Governor Walker's Disastrous Record

From the AFLCIO Now Blog:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker knew better than to run his gubernatorial campaign on a platform based on decimiating jobs in Wisconsin. But just one year into his term, he’s already become Job Killer in Chief, according to a new report by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

“Losses to Working Families Under Gov. Walker” highlights the effects of Walker’s actions, including large-scale job loss, attacks worker’s fundamental freedoms, loss of employment protections and benefits, the transfer of wealth to the 1 percent, loss of quality public education, increased taxes on low-income Wisconsinites, loss of health care coverage, loss of citizen access to the courts and the loss of honest, clean and open government. Here are a few of Walker’s “accomplishments.”

Loss of Freedom to Bargain Collectively. As of June 29, 2011, it is illegal for approximately 175,000 Wisconsin public employees to engage in real collective bargaining with their employers on wages, benefits and working conditions.

Barriers to Voting. Wisconsin has enacted some of the toughest barriers to voting in the nation.

Job Loss Continues. Data shows Wiscosnin has lost jobs for six months in a row–from July to December 2011–for a total of 35,600 jobs lost in the second half of the year. This stands in contrast to consistent job growth at the national level.

Private-Sector Jobs Lost from Attack on Unions and Cuts to State Budget. The ripple effects on private-sector jobs from the policies of Walker include a projected full-time job loss in the private sector at 5,400 jobs from budget cuts to state and local services, 1,200 jobs from cuts directed at individuals; 6,900 jobs from cuts in public employee compensation; and about 4,700 jobs from the various forms of federal aid rejected by Walker.

Eliminating Support for Jobs Related to Energy Conservation. The state’s Green to Gold Fund was eliminated, which offered $100 million in lower cost state loans to manufacturers to retool and expand production related to clean energy. It required specific wage standards as a condition of the loan to help create better paying jobs.

Apprenticeship Opportunities Limited. Walker rescinded an order signed by te previous governor requiring employment of more young apprentices on state-funded construction projects.

Walker Supports Job-Killing International Trade Agreements. Walker signed a letter to Congress urging approval of trade agreements between the United States and Colombia, Panama and South Korea and urged Congress restore fast-track authority for all future agreements, which would prohibit amendments such as those to project workers’ rights.

Denying Workers Paid Sick Days. It is now illegal for a local government to pass an ordinance that requires employers in its jurisdiction to provide better leave benefits than the state Family and Medical Leave Act.