Washington, DC- (May 3, 2011)
The Islamic Circle of North America Council for Social Justice supports Wisconsin union workers in their fight again the anti-labor budget repair bill. Islam supports protecting the rights of laborers and honors those who work for the betterment of society. America was built by these hard working laborers and continues to rely on their services. While states need to manage their budgets, our leadership must find ways to cut down expenses without hurting the working class, who are already suffering due to the financial crisis.
The recent legislation proposed by Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker would strip public workers of their union bargaining rights. President Obama has said that the measure which would make collective bargaining more difficult “seems like more of an assault on unions.”
The legislation passed the budget committee and is awaiting a vote by the Senate, which would become a law if it passes. Fourteen Democratic Senators have fled to neighboring states to avoid a vote on the controversial bill. In addition to stripping public workers of collective bargaining rights, it would raise the cost of their healthcare and pensions.
President Obama, while recognizing that the State of Wisconsin has to deal with tough fiscal challenges, warned against the bill: “I don’t think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon.“ He emphasized that in order to attract the brightest to public service, they need to paid on par with other professional so that they may give their best.
If the bill passes into law, there is no question that it will have a devastating impact on public employees. We stand by the union workers and hope that the Senators of Wisconsin will balance the budget without curtailing the rights of public employees.
ICNA Council for Social Justice is a non-profit org striving to offer a Muslim voice on issues concerning social justice affecting our society.
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