even in US: Wisconsin protests
Sorry for the "old" news because it's been going on for about a week now
"Nearly 70,000 protesters have taken part in rival protests in the US state of Wisconsin over moves to curb union activity.
On the fifth day of such protests, opponents of the Republican state Governor, Scott Walker, outnumbered supporters of the bill.
The bill introduced in the Wisconsin congress would cut sharply the wages and benefits of public sector workers, and curtail collective bargaining.
Saturday's rallies were peaceful despite angry chants on both sides.
Union supporters in the state capital Madison outnumbered the pro-Walker rally, organised by the conservative groups Tea Party Patriots and Americans for Prosperity, the Associated Press news agency reports.
Among the Walker supporters was "Joe the Plumber", real name Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, who figured in the 2008 Republican presidential campaign.
“What happens here is going to be very important to what happens in a lot of other states”
End Quote Jim Schneider Protester against the bill
His message was: "Unions don't deserve anything, you don't deserve anything, you work for it yourself!"
Anti-Walker protester Jim Schneider, 69, waved a sign with "Hosni Mubarak?" written next to a picture of the governor, who has refused to negotiate with the unions.
"The Egyptians have been a great example to us," the retired teacher said. "What happens here is going to be very important to what happens in a lot of other states, just like the thing that happened in Egypt had an effect on a lot of other countries in the Middle East."
Wisconsin faces a $3.6bn (£2.23bn) budget deficit in the coming two-year period and the public employee bill is expected to save $300m in that period.
Governor Walker insists he has the backing of the state's voters, arguing that the bill is necessary to avoid painful job cuts. "
after the revolution in the arab world, next in line will be these big MNc's or to be more precise - crony capitalism
'The exploit the bosses by making excessive wage and benefit demands..."
Excessive??? The CEO pay has increased by 400 % over the last 20 years. Compare that to workers increased pay. Increasing the workers pay is a redistribution of profits from which the capitalist has gained from the exploitation of the labour of his workers.
The exploit the bosses by making excessive wage and benefit demands...
Not advantage, it pure exploitation. How do the the workers exploit their Boss?? It is thier labour.
Such is life. Each side takes advantage of the other when the circumstances are right :O)
boom bust. The essence of capitalism from which the workers are demanded to pay for the bust created by the Rich.
As I said .. Its cyclic. When the economy is booming and jobs are scarce, workers can demand and get what they want.
When the economy is in the doldrums, emoloyers have the upper hand and can squeeze the workers to lower their demands.
BRITEXPAT - The workers are justified in thier hostility to Walker’s attack on collective bargaining. While the trade unions no longer represent the interests of the workers, it is up to the workers themselves—not the reactionary pro-corporate heel Walker—to deal with these institutions. As opposed to the union heads, the workers understand by "collective bargaining" their right to organize independently and fight for their interests against the corporations.
To carry forward the struggle to defend their right to a quality job, health care and a good pension, workers must break free from the unions and form new organizations through which their interests can find genuine expression—rank and file committees to unite all sections of the working class in a common fight.
From Epypt to Libyia to the United States - there is only one war. Class War.
Wisconsin has a long history of protests, particularly the university in Madison.
brit, I'll have to think it over, haven't thought about it this way before
Thank you
The Iron Lady destroyed the unions in the UK.
The Unions are neccessary to fight for the rights of the workers, but sometime they can become too powerful and need to be curbed.
Its all cyclic.
Go Americans go!