….”What happens to folks who have worked 25 or 30 years, dedicated their life to the Department of Commerce?” said Marty Beil, executive director of AFSCME. “What do you say to them? Adios, thanks for the job? No.” Unions that represent workers in the Commerce Department said they may challenge the move. Both AFSCME and AFT-Wisconsin have members who work in Commerce.
“I think we?ve got both contractual and some legal standing in this issue, and we may very well fight this legally,” said Beil. “We?re going to do what has to happen to protect our workers.” Beil cited the University of Wisconsin Hospital and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority as places the unions worked with government to create public-private partnerships where employees are still with the state.