MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has officially taken away nearly all collective bargaining rights from the vast majority of the state's public employees.

Walker signed the bill to do so privately Friday morning. He planned an afternoon news conference in the Capitol.

The Wisconsin law will take effect the day after it is published by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has 10 days from the signing, excluding signings, to publish it.

The explosive measure passed the Assembly on Thursday following more than three weeks of protests that drew tens of thousands of people to the Capitol in opposition. The Senate cleared the way for passage with a surprise move Wednesday that allowed them to vote on the bill without 14 Democratic senators present.

That ends — for now — a three-week battle that saw all Democratic state senators flee to a neighboring state and as many as 80,000 protest at the Capitol building.

Walker also said on Friday he was canceling the layoff warning notices he sent late last week to public sector unions after lawmakers approved his proposal to restrict the collective bargaining rights of those unions.

The Wisconsin governor said the new powers for state and local government in the bill would save $30 million in the current budget year, which ends June 30. The measure also requires that public servants pay more of their health insurance and pension costs.

"While tough budget choices certainly still lie ahead, both state and local units of government will not have to do any mass layoffs or direct service reductions because of the reforms contained in the budget repair bill," Walker said in a statement.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Walker said once the public sees government becoming more efficient, support for the changes will increase.

"What we're doing here, I think, is progressive. It's innovative. It's reform that leads the country, and we're showing there's a better way by sharing in that sacrifice with all of us in government," he said.

Chris Larson, one of the 14 Wisconsin senators who left the state for Illinois during the standoff with Walker and Republican leaders, confirmed with NBC News that the 14 would be "back in our homes tonight."

The Wisconsin Capitol fell eerily quiet Thursday night. While people had been sleeping in the building for weeks, all eventually left after the Assembly, the lower house, voted 53-43 to pass the contentious bill.

The vote came hours after a Republican maneuver in the Senate on Wednesday night overcame a parliamentary logjam caused by the three-week self-exile of Democratic Senators.

They had taken refuge in neighboring Illinois to prevent a vote on the larger budget measure to which the collective bargaining ban was attached.

The upheaval in Wisconsin, once a leading state in the U.S. union movement, gained outsized national and international attention, serving as a flash point example of the deep divisions in American politics over how to deal with the country's out-of-control budget deficit and debt.

Republicans, newly empowered after seizing control of the U.S. House of Representatives and many state governments in November elections, had promised backers they would institute deep spending cuts, hold the line on or cut taxes and shrink the size of government.

"I applaud all members of the Assembly for showing up, debating the legislation and participating in democracy," Walker said in a statement. "Their action will save jobs, protect taxpayers, reform government, and help balance the budget."

Walker was part of the new, highly conservative wave of Republicans. He has already cut taxes for businesses in Wisconsin and his move against public employee unions was seen by many as part of a nationwide campaign by Republicans to silence organized labor. Similar bargaining restrictions are making their way through Ohio's Legislature. Several other states are debating lesser measures to curb union rights.

UNIONS THREATEN BUSINESS
By Charlie Sykes
Story Created: Mar 10, 2011

(Story Updated: Mar 10, 2011 )
That's a nice business you got there. Pity if anything were to happen to it if, say, you didn't toe the line and denounce Governor Walker like we're asking nice-like.


March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL
Dear Mr. Ellis:
As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget
adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in
Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for
office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest
contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor
Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in
Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this
request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not
respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with
Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters,
and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.


In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining,
please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the
goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will
do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to
preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table.
Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and
fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that
ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer,
at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from
you soon.

James L. Palmer, Executive Director
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Mahlon Mitchell,President
Professional Professional Fire Fighters
Jim Conway, President
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311
John Matthews, Execuctive Director
Madison Teachers, Inc.
Keith Patt, Executive Director
Green Bay Education Association
Bob Richardson, President
Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Dan Frei, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association

What's funny is that whenever the unions/liberals/socialists/progressives attempt to "shakedown" a business, it only encourages Tea Party patriots to support said business. Their goon tactics won't work and could possibly have the opposite effect.

AP staffers to protest over contract dispute
By Joe Pompeo – Fri Mar 11, 1:27 pm ET

The New York Times and Reuters have been waging protracted battles with in-house union representatives over pending labor contracts. And now the Associated Press, one of the nation's leading wire services, is also in the throes of a contract dispute that's turning more confrontational.

Associated Press staffers who belong to the News Media Guild are expected to rally outside the Newseum in Washington D.C. on Saturday, and pickets are planned next week at AP bureaus around the United States.


Guild members at the AP are protesting what they describe as "the company's attempts to cut their income and take away their retirement security," according to a press release circulated Thursday. Contract negotiations have been under way since last October.

"AP insists on huge increases in our health care premiums, a tiny raise that won't keep pace with inflation and a freeze of our pensions," the union's statement reads. "The combined effect would immediately cut income for most of the staff and erase our retirement income, potentially driving out many experienced journalists."

A spokesman for the AP declined to comment, citing the ongoing negotiations.

Damn, mineral. You read my mind!

"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers' salaries and take away their right to strike."

I never said anything about doing away with the unions. I don't think anybody has said that the leaders should be put in jail. However, I would like to see them practice what they preach. The whole "we protect the little guy", and then boycott a business because they don't agree with you, is very much a hypocritical act.

Funny you should bring up Hitler, since he was also very pro gun control, very much like our modern day Democrats.