Wisconsin Fight is Not About the Money

Protestors demonstrate inside the Wisconsin State Capitol February 22, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

With the recent turmoil in Wisconsin, the media is missing the real issue that is upsetting workers.  The media is framing the stand-off monetarily. The unions are upset because the Governor and Republican State Senate want to lower the workers wages, pensions and health benefits. I am sure that would get anyone upset. But the real reason Wisconsin workers are angry is the threat to collective bargaining rights.Collective bargaining means negotiations, it means dialogue. It is one thing for state leaders to say, we need to reduce our payroll obligations because of a deficit. It is another thing to say, we want to reduce your wages and benefits and we also want to eliminate your right to negotiate those changes.

That is the essence of the Madison confrontation. Any management group facing hard choices will find workers willing to change if there is dialogue involved. When management not only talks, but also listens, sometimes there are cost-saving measures that the workforce can help identify. But if there is no negotiations or mutual respect, then both sides hunker down to a siege mentality.

Wisconsin workers have agreed to monetary concessions, but they are standing firm for their right to negotiate, their right to collective bargaining. Collective bargaining was the solution devised in the 1930s, to avoid the street confrontations and running battles that often marked labor-management relations. Collective bargaining means workers electing representatives to negotiate for them and then voting on the process. What could be more American than an open dialogue and a fair vote?

A two-way dialogue is always more productive than someone barking orders. If Wisconsin’s Governor would recognize workers’ legitimate voice in the process, Madison, Wisconsin would not be national news.

This is Mike Matejka on WJBC’s Forum.

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