Advoken's Blog

Ten years ago, Wisconsin union members and supporters stormed the State Capitol to protest newly elected Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal (Called Act 10) that literally took all bargaining rights away from public employee unions (except for police and firefighters unions).

Despite massed crowds – reaching close to 150,000 persons on frigid weekends – the Act passed, by passing usual legislative protocols.  The marches proved to be inspirational events that solidified the state’s union members, from the building trades and industrial unions to the school teachers and municipal worker unions.

Ten years later, in an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio, Walker crowed that the measure was a resounding success.  He admitted his goal had been to take the power away from “special interests,” a euphemism that hid his real goal of seeking to weaken Wisconsin’s labor movement.  Repeatedly, he claimed Act 10 to power from “the union bosses” and restored it to the “taxpayers.”  Sadly, he fooled many Wisconsin voters into believing he was lowering the taxes of middle and low-income families when the real saving went to his fat-cat, big business supporters.

Was Act 10 a resounding success, as Scott Walker claims?

Basically, it’s a no.

First, there’s no doubt that Act 10 hurt Wisconsin’s unions, most obviously public employee unions and teachers unions.  Membership has dropped 41%, from 385,000 (or 15% of the state workforce) in 2009 to 227,000 (8.7% of the workforce) in 2020.  These figures are from the right-wing MacIver Institute, but are accurately reflecting Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Secondly, the passage of Act 10 emboldened Walker and his Republican follow-alongs to pass a right-to-work law in 2015 that weakened the bargaining power of construction unions.  And, Walker’s success in these anti-union laws served as a signal to other states to do the same.  Both Kentucky and West Virginia quickly followed Wisconsin in passing such anti-union laws.

Walker can tell you that the weakening of unions is a good thing, but it’s bad for all Wisconsin workers, union and nonunion alike. 

Wages have stagnated in the state.  The median family income in 2019 in Wisconsin equaled $61,747, well-below the national median of $65,712.  By comparison, in neighboring Minnesota, the median income is $71,306, nearly $10,000 a year more than in Wisconsin.  Walker may be bragging that the GOP actions have cut taxes, but that means little to those whose wages have go down or have stagnated in failing to keep up with inflation.

Study after study have shown that as union membership declines the income and living standards of all workers decline, except for those earning the big bucks.

Additionally, teachers have suffered badly; scores upon scores chose retirement options rather than teach under the conditions imposed by dictatorial school districts.  A professor friend who taught future teachers told me that class sizes dropped as fewer and fewer young people chose this profession.  Walker’s propaganda campaign called teachers a “privileged class,” with their nine-month work year, their workday that ended at 3 p.m. or so, and with “Cadillac” pensions and health insurance unfortunately paid off for several years.  Too many of our citizens believed teachers lived such a privileged life, totally disregarding the off-hours time given to grading papers and drawing up lesson plans.  (Personally, having taught a few classes of adults, I know how exhausting just my limited experience was; I can’t image how taxing facing 30 or more squirming kids six hours a day and five days a week can be.)

There’s no doubt the education of Wisconsin children has suffered as a result of Act 10 and the Walker attacks on teachers.

There have been some surprising side effects to Act 10 that have a positive impact upon workers and their unions. 

Today, workers are showing more solidarity than has been seen since the 1930s.  When Walker rammed Act 10 down the throats of Wisconsin workers, they woke up to finally understand how they were being screwed by Walker and the Republicans, who constantly – and erroneously – tried to pass off their actions as benefiting the “little guy and gal.”

Among today’s remaining unions, we’re seeing more active memberships.  And this has led to greater militancy as well, showing employers that – regardless of Act 10 or R-T-W laws – workers acting in solidarity can win gains in wages, benefits and working conditions, and thus improve the lives of their families.

Sadly, though, Wisconsin workers, whether teaching a bunch of school kids or working in nursing homes or toiling in the heat or cold on a construction site, are still paying the price for Scott Walker’s cavalier action of ramming Act 10 down upon the Badger State.  But, it’s to be hoped that by showing militancy and solidarity, Wisconsin workers can take actions that will give them the last laugh.  Ken Germanson, Feb. 18, 2021.