Part of 2011 United States public employee protests Overhead view of hundreds of people wearing red for the Teacher's union, protesting against Walker's bill. Thousands gather inside Madison Wisconsin's Capitol rotunda to protest Governor Walker's proposed bill. Date February 14, 2011 (2011-02-14) – present Location Wisconsin Wisconsin, United States 43°4′29.6″N 89°23′8″W / 43.074889°N 89.38556°W / 43.074889; -89.38556Coordinates: 43°4′29.6″N 89°23′8″W / 43.074889°N 89.38556°W / 43.074889; -89.38556 Status Ongoing Causes Opposition to certain provisions in legislation proposed by Governor Scott Walker to restrict public employee collective bargaining and address a state budget shortfall. Characteristics Protests, sit ins, demonstrations, movement for recall elections Parties to the civil conflict Wisconsin Democratic Party Unions:
* Organizing for America[1][2] * SEIU * IWW * WEAC – an NEA affiliate
The 2011 Wisconsin protests are a series of ongoing demonstrations in the state of Wisconsin in the United States involving tens of thousands of protestors, including union members and students. The protests center around the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, with smaller protests also occurring in Milwaukee, Green Bay and other municipalities. Demonstrations have also occurred at various college campuses, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
The protests began on February 14 in opposition to the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill proposed by Republican Governor Scott Walker[7] to address a projected $3.6 billion budget deficit.[8] The legislation would require state employees to contribute 5.8% of their salaries to cover pension costs, contribute 12.6% towards their health care premiums and would weaken and possibly abolish collective bargaining rights for most public employee union members. Democrats and union leaders offered to accept the increased cost of benefits but not the removal of bargaining rights.[9] Walker rejected the idea because they "stood in the way of local governments and school districts being able to balance their budget."[9]
On February 20, it was reported that 14 Democratic Party Senators had left Wisconsin and traveled across state lines to Illinois to ensure their votes could not be taken on the bill in question. The Senators remained in Illinois for three weeks, returning only after Senate Republicans passed the bill through the State Senate in their absence. It has not been determined whether or not this method of passing the bill was legal.[10]
On March 9, Republicans removed the bill of all budgetary measures and passed it through the State Senate with an 18–1 vote. On March 10, the Wisconsin State Assembly followed the Senate's move and passed the law with a vote of 53–42 ending most collective bargaining rights for unionized public employees, except in wages.[11] On March 18, Judge Maryann Sumi issued a stay on the bill saying it had been passed without the required the 24 hours' notice to inform the public of the meeting .[12] Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen then announced he is appealing the ruling.[13] Despite this, on March 25, the Legislative Reference Bureau bypassed the Secretary of State's office and officially published the collective bargaining law with Republicans saying it is law and they would enforce it.[14] This interpretation has been criticized as unconstitutional by Marquette constitutional law professor Edward Fallone who says that the Legislative Reference Bureau, a research library service, does not have the power to turn a bill into a law.[15] On March 29, Judge Sumi contradicted the legislative pronouncement declaring that the bill had not became law and that public officials who attempted to enforce it risked legal sanctions.[16]
Full at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Wisconsin_protests