Union Solidarity Mobilization in Madison May Signal Political Realignment in Wisconsin, and Perhaps the Nation

Interview with John Nichols, national correspondent of The Nation magazine, conducted by Scott Harris

The fight over Wisconsin public employee unions' collective bargaining rights continued into a fourth week in Wisconsin after Republican Gov. Scott Walker and 14 Democratic state senators, who left the state to deny the Senate a quorum, could not find common ground for negotiations. Although unions agreed to all of the governor's proposed salary, health insurance and pension cuts to address the state's $137 million budget gap, Walker has thus far refused to back down on his demand to take away most state employees' collective bargaining rights. Other provisions of Walker's budget repair bill include preventing unions from collecting dues through payroll deductions and requiring unions to hold annual recertification votes. Story continues

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