Students in my class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison voted unanimously not to have class this week. They did so to support and participate in the protests that are happening a few blocks down the street at the state Capitol.
The protests come in reaction to Gov. Scott Walker?s proposal to fix the state budget by increasing the amount of money that public employees contribute toward their pension and health-care premiums. The bill would also strip those employees – including nurses, bus drivers and teachers – of their collective bargaining rights. The bill is an outright attack on unions and the public sector. [A column by UW-Madison English and American Studies professor Russ Castronovo].