Is labor strife in Wisconsin just the beginning?
By Peter Finocchiaro, Salon
Wisconsin has captivated onlookers as it evolves into what some are calling ground zero for a nationwide standoff over organized labor in the public sector. Major budgetary battles loom large on the horizon, and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker is just one of several governors who are considering big cuts to union benefits for state employees. Rumors are already swirling about similar legislative battles in states like Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana, and action against organized labor there could instigate further protests. In short: The scene in Wisconsin could be prelude to a national event.
Given that the two major media stories of the moment have inundated the American public with images of protests, both at home and in the Middle East, it’s unsurprising that people are beginning to draw comparisons. That being the case, the big question of the moment becomes this: Will the labor fight cascade out from Madison across the U.S.? Or, as the New York Times succinctly put it: “Is Wisconsin the Tunisia of collective bargaining rights?”