What happens when a state no longer forces workers into a union?

[NickTheCage]

What happens when a state no longer forces workers into a union? « Hot Air

" The state refuses to collect dues and changes the law to make dues and union membership entirely voluntary. What do people do?

That’s easy … they quit paying the dues:


Public-employee unions in Wisconsin have experienced a dramatic drop in membership—by more than half for the second-biggest union—since a law championed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker sharply curtailed their ability to bargain over wages and working conditions.

Wisconsin membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—the state’s second-largest public-sector union after the National Education Association, which represents teachers—fell to 28,745 in February from 62,818 in March 2011, according to a person who has viewed Afscme’s figures. A spokesman for Afscme declined to comment.

Much of that decline came from Afscme Council 24, which represents Wisconsin state workers, whose membership plunged by two-thirds to 7,100 from 22,300 last year.

A provision of the Walker law that eliminated automatic dues collection hurt union membership. When a public-sector contract expires the state now stops collecting dues from the affected workers’ paychecks unless they say they want the dues taken out, said Peter Davis, general counsel of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.

In many cases, Afscme dropped members from its rolls after it failed to get them to affirm they want dues collected, said a labor official familiar with Afscme’s figures."

[BarryG]

What happens when a state no longer forces workers into a union? « Hot Air

The real reason for the vehement union opposition to Walker's law becomes clear...

[NickTheCage]

Amazing what happens when individuals are free to choose

[Kenard]

Exactly. The fact that so many individuals choose not to be in the union shows that unions are not viewed by all workers as a value. Freedom is the freedom to choose.

[geoffrobinson]

Going on the warpath in Wisconsin was always about automatic dues payment.

[BarryG]

Walker overplayed his hand which generated a lot of sympathy for the government employees and this recall backlash. if he only moved to kill mandatory dues and force healthcare and pension contributions it would have been more effective at educating the public about whats happening the public sector.

Meanwhile where is conservative Tom Corbett on the pension issue?

[NickTheCage]

Walker overplayed his hand which generated a lot of sympathy for the government employees and this recall backlash. if he only moved to kill mandatory dues and force healthcare and pension contributions it would have been more effective at educating the public about whats happening the public sector.

If 3 weeks ago a poll came out & 39% of Wisky UNION households support Gov Walker, plus he received more votes in a special Gov PRIMARY than all the 4 Dems combined, polling 8 points ahead of Barrett .. How did he 'overplay' his hand?

Meanwhile where is conservative Tom Corbett on the pension issue?

Tom Corbett is not conservative.

[BarryG]

If 3 weeks ago a poll came out & 39% of Wisky UNION households support Gov Walker, plus he received more votes in a special Gov PRIMARY than all the 4 Dems combined, polling 8 points ahead of Barrett .. How did he 'overplay' his hand?



Tom Corbett is not conservative.

The recall never had to happen and all of the crazy media coverage. outside of WI this is still perceived as a workers rights issue. He made it harder for other governors to push back on the unions by being overly aggressive.

That said it looks like it's all going to work out.