Wisconsin protests escalate over public worker rights

Feb 19, 2011, 8:17 GMT

   Washington - The US state of Wisconsin is gripped by a large-scale protest over the rights of public sector workers that has been catapulted into a national debate over the role of labour unions and how to handle state budget woes across the United States.

   The stand-off looked set to continue into the weekend. Thousands of protesters gathered Friday in the capital Madison, opposing a Republican initiative before the state legislature that would restrict the collective bargaining rights of most public sector workers.

   Democratic state lawmakers, a minority in the legislature, have literally fled the state in order to prevent a vote on the bill from taking place. The 14 legislators are hiding somewhere in neighbouring Illinois in order to avoid being picked up by Wisconsin police.

   The controversial legislation is backed by incoming Republican Governor Scott Walker as part of an effort to cut the state's massive budget deficit. The weak US economy has left Wisconsin and many other states around the country with major cash shortfalls, despite constitutional requirements that they balance their budgets.

   Many Republicans around the country won election to state legislatures and the US Congress in November by capitalizing on voter anger over what they consider out-of-control government spending.

   But opponents of the Wisconsin bill argue it amounts to an erosion of the basic labour union rights. Public workers would be barred from bargaining collectively for any salary increases above the rate of inflation.

   President Barack Obama has also weighed into the dispute, telling a local Wisconsin television station on Thursday that the legislation was 'an assault on unions,' while national labour union leaders have travelled to the state to join the ongoing protests.