"What's good for one of us is good for all of us," said Russell Griswold, a retired electrician from West Allis. Griswold worked as a union electrician for 46 years and has a nice retirement thanks to unions, he said. He came out Tuesday because he is afraid those who follow him will not enjoy the same benefits.

The governor said the changes are needed to overcome not only this year's deficit but a far deeper hole in his first two-year budget, which he plans to introduce Tuesday. If his proposal fails, Walker has said he would likely have to lay off about 1,500 state workers by June 30 to make up for the current budget's shortfall. He also said the budget emergency doesn't allow time to negotiate new contracts with unions.

"That would be more believable if he had ever bothered to meet with the unions to begin with," said David Ahrens, a researcher at UW-Madison's Carbone Cancer Center.

Walker's plan — which requires most state and local employees pay half the cost of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health insurance premiums — is projected to save the state $30 million by June 30. That savings jumps to $300 million over the next two years.