Other States Following Wis. Lead With Unions

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s push to reign in the collective bargaining power of unions has sparked a movement across the country as other state’s follow his lead, CBS News reported Friday.

On Wednesday, lawmakers in Ohio approved a bill to scale back collective bargaining rights that is even tougher than the law in Wisconsin in some ways. In New Hampshire, lawmakers on Thursday discussed a proposed spending plan that would include provision to roll back collective bargaining.

Tennessee saw a bill to limit teachers’ collective bargaining rights move forward this week as well. Oklahoma, Nebraska, Rhode Island and other states also are starting to take on unions.

The move by state lawmakers has sparked union protests and fierce opposition from Democrats. The AFL-CIO is organizing protests in all 50 states on and around April 4.

Meanwhile, Walker’s fight has moved into the courts. On Thursday, he said that his administration would comply with a court order to hold up implementation of the new law scaling back collective bargaining rights while the legal challenge winds its way through the courts.