Excerpts from The Daily Call, by Mark Taylor

Wisconsin Public Employees

Begin Seeing Smaller Paychecks

By Dean Mosiman

Capital Times (8/26/11)

As union members proclaim "solidarity," the state's new law prohibiting collective bargaining is hitting public employee pocketbooks this week.

The state started making payroll deductions for pensions and health insurance for tens of thousands of employees Thursday, and some municipalities and school districts will do so for more employees on Friday.

For local governments, the timing of the deductions depends on whether employees are still under union contracts or not.

Union members and supporters protested at Library Mall at noon Thursday and marched to the Capitol later in the day.

"These are austerity measures," J. Eric Cobb, executive director of the Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin told a crowd of hundreds that filled the approach to the Capitol with chants, songs, signs and heart-shaped balloons. "You can't call this shared sacrifice."

The protesters later occupied the Capitol. A group of activists who sat in a circle clutching a flag in the rotunda were arrested at about 6:45 p.m. after they refused to leave the building.

Twelve adults and a juvenile were arrested, Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs said.

Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker, said the governor and Legislature have handled massive deficits without raising property taxes or massive public employee layoffs.

"The budget reforms protect middle class taxpayers and saves public employee jobs," Werwie said.

Most state employees, except State Patrol troopers and inspectors, began paying 5.8 percent of their earnings for their pensions. They're also paying 12.6 percent of health care premiums.

Sandy Rindy, a union member who has worked at UW-Madison for 30 years, most of it as a payroll and benefit specialist, said deductions will have a real impact, especially for those living paycheck to paycheck and single parents struggling with day care and health care costs.

In January, state employees will see further changes…

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_f1430f56-cf59-11e0-a2a4-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1WBS9PGcX