UW-Stout social scientists will examine the history, economics, and sociological dimensions of recent struggles over public sector collective bargaining in Wisconsin.

Alexander Kirby, Associate Professor of History and Political Science, will put the current anti-union climate in historical context. He will examine how corporate America worked to marginalize unions by linking them to unpopular causes (like communism) and events (strikes that disrupted the American consumer economy). He will also examine mistakes made by unions themselves that cost them public support.

Richard Tyson, Associate Professor of Economics and ad hoc arbitrator for the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, will discuss the nature, purpose, prevalence, and historical development of collective bargaining in the U.S.; how collective bargaining in the public sector differs from the private sector; how public sector bargaining is done in Wisconsin; and how the Budget Repair Bill changes public sector labor relations and its implications.

Jeffrey Sweat, Assistant Professor of Sociology, will explore how Wisconsin compares to states that already prohibit public sector collective bargaining. He will consider the claims of public sector overcompensation and the widespread use of ?crisis capitalism? to incite panic in order to further political reforms that favor the wealthiest members of society. Is the recent legislation about the public sector sharing the burden or is it designed to achieve certain political goals at the expense of middle class workers?