14 Democrats in Wisconsin could force 12,000 layoffs in Kamikaze unionism

Washington Post:

The jobs of thousands of state and local workers slipped into deeper jeopardy Friday, as Gov. Scott Walker threatened to trigger as many as 12,000 layoffs beginning next week unless lawmakers enact his plan to strip public employees of most of their collective bargaining rights.

Though unions have offered concessions they say would close the state's budget gap, Walker remained determined to achieve a resolution that he said would give state and local governments leverage to limit employee costs well into the future.

Without legislation to pare back employee health-care and pension benefits while repealing most collective bargaining rights for many public employees, Walker said he would be forced to make cuts elsewhere in the budget that could lead to massive numbers of state and local employees losing their jobs.

"If we want to avoid the layoffs that will eventually come at the state and local level, the only way to achieve that" is to pass the bill, Walker said.

...

There is more.

I think the Democrats and the unions in Wisconsin are making the case for abolishing government unions. The corrupt bargain between the two is becoming more evident everyday as well as the inherent conflict of interest when Democrats and government workers' unions negotiate.

By fleeing the state, the 14 senators appear to be sealing the fate of thousands of workers who would have kept their jobs otherwise. They are still likely to lose their bargaining rights at some point anyway.