US state election - a warning for us all

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/us-stat ... s-all.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CWU head of international affairs John Baldwin has warned the union's national executive that recent events in the US state of Wisconsin are an example of "the growing strength and audacity of the right."

The state's Republican Party governor Scott Walker has been re-elected on a platform of attacks on workers' rights, withdrawal of collective bargaining and effective de-recognition in Wisconsin's public sector.

A huge protest movement against Mr Walker last year, led by trade unions and other civic society organisations, won a "recall ballot" - a constitutional right in the US which forces elected politicians to seek re-election.

But, as John explained in a report to the NEC, "the new ballot has resulted in a win for Walker, with him taking 53 per cent of the vote.

"This is no doubt, in part, as a result of him raising and spending at least eight times the amount of the Democrat candidate, Tom Barrett and this fresh mandate may give a new impetus to the right-wing attack on basic labour rights in the US and will buoy the Republican campaign to take the presidency."

John pointed out that the relevance of this to UK workers was clear in terms of the similarity between Mr Walker's platform and the controversial policy paper produced by Conservative Party adviser Adrian Beecroft, which proposed a new "no-fault" dismissal of workers.

"If anyone wonders what the relevance is for UK unions and workers in general you need only look at the Beecroft proposals, the recent changes to employment law and the continuing attack on union facilities in local and national government," John continued, adding: "The attacks on labour rights in countries close to home such as Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are also part of the growing strength and audacity of the right."

[DGP1]

And how many union members voted for this man?

We really are our own worst enemies

[NWpostie]

And how many union members voted for this man?

We really are our own worst enemies

Most probably non public sector workers, the self employed and business corporations.

This is a new low in a Country that already dumbs down on workers rights and unionism.

Canada is light years ahead of USA for workers rights, Union representation and Healthcare !

[dvbuk55]

The political arena in the USA is far different to the UK. Having a platform in Wisconsin doesn't make for a national agenda on right wing debate on labour laws throughout the US. As for Beecrofts paper on labour law, that is just what it is, controversial it may be, law it isn't - let's face it there have been so many uturns for this government it is extrememly unlikely to ever be brought to a vote.

[blackbooks]

Wisconsin is not a realistic model for anyone to quote. Things had gone badly wrong there, in an 'England in the late seventies' way, and even the some of the Democrats were after strong reforms. The problem came when a combination of hard left trades unionists and corrupt vested interests combined to try to force the governor out of office with sit-ins etc. The general population, who [in the 'states are very conscious of where their tax dollars go] were pretty unimpressed by this, and voted the republican back in.

Moderation has been conspicuous by its absence and failure.