In the late 1990s, the Qualified Economic Offer was put in place by the state in an effort to cap teachers’ salaries. Thompson said during the years it was in place, teachers realized they wouldn’t get rich doing their jobs.

“And I’ve never complained about the amount of money that I made…because I realized that when it came to the other benefits … that it was all worth it and that in the long run it would all work out,” Thompson said.

“Now here we are for a lot of people getting to the end of their career and they’re beginning to realize all those sacrifices that we made over the years... and now that’s kind of like ... it’s just being erased. Almost like there were no past sacrifices; that no negotiations took place over the course of the past three decades.“

As Walker continues with his “Wisconsin: Open for Business” campaign, Thompson said, the governor will be ousting public workers.

“He’s going to be chasing some of the finest, more caring individuals, who have dedicated their lives to educating children, and basically saying to them, there’s no future for you here in this state, go elsewhere. Take your money with you, take your talents with you and leave,’ ” Thompson said.