Wisconsin Deals A Blow To Our Concept of Unions.

   The political battles in Wisconsin, Ohio and now Indiana can very well be a sign of drastic reform for there labor unions in existence. A move by Republican governor, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, to control state budget shortfalls by going after union pensions, wages and benefits;  which could have once been singled out to his state has proved to be influential and is now proving to be a popular push by other states.  That is the mid west, but perhaps governs alike in eastern states will adopt similar choices caused by failed municipalities and budget downfall.

   What does this mean for unions and its members? Well for starters since many of the baby boomers are soon to be retiring and collecting there pensions, these governors want to lengthen the retirement age to prolong paying out their benefits.  They want to increase the amount that individuals pay into said pensions.  Also, benefits which everyone was accustomed too are faced with major cuts.  Thus, forcing many to drastically change an already dwindling economically sound household.

   How could this happen? "There has been a coordinated campaign for the last 30 years to undermine the American middle class by weakening the power of workers to collectively bargain to raise their wages," said Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents nearly 2 million workers, many of them public employees.  According to followthemoney.org, a nonpartisan organization that tracks state campaign contributions, organized business interests -- including real estate, transportation, construction and lobbying groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- donated $878 million to gubernatorial and other state candidates across the country during the 2009-10 election cycle. That includes more than $21 million to the campaigns of Wisconsin's Walker and Ohio's Gov. John Kasich.

   In January, Camden Mayor Dana Redd cut the city's police force nearly in half, citing major budget problems. She said she had no choice because she was unable to secure the $8 million in budget concessions she needed to save jobs.

   This situation hits close to home.  Having family members in unionized jobs and the obvious unfortunate movement in those mid west states, the threat is real.  With so many individuals economic security at risk, pension and benefit security looming over their heads, it's a sad time for those united.