Folk music legend Pete Seeger, 91, discussed his thoughts on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with The Associated Press during a phone interview on Friday saying, “Maybe the Republican governor, he’s done us a favor by bringing the problem to national attention.
“It shows the whole country how much we need unions. We may end up thanking him.”
Walker proposed to remove the bargaining rights of public workers, except over salary increases no larger than the rate of inflation to balance a $3.6 billion budget shortfall. Most police and firefighters are exempt. The bill is stalled in the Legislature after 14 Senate Democrats fled the state to prevent a vote. Three weeks of anti-Walker protests in and around the state Capital have occurred.
Seeger, known for his protest music, recorded one of the most famous union anthems Solidarity Forever, written in 1915, which has been a standard among the Madison protesters.
The singer has been following the news in Wisconsin and believes, “Without collective bargaining rights we’d be right back to primitive times.
“The average American, I think, looks upon unions as a standard way of doing business. Just like you pay rent, you pay taxes, you also get paid a decent wage because of unions. It’s not because of the generosity of the employer.”
Seeger was present at a rally which took place at a union hall near his home, and said he is encouraged by the Madison protesters.
“It shows me that Americans are still Americans. You don’t become an American by saluting at the right time or singing the national anthem at the right time.
"You become an American by using the rights which the Constitution gave us.”
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