Okay naysayers, time to get informed. The bill everyone is protesting means all public workers will take cuts in pay, benefits, have to pay in a lot more for their pensions and insurance, and loose all collective bargaining rights except for base salary increases. The protests are over the bargaining rights, not the pay cuts. Union leaders have already agreed to all pay cuts and concessions as proposed in the bill if they can retain their bargaining rights, but the Governor has flat out refused. In the case of teachers, loosing bargaining rights is catastrophic. They are the ones who negotiate for things like smaller class sizes, curriculum requirements, the year's schedule, and more. I have a friend who is a TA who lost the contractual right to dispute professors in the case of stolen ideas and work. That is what this protest is about, not money. I have been to the capitol. I have heard the speeches. Every single one states this to thunderous applause.
