Collective bargaining the answer in Wisconsin

As the Madison confrontation unfolds, I think the media is missing a root cause of the stand-off. Everything is framed in dollars and cents, wages, pensions and benefits. That is important, but the real cause for worker anger is the governor's attempt to take away workers' right to dialogue and discussion. The mechanism is called collective bargaining - workers electing representatives who sit down with management and discuss working conditions, wages and benefits. What Wisconsin's governor is attempting is a unilateral reduction in benefits, but also destroying the communications method.

If management is willing to negotiate and dialogue with affected workers, changes can be made. Often workers are the best ones to identify cost-savings, as they know the job best.

Collective bargaining is a democratic American tradition. It has become the problem-solving tool for labor and management to sit down and work out their problems. Workers elect their leaders to bargain and then vote on the agreement. What could be more American?

Michael Brecht

Business manager

Laborers'

Local No. 43

Cedar Rapids