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Lessons of Wisconsin: The war on the working class and the fight for socialism
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's new law is a historic attack on the working class aimed at outlawing any organized resistance to the dictates of the corporations and their political representatives. That this reactionary law passed was not due to any lack of determination, courage or self-sacrifice by workers and youth. On the contrary, the fight of Wisconsin workers over the last month has deservingly won the admiration and solidarity of working people throughout the US and the world.
The struggle of workers in Wisconsin has been shackled by the official trade unions, which sought from the beginning to subordinate the fight against Walker to the Democratic Party. Both the union officials and the Democratic politicians accepted all the economic demands made by Walker. Their principle aim was to defend their own narrow institutional interests, including the dues check-off system, and they were perfectly willing to sacrifice the wages and benefits of their members in the process.
The struggle in Wisconsin marks the reemergence of the working class as the most decisive, and, in fact revolutionary force, in America. It coincides with a worldwide upheaval by workers, from Egypt and the Middle East, to Asia and Europe, against a financial oligarchy whose mad drive for profit produces nothing but catastrophe and misery. The central issue is the need to build a revolutionary leadership and fight for a socialist transformation of society.
Related Articles:
Obama proposes trillions in spending cuts
Written by Patrick Martin on April 14, 2011President Barack Obama outlined plans Wednesday for slashing $4 trillion from the federal budget deficit over the next 12 years, the bulk of it by cutting domestic social spending, particularly in the area of health care.
His speech at George Washington University in the US capital demonstrates the consensus in the American ruling elite for a frontal assault on social programs upon which tens of millions of working people, children and retirees depend.
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TwitterAn exchange on “Behind the sellout of the struggle in Wisconsin”
Written by Jerry White on March 30, 2011The following is an exchange on the March 25 WSWS article by Tom Eley, “Behind the sellout of the struggle in Wisconsin.”
The letter writer, Steven Dawes, is a shop steward from local 251 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in Omaha, Nebraska. The reply is by WSWS writer Jerry White.
Political lessons of the battle of Wisconsin
Written by Jerry White on March 23, 2011Today marks two weeks since Wisconsin Republicans used a maneuver of dubious legality to approve Governor Scott Walker’s “budget repair” bill and strip nearly 375,000 teachers, nurses, city workers and other public employees of their collective bargaining rights, while imposing deep cuts in take-home pay.
No to surrender to Walker! For a general strike by all Wisconsin workers!
Written by Socialist Equality Party on March 12, 2011The bill signed into law by Governor Scott Walker Friday is a historic assault on the working class. It is aimed at criminalizing any organized resistance to the destruction of jobs, wages, education and other social services. It marks a major step toward an open dictatorship of the corporations.
Wisconsin’s anti-worker law: An historic attack on the working class
Written by Tom Eley on March 11, 2011The Wisconsin Assembly’s passage of a bill that will strip collective bargaining rights and cut wages and benefits for nearly 200,000 public sector workers marks a giant step toward the open dictatorship of the banks and corporations.
Wisconsin struggle at the crossroads
Written by Jerry White on March 8, 2011The struggle against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s attack on public workers’ living standards and workplace rights and his plan to slash education and health care has reached the crossroads. As the determination of workers to fight the cuts hardens, state Democrats are searching for a way to cave in to the Republican governor’s demands.
Demand for general strike wins support at Wisconsin protests
Written by Andre Damon on March 7, 2011
As many as 50,000 workers and young people braved cold weather to demonstrate in the Wisconsin state capital of Madison Saturday, with another 15,000 coming out on Sunday to oppose the attack on public employees and the $1.5 billion in social cuts that have been announced by Governor Scott Walker.
The US states’ budget crisis: Where should the money come from?
Written by Patrick Martin on March 7, 2011Republican and Democratic governors in state after state claim they have no choice but to impose drastic cuts on the wages, health benefits and pensions of public employees, as well as slashing funding for education, health care and other vital social services. The states face intractable budget shortfalls, the argument goes. They have to cut because “there is no money.”
Momentum builds for austerity budget in California
Written by Dan Conway on March 7, 2011California Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, has set a March 10 deadline to reach agreement on a budget to resolve the state’s $26 billion budget deficit. The two-chamber budget conference committee approved the governor’s proposed measures, setting up floor votes in the House and Senate this week. The budget will inevitably involve a massive attack on the state’s poor and working class.
Wisconsin workers continue protests as Democrats prepare surrender to Walker
Written by Jerry White on March 6, 2011Tens of thousands of workers and young people are expected to protest in Madison and other cities throughout Wisconsin today in opposition Governor Scott Walker’s attack on the wages and workplace rights of public employees and his proposal to cut $1.7 billion from public education, health care and other essential services.
