Workers rally outside Wis. Capitol Building. Photo courtesy of UFCW International Flickr stream.
Last night, Wisconsin’s Republican senators used a surprise procedural maneuver to pass the bill that has been controversial for weeks. The bill would end collective bargaining rights for public sector workers. The state’s senate voted 18-1 without debate to approve the bill in about 30 minutes, even though all 14 Senate Democrats remained out of the state to continue their efforts to stop the vote from happening.
How could they vote? The republican senators adjusted the bill to do away with the spending measures (health benefits and pension) but leaving in the collective-bargainig changes; thus eliminating the need for any Democrats to be present.
The UFCW International’s Statement
For live updates inside Wisconsin’s Capitol Building visit UFCW International’s Facebook or Follow them on Twitter @ufcw
Wisconsin press from the Journal Sentinel
National press on the topic: