As a union member for almost 30 years I am really torn by the standoff in Wisconsin.  I can tell you my international and parent union have already weighed in on the issue by going to Madison and speaking to the masses assembled.  They in the style of any organization that depends on us giving them money.  Immediately went to the defense of the workers and made up a story about the fake crisis that the Governor created.  This is fascinating since that is the mantra of the leftists in this country.  Never let a crisis go to waste.

Let me start by saying that I feel it was wrong for people who say they care about our kids to close the schools for days to go protest this issue.  From my perspective this could cause more damage to their cause than anything else they could have done.   The majority of people see this and wonder what the real priority is.  The answer is that they will protect everything  they have at any cost.

In the entire time I was an active member of the union, I never once got a contract based on Collective Bargaining.  Never in 22 years was one contract with a major city actually negotiated.  There were proposals and counter proposals.  But due to Binding Arbitration often one side or the other stonewalled and forced arbitration.  The city at one point won big concessions during this process and my benefits were cut back big time.  Yes it hurt but we adapted and we kept  doing our jobs.  Where we ever sick?  Sure we got sick but we certainly never got sick enough to march on City Hall while we were sick.   Here is the rub, all of this was being done by Democrats.   Not the so-called Evil Conservatives. How cushy is my retirement?   I only get a COLA if the pension fund earns more than a certain percent.  This has happened once since implemented and it was done as a one time payout.  So no raise for the rest of my life.  My medical gets covered for 5 years after I retire.  I can defer but the cost would have to be equal to the cost at the time I retired.  I deferred and how many years do you think I will get when I do finally need it?  I do not feel sorry for anyone who has lifetime medical facing the potential of losing it.  Yes they negotiated it.  Not they may have to lose it through that same format.  Life is tough huh?  read more »