- 05/04/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Today, the economic recession affects decisions taken at different levels of the US government, which aim at the improvement of the economic situation and effective use of public funds. In such a situation, the authorities often take bold but highly controversial decisions, which may save public funds but put under a threat the right of employees working in the public sector. In this regard, it is possible to refer to one of the recent decision taken by Wisconsin’s Governor Scott Walker, who disbanded collective bargaining rights of public employees, in spite of the opposition from the part of the public and public employees and this decision may have long-run negative effects for the State of Wisconsin public sector and state economic development.
In actuality, the State of Wisconsin is dealing with their public employee unions and their escalating pension costs. To put it more precisely, the state faces the problem of skyrocketing pension costs of public employees and growing expenses of the state. These trends are particularly dangerous in the context of aggravating economic situation in the result of the economic recession that affects the state substantially. In such a situation, the state and local authorities attempt to save costs and limit expenses of the state to use public funds effectively. Hence, collective bargaining became an unbearable burden for the state budget and the Governor attempted to eliminate it to save costs and public funds.
In fact, collective bargaining provides public employee unions of Wisconsin with the possibility to set conditions of work, including wages, pension and compensation plans, and other issues relevant to conditions of work. Collective bargaining contributes to the creation of positive conditions of work for employees but leads to the rise of costs for employers. In such a situation, the Governor of Wisconsin insists on job cuts to save public costs and minimization of pension costs through disbanding collective bargaining rights of public employees of Wisconsin. According to the Governor, this decision would lead to considerable savings in public funds (Fletcher, 2011). However, public employee unions of Wisconsin oppose to the policy conducted by the governor and public employee unions has launched the large scale struggle to protect collective bargaining rights of employees (Barbour and Spicuzza, 2011). The public opinion opposes to the limitation of the collective bargaining rights for public employees too (Causchon, 2011). As a result, the tension within the public sector grows stronger that decreases the effectiveness of performance of public employees and increase their uncertainty in their future.
The limitation of the collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin may have a negative impact on the labor market of the state as well as on the quality of public service being delivered to citizens. The risk of bureaucratization and corruption increases as managers holding high position will attempt to preserve their position at cost of employees, who perform essential functions. Moreover, the negative effects of Scott Walker’s efforts in disbanding collective bargaining rights of employees may go far beyond Wisconsin since other states and federal agencies will feel secure in offending rights of unions that will lead to the further oppression of rights of employees not only in public but also in private sector.
Thus, the outcome of the struggle between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and public employee unions dealing with their collective bargaining rights may define the further employer-employee relationships in the US. The limitation of collective bargaining rights will lead the oppression of rights of employees nationwide and undermine stability in the public sector of Wisconsin and probably other states.
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