Walker, who says the state is in a crisis, is asking legislators to pass his Budget Repair Bill to combat a $137 million shortfall through June 30… tax cuts passed late last year by Wisconsin’s newly elected, Republican-led legislature had helped add more than $200 million to the state’s budget shortfall… Pay raises would be limited to inflation, unless a referendum approves of a larger increases, and collective bargaining could cover only wages. The legislation also requires collective bargaining units to conduct annual votes to maintain certification, a costly procedure, and eliminates the right of unions to have dues deducted from worker paychecks. "Calling this a budget bill is a smokescreen," said Bryan Kennedy, president of AFT-Wisconsin, which represents about 17,000 employees. "This is an attack on all labor organizations."

Read full article [here].
by CNN Wire Staff, CNN.

Posted: February 17th, 2011, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.