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 The measure, which would make Wisconsin the 25th state to enact a
"right-to-work" law, is expected to pass the Republican-led state
Assembly as soon as Thursday and then be signed into law by Walker,
a Republican presidential hopeful.
Supporters cast the measure as an incentive for keeping and
attracting businesses and jobs, while opponents call the bill a
thinly disguised assault on organized labor.
"Unions argue that they benefit ordinary Americans, but in economic
terms, unions (operate) as a labor cartel," said James Sherk, a
Heritage Foundation policy analyst, who testified in support of
legislation at an 11-hour public hearing on Monday in front of the
Assembly labor committee.
Most people who testified opposed the legislation.
"If Wisconsin is truly open for business, you will vote with your
constituents and turn down this bill," said Tim Silha, a UAW union
president from Janesville.
The Assembly, where Republicans hold a 63-36 majority, is expected
to vote on Thursday on the legislation.
Walker became a hero to Republican Party conservatives in 2011 when
he pushed for a law to limit the collective bargaining rights of
public-sector employees. His political stature grew when he survived
a union-backed recall election in 2012.
Will Williams, 71, a lifelong union member from DeForest, Wisconsin,
testified against the bill and its supporters.
"I don't see how even you can sleep at night and I don't believe you
do. You're vampires," Williams told the committee. "You suck the
blood out of working people to go and satisfy the people that give
you the money for your campaigns."
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Thousands of workers rallied at the Capitol Building last week to
protest the legislation. The Senate advanced the bill on Wednesday
with 17 Republicans for and 14 Democrats and one Republican opposed.
The bill would prohibit private-sector workers from being required
to join and financially support a union - such as by paying dues -
as a condition of their employment.
Under such "open shop" scenarios, employees subject to the wages and
benefits of a collective bargaining agreement are nevertheless free
to eschew membership in the union that negotiated the contract on
their behalf.
As written, the law would take effect upon Walker's signature.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien; Editing by Steve Gorman, Eric Walsh
and Eric Beech)
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