over public schools. The mayor’s motives may be good but he is not an educator. And his main goals now appear to be to save money by eliminating veteran
