Majority Opposes Limits on Collective Bargaining Power, Poll Finds

I agree with brueecc820, 66% of Wisconsin's 8th grade students fall below required reading levels. Whatever
happened to teaching the 3 basics first, reading, writing and math, unil they know it backwards and forwards.
These are the things our children will need to live in the real world. I see kids everyday, that can't do simple math,
if they don't have there phones, to do the math for them. I'm all for paying for good teachers, but why are they any better than anyone else (as they get tenure), if they are a good teacher, they would not need it. Pouring more money into education is not the answer, that has already been proven.

What needs to be limited is the how taxpayers are being held hostage by unions. Non-union employees don't get to bargain with their employer. They don't get to go on strike if they don't like what they're getting paid. Unions are bs and should be stopped. I understand them trying to protect their turf, but as a taxpayer, I'm sick and tired of the unions getting away with holding taxpayers hostage in the public sector. We're paying for it. And it needs to stop. I really hope Governor Walker starts laying off state employees. My guess is they won't be missed.

as a stuggling proud union member ,we gave,as for ceo,s and corp america they still rub it in our faces with bonuses and raises ,i find it apauling that a ceo of a stockhoder comany can have a salery of 20 plus million a year,we just want our fair share,after all we break our backs for these ceos and corp exects to make their profound saleries ,and we are payed back with more job cuts and overseas out sorcing,,

I'd love to the see the sample used for this survey. I don't buy it for a minute. The only people who oppose reduced civil service union rights are........people in the civil service unions.

everyone here acts like unions are some 3rd party organization. Does anyone know how the unions work. The 'ELECTED OFFICERS" of the union are and were employees.... union members and workers before they were union officials. They are elected by their fellow members as their representative.

Stop this nonsence. You have the right to dislike unions, thats the american way. But they (the teachers and others) also have rights to collective bargaining. And thats the bottom line.

Here is what so many uneducated, ignorant people do not understand and will not take the time to understand. If collective bargaining is retained, there is nothing stopping the unions from turning right around after the debt is brought under control and doing the same thing. Bargaining for the same sweetheart deals and running the state debt right back up until we are in the same mess again. REMEMBER:::: The guys who run the unions are now fighting for their very survival and the money they could lose if they lose the fight in Wisconsin. That is the bottom line.

Yea Right!

In your dreams,,,unless you spoke to union officails.

Two other polls (Rasmussen and Zogby) contradict the USA Today poll (I smell a push-poll with regard to the USA Today poll).

UTICA, New York - Two-thirds of likely voters agree that state legislatures have the authority to cut state employee salaries and 52 percent agree they can void collective bargaining agreements to reduce spending, according to a Zogby International poll.

>> You raised a good question, 'Have unions improved our educational system?' Very doubtful, for look at how the USA ranks scholastically with the world. <<

When watching news coverage on the Wisconsin public sector union strike, one of the protestors was holding a sign that read: "If you can read, thank a teacher." Then, last night on the news, I saw where 66% of the the 8th. grade students in Wisconsin schools fell below that grade's required reading skill level. The irony was amusing.

Several years ago, I was watching on-the-street interviews with striking teachers in Washington D.C. At the completion of one impromptu interview, the reporter asked: "...and what subject to you teach?" The teacher replied, "I 'teaches' English." I almost fell off my couch laughing -- that teacher was striking for a raise.

Public union salaries and benefits that out-strip the private sector, do not automatically ensure a quality education.

I don't know who they polled, but it wasn't me. The unions have no place in the Government sector of public workers. Bargaining is not in their vocabulary other than a symbol what they do is destroy you. Did they offer to bargain b/4 the law, NO, and that has been proven, now they want to Bargain and how do they do that they call for mass protests, (everyone is on sick leave)and they close down the business or schools all in the pretenses of bargaining. They use terror tactics, look at them marching on the homes of the legislatures and Governors and tactics they use in con tundra. If anyone who thinks the Government workers need Unions to bargain for them because they work in sweat shops, or don't have decent wages, or teachers who need job protection if they don't teach, etal is in LA LA land. The government has more Labor laws than they can keep up with, they have more automatic pay increases than any one who in government needs a Union.