opinion

Iowans should ignore Walker, strengthen unions

Labor unions have consistently been under attack by the far right, and Gov. Scott Walker’s recent column was the latest in his attempt to deride unions and attack workers, to cover up his own dreadful economic record. Iowans should ignore these desperate attacks from Scott Walker, and instead work to strengthen unions as a way to strengthen our middle class.

Conservatives have called union members thugs, and even compared them to terrorists. But we know them as teachers, nurses, healthcare providers, state employees, our friends and neighbors. Labor unions are the only organizations whose sole purpose is to advocate for workers, the people they represent. And research proves that when unions are strong, workers thrive and the middle class expands. In fact, the Center for American Progress just released data showing that unions are critical for intergenerational mobility — the children of union workers have a better chance of moving up in the world than the children of non-union workers. Isn’t that what the American dream is all about?

By comparison, unions have a much better track record for growing the economy and middle class than Governor Walker. After taking office, Walker did everything he could to destroy the rights of workers in Wisconsin, and the results have been disastrous. Walker promised he would create 250,000 private sector jobs in Wisconsin, and he hasn’t even come close. In fact, Wisconsin is dead last in the Midwest for job creation during his time as governor, and Wisconsin is an appalling 38th in the nation for job creation.

To grow our middle class, we need to strengthen unions, not attack them. We need to help workers organize and advocate for better pay and to be treated fairly. The last thing we need to do is listen to the advice of Governor Walker, who has driven Wisconsin’s economy into the ground, and left his state with the fastest shrinking middle class in the entire country.

— Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa