The recent labor protests in Wisconsin have provoked protests across the Midwest and may spread across the country.
Union members and those sympathetic to their cause are reacting to legislation aimed at limiting such union rights as collective bargaining. Two such laws are aimed specifically at public employee unions.
Union workers and their sympathizers are holding sympathy actions and expressions of solidarity in other states.
Anti-union Legislation in Ohio and Indiana
Union supporters in Ohio have been canvassing their neighborhoods and holding public demonstrations that, like the bill under consideration in Wisconsin, would severely restrict the rights of public employee unions to collectively bargain.
Eddie Black, a Lancaster, Ohio public school teache,r who was participating in the demonstrations, told WEWS-TV news, that the proposed bill is a step backwards, Black said, "I'm standing here as a teacher, but the firefighters are here and the other union workers. It would affect so many people negatively."
Indiana is considering a “right-to-work” bill which would exempt non-union workers from paying union dues, even if they benefit from union services such as collective bargaining.
Union supporters filled the state house as a committee passed the legislation along to the state legislature. The executive director of the state AFL-CIO, Nancy Guyotte told the Northwest Indiana Times that " 'right-to-work' states are among the poorest in the country. Guyotte said, "The people of Indiana don't want to win the race to the bottom.”
Supporters of unions and worker’s right say that these bills represent a coordinated assault on the rights of workers to collectively bargain. Solidarity demonstrations have been held in states where no such legislation is being considered.
Sympathy Demonstrations in the Upper Plains and the East Coast
Demonstrations have been held in support of the Wisconsin protests and other protests. Unionized state workers in New Jersey have held solidarity protests. That state’s governor, Republican Chris Christie is considered a rising star among Republicans, in much the way that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is.
Even in the frigid, red state of North Dakota, where no such legislation is being considered, supporters in Fargo held a demonstration in front of the city’s federal building.
The actions at the state level are provoking demonstrations across the country and discussions in a multitude of media. People are watching Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana to see how far this legislation goes. People are also watching these states to see how effectively people are organizing against this legislation. For now, the entire country is watching the Midwest with great interest.
Jon Pike - Pike is a Ph.D. in communication and writes about activism and popular culture topics for Suite101.
Join the Conversation