Governor-elect Scott Walker’s sudden talk about decertifying state employee unions is raising concerns among Democratic leaders in the Legislature.
Walker on Tuesday said he would be open to the idea of removing the power of state employee unions to negotiate labor contracts.
State Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), the leader for Democrats in the Assembly, says such talk is “startling” because the Governor-elect never brought up the issue while on the campaign trail.
Meeting with reporters Wednesday, Barca said bringing up such a controversial idea before he’s even sworn in to office raises some serious questions about what Walker’s vision for the state. He says it could set up a general theme of going against Wisconsin’s tradition of supporting workers and their right to organize.
The Kenosha Democrat worries it could pave the way for other changes, such as making Wisconsin a “right to work” state for state employees.
Senate Democrat leader Mark Miller also reacted to Walker’s comments, saying the Governor-elect is “picking an unneeded, unjustified, and unproductive fight with workers.”