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http://socialistworker.org/2011/02/22/madison-labor-raises-the-stakes clip: Our group, which named itself the Kill the Whole Bill Coalition, was formed in part to counter some union officials' public offer of concessions. Marty Biel, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 24, has stated publicly that his union would be willing to accept cuts in pay and benefits, and even bow to a two-year "freeze" in collective bargaining if Walker agrees to return to bargaining in 2013. But that's not acceptable to many public-sector workers in Wisconsin, who would see their income slashed by as much as 20 percent under Walker's plan. And with the huge numbers of non-union working people actively in support of our struggle, it's important that we stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable people in our state. That same sentiment was shared by delegates to Wisconsin's South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL), the umbrella organization for unions representing 45,000 workers in the six-county area around Madison. When I announced of the formation of the Kill the Whole Bill Coalition, the news was welcomed with cheers. SCFL delegates voted to endorse a national general strike in the event that Walker signs the bill, and designated a committee to educate and prepare our members for such an action. There was virtually no debate on whether we should endorse a general strike--only how to prepare for one. No one argued for accepting concessions. We have already made concessions for many years, and we've gotten to the point where we've got nothing left to give. For example, members of AFSCME Local 171 are preparing video interviews with their members who work full time and yet receive food stamps. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu Set your options at: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
