Despite declining private sector membership, organized labor was a big player in the 2012 elections. They lent their vaunted GOTV operation to the Obama campaign in Ohio, Wisconsin, and other swing states. Obama won 58% of the votes of union households. All this took place despite the administration's mixed record on issues of importance to organized labor. Obama did not push hard for "check card" legislation but he appointed pro-labor people to the NLRB. He protected state and local public employment through the stimulus package but his Race to the Top education program was anathema to teachers unions.
In California, public sector unions tag-teamed with Governor Jerry Brown to pass a take hike. The unions also defeated Prop. 32, which would have eliminated dues-checks for political purposes in the public sector.
In Michigan, the unions were less successful, as Proposal Two, which would have made collective bargaining by public-sector unions a state constitutional right, was defeated. Voters also rejected Proposal Four, which would have allowed home health care workers to unionize and bargain collectively. The unions did secure one victory, however, as the state's emergency manager law, which had allowed state-appointed managers to take over bankrupt cities and renegotiate union contracts, was voted down.
In Indiana, teachers unions helped oust the state's innovative schools chief. In Idaho and South Dakota, they helped block laws that would have eliminated teacher tenure. In Georgia, however, the teachers unions suffered a setback, as voters ratified a state constitutional amendment, which will allow the state legislature to create charter schools.
In Michigan, the unions were less successful, as Proposal Two, which would have made collective bargaining by public-sector unions a state constitutional right, was defeated. Voters also rejected Proposal Four, which would have allowed home health care workers to unionize and bargain collectively. The unions did secure one victory, however, as the state's emergency manager law, which had allowed state-appointed managers to take over bankrupt cities and renegotiate union contracts, was voted down.
In Indiana, teachers unions helped oust the state's innovative schools chief. In Idaho and South Dakota, they helped block laws that would have eliminated teacher tenure. In Georgia, however, the teachers unions suffered a setback, as voters ratified a state constitutional amendment, which will allow the state legislature to create charter schools.
I appreciate this report, but I think the results of state legislative races are also very relevant.
This summer, teacher union officials made much of the fact that they had switched the Wisconsin State Senate from Republican to Democrat control through special "recall" elections, even as they and other union officials failed to oust Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.
But this week Republicans recapture control of the state Senate by picking up at least two seats. Supporters of Act 10, which limited the scope of union "exclusive" bargaining and barred forced union dues for most public sector employees, did quite well in both Senate and Assembly races.
Teacher unions did not fare much better in their state legislative electioneering efforts in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.