US Right determined to kill off public sector unions - it can happen here

The Washington Post publishes another vicious attack on public sector unions as the right wing campaign to de-unionise public sphere intensifies: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/writing-on-the-wall-for-public-unions/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

The rabid article does contain a salutary warning of the consequences of de-recognition for union membership levels, citing a Wisconsin State Journal report about the state of Indiana following the removal of collective bargaining rights in 2005:

“Prior to 2005, 16,408 Indiana state workers paid union dues out of about 25,000 who were eligible, or 66 percent, according to state and union figures. Today, just 1,409 out of 20,000 eligible workers, or 7 percent, pay dues. Also, raises are now merit-based, and overall total state employment is down about 6,000 workers to 27,400, mostly through attrition.”

Already in places like Southampton City Council, Conservative led employers are trampling on collective bargaining rights when imposing new cuts-driven contracts:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/8909846.Unions_launch_legal_action_over_council_cuts/