CWA: Wisconsin Governor, Senate Trample Democracy in Vote on Workers' Rights

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Following is a statement by CWA President Larry Cohen on the vote by the Wisconsin Senate to strip bargaining rights from public workers:

Washington, D.C. -- What happened in the Wisconsin Senate last night is a shameful act, and one that will not stand. The governor and some senators chose to trample democracy to follow an extremist agenda that deliberately harms middle class and working families.

By splitting off the measure to deny public workers their legal bargaining rights and holding a vote in a nearly-deserted Capitol, Governor Walker and his Republican Senate supporters made clear what citizens have known all along: These attacks on workers never were about the budget. It’s always been about denying working people their legal rights.

The governor and lawmakers threw out the rights of the citizens of Wisconsin to pay back big bucks corporate and right-wing supporters. In doing so, they may have broken the law.

Without question, they’ve broken all trust with the people of Wisconsin, and especially the working men and women who keep communities clean and safe, who help the less fortunate live in dignity and who make our communities better places to live and raise our families.

Governor Walker and those who helped trample democracy will see the results of those actions, as recall efforts ramp up throughout the state.

And nationally, there is a dynamic movement building for workers’ rights. Working families around the country know what's at stake and are ready to answer the call and stand up like never before.

CWAers are standing shoulder to shoulder with firefighters, teachers, students and all citizens who have demonstrated against the governor’s abuse of power from the start. Mark Frey, a member of CWA Local 4630 in Madison, says Wisconsin families know this is not about a budget problem. “This is about dividing the middle class. It’s about taking away 50 years of moms and dads working to provide a reasonable standard of living for their kids. We won’t let that happen. Working families won’t give up.”

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