Governors Side with Unions, Not Wisconsin’s Walker

March 01, 2011

Governors Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Mark Dayton of Minnesota are among state leaders who have something important to say to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Collective bargaining is a fundamental right that should not be revoked from public service workers.

Walker’s outrageous stand against collective bargaining has brought tens of thousands of Wisconsin public employees into the streets in protest, and energized workers throughout the country to stand up for the right of public service workers to belong to a union and bargain over wages, hours and working conditions. Check out these photos.

Now governors in several states are also speaking up for workers’ rights. In Maryland, Governor O’Malley (D) says, “We’re having to ask everybody to sacrifice, but we’re not doing it by vilifying public employees.” The governor adds, “I would not disrespect their right to collective bargaining. I think that’s a fundamental freedom that we enjoy as Americans, and I think when you try to make the unions the problem rather than the politically difficult decisions we have to make as a people, then you’re not being very forthright and honest with the citizenry that you’re representing.” Listen to his full comments here.

Governor Dayton (D) of Minnesota also refuses to bow to the right-wing ideologues who are trying to destroy workers’ rights. At a recent AFL-CIO rally in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda, Dayton said, “Working men’s and women’s basic right to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, benefits and safe working conditions will not be taken away here, because I’m here.” He added, “We will not let them divide worker against workers, we will not let them divide middle class family against middle class family.” Listen to his full remarks here.

Massachusetts Governor Patrick (D) also stands with workers. In a letter, he declares: “Our public sector unions have demonstrated over and over again their and your willingness to work with us to build a stronger Commonwealth. … The attack on public sector employees and their unions is wrong for Massachusetts.”

Join those who are fighting to retain collective bargaining rights for workers! Sign your name to AFSCME’s petition here.