MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The governor’s office says it’s willing to let public employee unions bargain over more things besides wages, as it tries to get lawmakers to approve cutbacks in union bargaining.
Republican Scott Walker’s office has released copies of e-mails given to Senate Democrats on what it’s willing to negotiate.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked for the e-mails, and they were given to the paper and other media Tuesday. A Walker spokesman said the changes would be made in a separate bill later, and the e-mails prove that the governor is trying to negotiate – something Democrats have accused him of not doing.
Among other things, unions could have limited bargaining power over more economic issues and workplace safety measures. UW Hospital workers would not lose all their bargaining rights, as the bill first proposed. And unions would have to vote every three years to remain active, instead of one year as the bill specifies.
But Senate Democrat Bob Jauch of Poplar said his contingent has not approved any of the changes Walker proposed. Rick Badger of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees said union powers would still be scaled down to almost nothing. And both he and Senate Democrat Tim Cullen of Janesville criticized Walker for releasing the e-mails, saying he’s negotiating in public.
Jauch said Walker has not addressed a major sticking point – his proposal that employees who are not in a department’s union no longer have to pay union dues.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in both houses have proposed an alternative plan for ending the budget impasse. It would still re-finance state debt and get concessions from state workers to eliminate the current deficit, while delaying the consideration of union bargaining limits.
