Debate continues over whether collective bargaining restrictions are making a difference

Gov. Scott Walker says the new restrictions on collective bargaining rights for public employees are already resulting in balanced budgets for cities and school districts. But teachers’ unions and local school officials don't see it that way.

The collective bargaining law is not in effect yet, and is currently being challenged in federal court. If and when it goes into effect it would eliminate the right of unions to bargain anything except wages and benefits and ties salary increases to the consumer price index.

Last week, Gov. Walker said that reform is already working in his hometown of Wauwatosa, where he says the tax levy is actually going to go down and where jobs in the school district will be preserved.

“That's because the reforms are working and they are going to work even more in the future,” says Governor Walker. “And when they do, that's going to get this state back on track and get us working again."

"The union bosses only made concessions because it became apparent the long-term fiscal reforms were going to become law,” adds Cullen Werwie, a spokesman for Governor Walker.

But Wauwatosa School Superintendent Phil Ertl says it was state budget cuts that prompted his local unions to reach an agreement on a salary freeze.

"I think we've got some great employees that really recognize what we're trying to accomplish in this school district and they understood what we needed to get done,” says Ertl. “They could have just sat back and said, `We have a contract until 2013 and we're not going to step up.’

“And the teachers were willing to step forward too, even though the budget bill still isn't passed."

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Education Association Council president Mary Bell says once the law takes effect school districts will have a harder -- not an easier time -- making ends meet.

Tags: news, education, money, wisconsin, updates