Some local officials support collective bargaining

A group of local officials from southeastern Wisconsin and across the state are asking Walker and Republican to work within the existing collective bargaining laws to solve state and local budget issues.
Republican leaders say stripping many of the bargaining rights of public employees will be essential for local governments to cut costs, due to coming state aid reductions, without raising property taxes.
But the officials say in an open letter:
“We recognize the significant fiscal challenges facing state and local governments in the coming budget biennium. The leadership challenge we share as state and local leaders is how to work together to protect the public structures that are the foundation for strong local communities and fundamental to the continued prosperity, stability, and economic strength of our state. We ask the governor, as the state’s chief executive, to work within the existing collective bargaining framework and to convene a collaborative partnership of state leaders, local officials and public sector workers to move forward and work together in the best interest of our state’s future.”
Base wage increase above inflation would need voter approval, and municipalities could set terms on overtime, premium pay, merit pay, pay schedules and progressions, scheduling and grievance arbitration, under the Walker’s bill. Leaders of associations representing municipalities and counties said that went a lot further than their proposal.  
See the open letter and view the local officials supporting collective bargaining here: http://www.savelocalcontrol.org.
– WisPolitics.com