MONROE - A contingent of teachers from Monroe will be heading to Madison today to join protesters converging on the Capitol to protest a bill pushed by GOP Gov. Scott Walker to remove collective bargaining rights for public-sector employees.
"We need to make a statement," said Kelly Burns, Monroe Education Association co-president. "This bill, if passed, is going to change our way of life in Wisconsin."
The reason, she said, is that Walker appears to be acting not out of concern for the state budget, but rather his own political interests by taking on government unions. Burns said that, even if Walker was successful in his bid to curb union salaries and benefits, such a move would only cut 5 percent of the state's budget deficit.
"This isn't about the deficit, it's about the rights of workers and (Walker) wants to take those away and give them to employers," she said. "I suspect this is just a first step, and that he will continue to take actions like this that hurt workers."
Teachers and perhaps a few other union, public-sector employees from the area are planning to board a bus at 4 p.m. for the trip to Madison, where a host of rallies and special events are planned in advance of a vote on Walker's bill, which could come as early as Thursday.
By 7 p.m. Monday, Burns said the southern region of the state teacher's union, which includes our part of the state, had chartered 17 buses for the trip.
"This is not just a union situation, it affects everyone who works," said Catherine Kehoe, vice president of AFSCME Local 3760, which represents about 50 local government workers.
Kehoe said some of those members may ride along with the teachers or take separate cars to Madison. Walker, Kehoe said, should talk to public-sector unions rather than try to antagonize them and use the legislature to eliminate their right to use collective bargaining.
"It's all moving so fast," Kehoe said. "He is just hitting us with this out of the blue."
Burns said that despite rhetoric about public-sector employees earning too much, many young teachers in Wisconsin are struggling to make ends meet - even as new demands and mandates are placed on them to improve education.
Walker's move against government unions comes as both the teacher's union and AFSCME workers locally are in the midst of contract talks. The existing contract for Monroe teachers expires June 30, while city workers covered under AFSCME have been working without a contract since their previous pact with the city expired Dec. 31.
"It will definitely be a different feeling at the bargaining table, if this passes," said Kehoe.
"We need to make a statement," said Kelly Burns, Monroe Education Association co-president. "This bill, if passed, is going to change our way of life in Wisconsin."
The reason, she said, is that Walker appears to be acting not out of concern for the state budget, but rather his own political interests by taking on government unions. Burns said that, even if Walker was successful in his bid to curb union salaries and benefits, such a move would only cut 5 percent of the state's budget deficit.
"This isn't about the deficit, it's about the rights of workers and (Walker) wants to take those away and give them to employers," she said. "I suspect this is just a first step, and that he will continue to take actions like this that hurt workers."
Teachers and perhaps a few other union, public-sector employees from the area are planning to board a bus at 4 p.m. for the trip to Madison, where a host of rallies and special events are planned in advance of a vote on Walker's bill, which could come as early as Thursday.
By 7 p.m. Monday, Burns said the southern region of the state teacher's union, which includes our part of the state, had chartered 17 buses for the trip.
"This is not just a union situation, it affects everyone who works," said Catherine Kehoe, vice president of AFSCME Local 3760, which represents about 50 local government workers.
Kehoe said some of those members may ride along with the teachers or take separate cars to Madison. Walker, Kehoe said, should talk to public-sector unions rather than try to antagonize them and use the legislature to eliminate their right to use collective bargaining.
"It's all moving so fast," Kehoe said. "He is just hitting us with this out of the blue."
Burns said that despite rhetoric about public-sector employees earning too much, many young teachers in Wisconsin are struggling to make ends meet - even as new demands and mandates are placed on them to improve education.
Walker's move against government unions comes as both the teacher's union and AFSCME workers locally are in the midst of contract talks. The existing contract for Monroe teachers expires June 30, while city workers covered under AFSCME have been working without a contract since their previous pact with the city expired Dec. 31.
"It will definitely be a different feeling at the bargaining table, if this passes," said Kehoe.