In an interview from Madison with Fox News, Walker said he did not believe union leaders were really interested in giving up their benefits and that cities, school districts, and counties will need weakened unions to cut spending for years to come.
With Democratic senators still out of state to delay passage of the bill, Walker said he would not compromise and predicted that Wisconsin would pave the way for other states to follow suit, much like it did with welfare reform and school vouchers in the 1990s.
“We’re willing to take this as long as it takes, because in the end we’re doing the right thing,’’ Walker said.
The sweeping measure led to massive protests that started Tuesday and have gained steam, including an estimated 68,000 people who turned out Saturday. Most opposed the bill, but the day marked the first time that a significant contingent of Walker supporters showed up to counterprotest.
Hundreds of protesters gathered inside the Capitol yesterday. The demonstrators banged on drums and danced in the Capitol Rotunda while they chanted, “This is what democracy looks like’’ and “union busting!’’
The crowd swelled throughout the day. Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the state AFL-CIO, told the crowd the protests would continue until the proposal was killed.
Another large protest is expected today, when many state workers are being furloughed to save money.
Mariah Clark, an emergency medical technician at the University of Wisconsin hospital and a volunteer firefighter, said she stands to lose $250 per month from her income with the benefits concessions.
Standing on a bench holding a sign reading “EMT. Firefighter. Not the public enemy,’’ she said the pay cut would hurt, but that’s not why she was protesting.
“I really believe this is about workers everywhere, not just public employees,’’ said Clark, 29.
Jacob Cedillo Tootalian, a 27-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student and teaching assistant, slept overnight in the Capitol for a third time as part of a union representing teaching assistants.
