Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)
Here we go again: Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature are
fast-tracking an anti-union bill that would force union members to pay for services for their non-union coworkers. Notoriously anti-union Gov. Scott Walker seemed to be taken by surprise by the rush move, but, a few hours after the legislature announced its plan:
... Gov. Scott Walker's spokeswoman said Friday he would sign the measure, despite refusing to say whether he would do so in his re-election campaign last year.
The move on the union legislation appeared to blindside the governor and comes at a time when he is planning to be out of state as he pursues a run for the presidency. Walker for years has said approving such a bill would be a distraction, but also declined to foreclose such a debate by making a veto threat.
Under the so-called "right to work" legislation, non-union workers in workplaces covered by union contracts not only wouldn't have to join the union—no worker ever has to join a union—but they wouldn't have to pay a fair share fee that covers the costs of negotiating contracts and representing members in grievances. The union, though, would continue to be legally required to represent them.
Republicans control the legislature and are saying they plan to vote on the measure within a week. Walker had backed such legislation in the past, before becoming governor, but appeared not to be looking for the added controversy as he gets ready to run for president; in September, he said "I'm making it clear in this campaign, as I'll make it clear in the next (legislative) session, that that's not something that's part of my agenda." Not that that will stop him from signing it as soon as it hits his desk.