Wisconsin labor unions are planning protest rallies throughout the state this morning after the Senate's sudden vote last night to eliminate virtually all collective bargaining powers for most public employee unions.
An event called the "Madison Morning Rally" will begin at nine on a corner of the Capitol Square. The heads of the State AFL-CIO, the state's largest teachers' union and the state firefighters association are among those scheduled to speak.
Police and fire unions are exempt from the new bargaining restrictions. But the heads of the statewide police and fire associations say it's wrong for other public workers to sacrifice while their members don't have to.
Union organizers have called 9 a.m. rallies for a number of places in Wisconsin, including the district office of Senate GOP president Mike Ellis in Neenah. Other events are planned in Milwaukee, Racine, Green Bay, Eau Claire, River Falls, Juneau, Fond du Lac, Platteville, Oshkosh and La Crosse.
There's also a rally planned in Richland Center, even though the senator from that community, Dale Schultz, voted against the bill last night. Schultz said bargaining assures labor peace, and the concept of compromise has fallen out of favor.
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In Superior, protesters were out in force before 8 a.m. outside the Douglas County Courthouse on Belknap Street.
New Richmond News is a Forum Communications Co. newspaper
