All Around

International President, Leo Gerard, weighing in on the fight in Wisconsin, and the attacks that are being waged upon workers all over: http://bcove.me/17u0q56g

Who's Winning the Fight Over Public-Employee Unions?

But the battles have energized union households and liberal Democrats. ... A late February Pew Research poll about the Wisconsin dispute found 42% siding

Wisconsin

Poll: Most Want Walker To Reach Compromise WISC Madison

A new poll sheds some light on how the entire state of Wisconsin views the ongoing battle between Gov. Scott Walker and pro-union supporters

All signs, banners removed from inside Wisconsin Capitol, sent to historical society MADISON, Wis. (AP) — All of the signs, banners and papers that had been taped to the walls of the Wisconsin state Capitol for three weeks to voice opposition to an anti-union bill have been removed.

Wis. Democrat: Talks over anti-union bill stall MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin Democratic senator who fled the state to block a Republican Gov. Scott Walker's collective bargaining bill says negotiations on the measure have stalled.

Is Wisconsin standoff winding down?

TODAY'S TAKE: Democrats who have fled Wisconsin to strip Republicans of a quorum on controversial labor legislation say they will return to Madison soon. The move would hand the GOP a short-term victory on collective bargaining rights, though Democrats say they will come out ahead in public opinion.

Recall drives could make history

As improbable as the last three weeks have been in state politics, Wisconsin is about to embark on another wild ride into the political unknown -- a series of legislative recall campaigns on a scale the nation has rarely, if ever, seen.

Both sides begin efforts for recalls in Wisconsin

CHICAGO — The fight over collective bargaining rights for public sector workers in Wisconsin remained at an impasse this weekend, even as its political fallout — in recall efforts of state legislators and dueling television commercials — grew larger.

Ohio

OH: Kasich readies speech on his fix-Ohio plans
On the hook to deliver a televised statewide address before a joint session of the General Assembly at noon Tuesday, John Kasich went into the weekend unsure of what he would say in perhaps the biggest speech of his fledgling governorship.

Senate Bill 5 could drastically change landscape for teachers, school districts

CLEVELAND -- School employees account for more than half of the public workers likely to lose collective-bargaining rights under Senate Bill 5, now marching toward passage in the Ohio General Assembly.

Indiana

Business pros weigh in on Right to Work, Statehouse stalemate - 14 ...
75 percent believe Indiana should become a right-to-work state ... A high school basketball player in western Michigan collapsed on the court and died ...

House Fines Set to Begin
Inside INdiana Business (press release)
... Network Indiana/WIBC what is really needed "language that will bring people together" and the fines will only serve to "continue the divide." House Democrats left the state on February 22 just as a right-to-work bill was up for a vote in the House. ...

Education, right-to-work top legislative forum agenda
Princeton Daily Clarion
Legislators had about 15 minutes each to address the audience then took questions, with J. Robert Kinkle moderating, and mostly addressed the three issues the audience seemed to have the most concern about—education, the walk-out, and right-to-work

House standoff continues; Senate works on

The standoff in the Indiana House of Representatives is about to enter its third week as Democratic members continue to deny the Republican majority a quorum because of concern over issues ranging from education reform to right-to-work legislation.

Teachers rally against Daniels

Hundreds of educators and other supporters of the Indiana State Teachers Association stood in the rain Saturday outside the Indiana Statehouse to protest Gov. Mitch Daniels' education agenda.

Michigan

Poll -- 56% favor concessions for Michigan state workers

Support for wringing concessions from state employees -- a key component of the budget and tax plan Gov. Rick Snyder unveiled two weeks ago -- is reasonably strong: About 56% of Michigan voters are behind it, a Free Press/WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) poll shows.

Loss of rights concerns AAUP
Eastern Echo
State Representative Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, has also introduced a right-to-work zone bill in the Michigan House. Moeller strongly disagrees with the idea of making Michigan a right-to-work state. “If you're a right to work state, you cannot collect ...

Pennsylvania

PA: Gov. Tom Corbett's budget proposal expected to have painful cuts
Little has been revealed about Gov. Tom Corbett's 2011-12 spending plan, which will be unveiled on Tuesday, but this much is known: It will uphold his pledge not to raise taxes or fees. It will be a budget that calls for spending less next year, with cuts at every agency.

Pennsylvania needs Right to Work - Topix
Mar 6, 2011 ... Pennsylvania needs Right to Work. Full story: Valley News Dispatch. Compulsory unionism is un-American on its face and makes our state uncompetitive in ...

Budget proposal will test Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett's conservative credibility

The Greta Garbo of fiscal conservatism and constitutional purity was keeping a tight lid on his plans for Pennsylvania. That left residents dying to know what, exactly, Gov. Tom Corbett's "day of reckoning" is going to look like.

Missouri

In union strongholds, residents wrestle with cuts
Lake Wylie Pilot
In Missouri, where unions' share of the work force is half what it was a generation ago, the leader of the state Senate is pushing for "right to work" legislation that would prohibit union shops in which all workers must pay union fees. ...

Susan Redden: Area legislators busy introducing bills
Joplin Globe
White also introduced a right-to-work bill, specifying that the intent of the measure is not to hurt unions but to attract more jobs to the state. “It says you can't condition employment, or continued employment, on union,” he said

Oregon

OR: Gov. John Kitzhaber makes lean union offer but says Oregon is no Wisconsin
Gov. John Kitzhaber wants some of the most significant public employee wage and benefit concessions sought by an Oregon governor in years.

Maine

Maine governor defends pension freezes, cuts

Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday that freezes and cutbacks in the retirement system he proposed this week are sensible reforms that save $524 million in past due payments and cut the state's total unfunded pension liability in half.