Gov. Scott Walker’s (R-WI) office has now released documents from its negotiations with two of the 14 state Senate Democrats who had left the state in order to block budget quorum –Â state Sens. Tim Cullen and Bob Jauch — in an effort to demonstrate that he could give up some of his proposals that have been widely derided as union-busting of public employees.
As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, one of the Dem point men is now only slamming Walker for releasing the e-mails:
Cullen characterized the talks as “discussions” rather than negotiations since he and Jauch weren’t speaking on behalf of other Democrats. Jauch also cautioned that the two sides had never reached a final deal.
Cullen said he was disappointed Walker released the e-mails.
“I’ve never seen negotiations be done successfully in public,” he said. “I thought they were bargaining in good faith.”
The e-mails show some degree of relaxation in Walker’s more blatant anti-union provisions — though collective bargaining would still be heavily circumscribed from where it has been in Wisconsin:
⢠Under the current proposal, unions would need to seek certification elections every year, starting with an election this spring, and achieve over 50% of all eligible voters/workers. In the newly-floated proposal, they would instead only have to seek election every three years, starting within one year of the bill becoming law.
⢠Some collective bargaining rights would be restored, relating to workplace safety.
⢠Other issues such as classroom size and mandatory overtime would be bargainable — but both labor and management would have to agree to discuss it in order for bargaining to happen.
⢠A provision that salary increases would be bargainable — but could not rise above inflation unless subjected to a local referendum — would be removed.
The Journal Sentinel has the e-mails here.
