Photo credit: David Greg Katechis

Since the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio put an end to doing business-as-usual with public-sector unions, nearly 750 bills have been introduced by fiscally responsible legislators (or at least those trying to be) in almost every state. Most reports suggest the obvious: that this is a bad thing for unions and their lockstep members, of course.

The Los Angeles Times is by no means a cheerleader for these predominantly Republican state legislators, but the Times did manage to mention a few noteworthy facts on their behalf (via information it gathered, in part, from the National Conference of State Legislatures):

• Nearly half of states are considering legislation to limit public employees’ collective bargaining rights.
• A number of states are considering bills that would limit unions’ ability to collect dues from public employees.
• Other bills would eliminate a requirement that workers covered by union contracts pay union dues or fees.
• [P]roposals to roll back pensions are gaining steam.

We wouldn’t say that the days of public officials and workers being bullied into submission by union leaders are coming to an end, but the tide may just turning in favor of the taxpayers who’ve been footing the bill.

“Failure to do so will leave us no choice but (to) do a public boycott of your business,” states a letter to businesses from the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24. “And sorry, neutral means ‘no’ to those who work for the largest employer in the area and are union members.”

Reluctant business owners say they prefer to remain neutral in a battle that should be settled in the Capitol and not on Main Street. Rev. Jesse Jackson defended the union’s boycott effort to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stating that it’s merely a “nonviolent tactic used to get attention to the steamroller tactics” of Wisconsin Republicans and Gov. Walker.

Call these anti-small business threats “non-violent” all you want. That doesn’t mean they won’t do a lot of damage to innocent bystanders if and when the union follows through.

First from Pennsylvania:

Three of the largest state employee unions wanted to remove one of the more pressing issues that Gov.-elect Tom Corbett will find on his doorstep when he walks into office on Jan. 18. They sought a one-year extension to their labor contracts that expire June 30.

Leaders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, Pennsylvania Social Services Union Local 668 and United Food and Commercial Workers approached outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell as well as members of Corbett’s transition team about the idea.

While Rendell saw advantages for his successor to not have to deal with labor negotiations right off the bat as he did when he first was elected in 2003, the incoming governor showed no interest when the two discussed the matter last week.

This was a desperate attempt by the unions to head off Corbett, who has promised to cut state spending and not raise taxes. Corbett, a fiscal conservative, will be far more likely to crack down on organized labor than Rendell. Thus the unions need Rendell to solve their problems — and quickly. Kudos to him for turning them down.

Meanwhile Indiana may join the ranks of right-to-work states:

Republicans in the Indiana House have filed bills that would prevent workers from being required to pay union dues, an issue considered so divisive that Gov. Mitch Daniels would prefer to avoid it.

The so-called right-to-work legislation could move forward anyway since Republicans have full control of the General Assembly after winning a House majority in last month’s election. The bills would prohibit companies from making union dues or membership a requirement of employment.

Daniels is understandably nervous about spending lots of political capital on what’s sure to be an acrimonious battle against the unions. (One Indiana Democrat is already claiming that right-to-work laws discriminate against women and minorities.) If the bill does pass, it would make Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state.

Image courtesy of tricky ™.

The video is a little long, but a must-see. Click here to watch.

The AFL-CIO links to a blog post by left-wing watchdog Media Matters that attacks 60 Minutes for never mentioning the words “tax cuts” in regards to New Jersey’s pension woes. (Because we all know what a low-tax haven New Jersey is.) The post quotes a New York Times article mentioning that tax cuts enacted in New Jersey in 1995 diverted money from the state pension fund.

But as is also stated in the Times article, New Jersey more recently raised pension benefits 9 percent and lowered the retirement age to 55. These giveaways were so absurd that the Securities and Exchange Commission later charged New Jersey with fraud for falsely claiming it had the resources to fund its generous pensions. (Pensions were later curbed a bit when it became evident a crisis was looming.) Oddly, these details never made it into the Media Matters report.

Also overlooked by the left: New Jersey has the highest tax burden in the nation. And yet the state’s pension system was so unsustainable that even those tax rates couldn’t prop it up. New Jersey’s pension system is underfunded by more than $170 billion, or 44 percent of New Jersey’s gross state product, according to the Mercatus Center. How exactly are state taxes supposed to fill such a massive gap?

Media Matters concludes by accusing 60 Minutes of having a “conservative framing.” But there’s nothing conservative about it. The fact is that the pro-union, big-government position on pensions is such blatant political spin that it’s not worth reporting.

Image courtesy of joiseyshowaa.

The results are very bad news for the country’s labor unions. Organized labor broke the bank this election season trying to stem the Republican tide. The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest public-sector union in the country, spent an astonishing $87.5 million to get Democrats elected, the biggest contribution in the race. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) donated another $44 million.

It made very little difference. Now comes the day after. Just how will America’s most lovable labor leaders try to rationalize their way out of this one? Some did better than others.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:

“We did our job. No matter what demographic, you look at our membership, we had large margins for progressive candidates approaching 30, with Harry Reid it was higher. … I think [Democrats] are cognizant of what we did and if they aren’t they should pay heed to it.”

In other words, don’t blame us…or else.

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry:

“[W]e are looking to the new leaders elected tonight to show up in January ready to work for the American people — not for the agenda of the nameless, faceless corporations who poured hundreds of millions of dollars into our political process.”

I.e. please ignore the millions we pumped into campaigns.

United Food and Commercial Workers President Joe Hansen:

“In stark contrast to 2008, the election of 2010 will be remembered because the results were fueled not by hope, but by anger, frustration, and fear. … Empty and inflammatory rhetoric that derides health reform as ‘Obamacare’ and demonizes leaders as socialists will not right the imbalance in our economy or help working people make ends meet.”

In other words, we’re angry that you’re angry.

National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel:

“NEA stands ready to work with the new Congress to put students first and ensure that education is the engine that moves America forward. We will work with all policymakers to maximize the achievement, skills, opportunities and potential of all students, to make sure they are prepared to become creative and productive citizens in our democratic society and diverse world.”

Because the NEA is all about students, not teachers.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee:

“The loss of the U.S. House of Representatives is a real setback for working families. Washington Republicans have done nothing since the last election to curtail the Bush recession and bring down unemployment.”

It’s also a real setback for our wallets, which are feeling pretty empty this morning.

Whatever stages of grieving union leaders are at, soon the reality will set in.  With a Republican-controlled House, labor legislation will get very little traction over the next two years.