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The 'War on Workers'         and Fighting 'Right to Work' .                        Dan Reilly updates the ongoing "War on Workers". .

Update on the "War on Workers and "Right to Work for Less”
By Dan Reilly  State Legislative & Political Director IBT

As I am sure you are following, a lot has happened over the past few weeks across the country with the ongoing War on Workers. Most notably, over the last 10 days, Wisconsin voters soundly rejected Governor Walker’s in 9 recall elections. As we saw on the 9th, two Republican incumbents were defeated, and Democrats came within 3,300 votes of picking up two additional seats in some of the most conservative legislative districts in the country. More impressively, the 6 Republican Senators who faced recalls on the 9th easily won races in 2008. This past Tuesday, 2 Democrats soundly defeated Republican challengers by double digits, once again confirming that Wisconsin voters supported their actions from earlier this year.

Let’s be clear; what happened this month in Wisconsin was a sound rejection of the extreme right-wing agenda in the Badger State. Despite having incumbents in just 3 districts, Democrats easily received more votes than their Republican counterparts in the 9 recall elections. In fact, even Governor Walker is taking notice as he attempts to move towards a more moderate voice in the face of his own potential recall election next year.

But the ramifications of Wisconsin are being heard across the country. Just yesterday, Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich and his legislative cohorts publicly called for a compromise on the anti-middle class legislation known as Senate Bill 5, which faces a Citizen’s Veto in November. In a letter to We Are Ohio, Kasich asked to seek common ground with Ohio’s middle class and his belief in talking (about 6 months too late). The irony that this letter was issued just one day after Wisconsin voters rejected the Walker agenda should not be lost on anyone. Check out this link for more info: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/4993x230867.htm

In the coming weeks and months ahead, we still face significant challenges – Right-to-Work will be introduced in Michigan later this month and the New Hampshire House Speaker is still holding the state hostage in his misguided attempts to override a veto of Right-to-Work in that state. Despite the challenges that we still face in 2011, and certainly those that will come in 2012, the American middle class is winning the War on Workers, and the right-wing extremists who had hoped to destroy workers rights in 2011 have taken notice.

Dan Reilly

State Legislative & Political Director

International Brotherhood of Teamsters