Madison AFL-CIO endorses general strike; GOP votes to withhold Senators pay

Madison AFL-CIO prepares for general strike; Governor preparing for layoffs; Republicans vote to withhold missing Senators pay.

According to a press release from IBEW Local 2304 President Dave Pokilinski, the Madison area AFL-CIO voted to prepare for a general strike:

Around 10:50PM Wisconsin Time on February 21st the South Central Federation of Labor endorsed the following motions:

Motion 1: The SCFL endorses a general strike, possibly for the day Walker signs his “budget repair bill,” and requests the Education Committee immediately begin educating affiliates and members on the organization and function of a general strike.

Motion 2:  The SCFL goes on record as opposing all provisions contained in Walker’s “budget repair bill,” including but not limited to, curtailed bargaining rights and reduced wages, benefits, pensions, funding for public education, changes to medical assistance programs, and politicization of state government agencies.

Ben Smith of Politico notes that a general strike would violate the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, but the union apparently does not seem to care.

Although the South Central Federation of Labor endorsed the idea, they did not call for a general strike, saying they did not have the power to do so, and would only support such a move if other unions throughout Wisconsin participated.

Instead, the group feels they need to start educating the public and explain why they believe a general strike may be necessary.

According to a post at Channel3000.com:

"We've set up a committee to set up the education process. We'll be working with other labor bodies, and church groups," said Carl Aniel, AFSCME Labor Federation delegate. "This action is designed to put control back in the hands of people doing all this work."

Aniel said there was no point in calling for a general strike  "unless we're prepared to make it succeed," he said, according to Channel3000.

If a general strike were called, it would be an illegal move on the part of the unions, and Governor Walker would be well within his rights to fire those striking.  After all, it is the duly elected officials who run Wisconsin - not unaccountable unions and their bosses.

Emergency services would remain in place if a strike took place, but Aniel seemed to imply the union would determine who would receive emergency services.

"What we have to do is to make sure all essential services to people are provided," said Aniel. "Then, we'll determine what other entities deserve those services."

Ed Morrissey of Hot Air noticed this as well, and wrote:

The unions will decide what services deserve to be provided to the people of Wisconsin, whose tax dollars go to funding the services.  Not the people, not their elected representatives, but union bosses with no accountability.

This is why public-sector strikes are illegal, and also why this fight is so important in determining who controls public policy.

The issue may be academic if the state's Democratic Senators continue to remain AWOL. 

On Tuesday, Governor Walker told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that layoff notices could go out as early as next week if the budget repair bill is not passed.

But the MIA Democrats will have to return to the state Capitol - if they want to get paid.

A rule change passed by Senate Republicans says senators "who miss two consecutive floor days can no longer have their paychecks dropped automatically into their bank accounts," according to the Journal-Sentinel.

Democrats who have already missed two consecutive floor sessions will now have to come to get their paychecks directly from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) on the floor of the Senate.

"The majority leader shall provide the checks only to the absent Senator and only on the floor of the Senate during a session day," the new rule reads.

Democrats have vowed to stay away until Republicans cave in to their demands.