The Latest Wisconsin Decision is a Disgrace!
March 11, 2011 - The Jewish Labor Committee (JLC) today denounced the decision by the Wisconsin State Legislature to strip public sector unions of their collective bargaining rights as an assault on all workers and the middle class. The JLC, the voice of the Jewish community with labor and the voice of labor in the Jewish community, firmly supports the fundamental right of workers, in the public and private sector, to join the union of their choice, and to have that union represent them in collective bargaining.
"This decision was motivated by politics alone, and not to address the state budget deficit," asserted Stuart Appelbaum, JLC National President. "The public sector unions in Wisconsin had already agreed to the concessions about their wages, pensions and contributions to health insurance that the Governor had demanded, but refused to negotiate. Taking away their right to negotiate is nothing more than an attempt to silence the public sector workers."
"We are deeply concerned about similar legislation that is making its way through the state legislatures in Ohio, where it passed the State Senate by one vote, Indiana, Idaho and other states across the country", he added. "Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, who struggled in the last century so that working families could realize the American dream of economic security and prosperity, a decent life for all, would have some choice words in Yiddish for what is happening today. They would call it a shande -- a Jewish epithet for shameful, a disgrace, which is what it is."
"We are heartened by the huge numbers of people demonstrating in front of the state-houses across the country in defense of workers' rights, including members of the JLC. And we are heartened by the many voices speaking up in support of the right of collective bargaining, including many within the American Jewish Community."
"The American people know what is at stake and we call on all of our own members and all within the Jewish community, to stand now with public sector employees -- they are our teachers, firefighters and police officers. They make sure that the services we demand of our government are provided."
The Jewish Labor Committee, an independent secular organization, is the voice of the Jewish community in the labor movement and the voice of the labor movement in the Jewish community. The JLC enables the Jewish community and the trade union movement to work together on important issues of shared interest and concern, in pursuit of our shared commitment to economic and social justice.