No Runny Eggs

The repository of one hard-boiled egg from the south suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (and the occassional guest-blogger). The ramblings within may or may not offend, shock and awe you, but they are what I (or my guest-bloggers) think.

Walker to limit state union negotiations to compensation

by @ 15:12 on February 11, 2011. Filed under Politics - Wisconsin.

The MacIver News Service reports that, because the state is facing a nearly-$340 million hole in the current state budget, which ends on June 30, Governor Scott Walker will be instituting several changes in the compensation scheme:

  • Members of the Wisconsin Retirement System, both in state will be paying half of the total pension contribution, currently estimated to be 5.8% of their salary. Previously, the entire amount had been covered by the employers (i.e. government) outside the scope of wages.
  • The percentage of the health insurance paid by state employees will increase from a minimum of 5% of the lowest-cost option to a minimum of 12% of the lowest-cost option, and local governments participating in the system will be prohibited from paying more than 88% of the lowest-cost option.
  • The collective-bargaining power of all the public-sector unions will be severely limited once the current agreements expire (except for local police/fire departments, and the State Patrol):
    • The only thing that will be negotiated is base compensation, and any increase beyond that of CPI inflation would need to be approved by referendum.
    • Contracts will be one year in length, and failure to reach a deal will result in a wage freeze until a new contract is approved.
    • Union locals will face yearly re-certification votes.
    • There will be no more compulsory dues collected.

In exchange, Walker will not institute any new furloughs or changes in the civil service system, and vacation and sick-leave policy in either the budget repair bill or the FY2012-FY2013 budget.

The MacIver News Service also created the following video report including reaction from both sides of the aisle:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA9yOeX0qKY[/youtube]

Revisions/extensions (3:15 pm 2/11/2011) – It would help if I link to the report.

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