MADISON, WISCONSIN (March 10, 2011) After the Wisconsin Legislature passed Governor Walker’s plan to eliminate collective bargaining rights for state workers, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“In Wisconsin, like elsewhere in this country, creating good jobs and revitalizing our middle class should be our top priority. But instead of enacting a positive agenda to create jobs in Wisconsin, Governor Walker and Republicans in the State Legislature pushed through legislation that will do nothing of the sort.

“Eliminating collective bargaining rights for public employees will not create a single job.

“In addition to stripping public employees of basic rights, this legislation will damage the ability of public workers to negotiate environmental and occupational health and safety protections that affect both our workplaces and communities.

“Governor Walker claims that Wisconsin is ‘open for business’ and has promised to create 250,000 new jobs. But his record since taking office – blocking high-speed rail and slowing down wind farm development – has thrown the state in reverse. He has slowed investments from the private sector in new technologies and he has now given Wisconsin an international reputation for workplace discord.

“Our country needs a jobs plan that will position the United States to lead in the global economy of the 21st century. Strong public-private partnerships in renewable energy, efficiency, transportation and other industries of the future will create good jobs that support our families and our communities and solve our budget deficits. Collaborative labor relations are a key component of winning this race. But Governor Walker has chosen another path.

“Instead of creating jobs, he’s created conflict. Instead of creating partnerships, he’s created division. Instead of providing leadership, he’s put Wisconsin in reverse.”