Schools

Dedham Teachers Union Head Rallies for Bargaining Rights in Wisconsin, Boston

DHS Timothy Dwyer traveled to Wisconsin to rally with fellow union members.

In the midst of a government standoff over bargaining rights for unions in Wisconsin, teacher and Dedham Education Association President Timothy Dwyer and his family trekked 19 hours to Madison for school vacation week.

“When our colleagues in Madison are threatened with the elimination of these basic rights we all need to come to their aid,” Dwyer said. “Their fight is our fight.”

Dwyer, of Worcester, then returned home and attended a rally of hundreds in front of the Massachusetts State House on Saturday, echoing rallies expected to take place in all 50 states over the weekend.

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“Why it is important to protest in Boston to signal to our politicians as well as the politicians in Wisconsin that these types of attacks on unions and the middle class will never be accepted,” Dwyer said.

Protesters came from places as far as Vermont and demonstrated against a bill by Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who said his proposal is necessary to fix the state’s projected $137 million budget deficit. Along with stripping most state workers of almost all of their bargaining rights, the bill would require them to pay higher rates for their benefits package, excluding firefighters and most law enforcement workers.

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Boston protesters held signs, sung and cheered against Walker’s proposal. They chanted “Walker” followed by “Recall,” and “Union yes, busting no.”

“The ideal thing would be to fix the budget in Wisconsin but not give up collective rights there,” said Ryan Dolan, of Dorchester.

Supporters of the bill have said state employees should join private sector, working-class Americans who already pay higher rates for their benefits. Walker said the bill could save the state $30 million by June.

But some union members have said they would agree with paying higher for their benefits, as long as their collective bargaining rights stay the same. Some have threatened to go on strike if the bill passes.

“Who would have thought that the Great Recession caused by unregulated banking and stock speculation would cause public employees to be blamed for budget shortfalls?” Dwyer asked.

Walker’s proposal remains on a stalemate as Senate Democrats have fled the state to avoid a vote. The Assembly passed its version of the bill this week.


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