Thousands of US workers protest in Wisconsin

Thousands of American workers have held protests in Wisconsin against a “right-to-work” proposal that would prohibit private sector workers from being required to join a union or pay dues.

Supported by Governor Scott Walker, the bill was approved by the Republican-led state Senate on Wednesday and would make Wisconsin the 25th state to adopt such a law, once it passes the Republican-dominated Assembly.

Around 5,000 Wisconsin workers were standing at the state Capitol on Saturday, holding signs lamenting the bill and chanting, “This is what democracy looks like.”

“The bigger issue is equality for all workers,” said Mark Buss, 59, a union member from Appleton.

Saturday’s protests were similar to but smaller than those held in 2011 after Gov. Walker adopted a law stripping public sector unions of much of their power.

Walker suggested Thursday that fighting against protesters in 2011 prepared him to fight against the ISIL terrorists as future president of the US. The governor plans to announce his presidential campaign later this year.

“If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world,” Walker told a gathering of ultra-conservatives in Washington, DC.

However, the protesters on Saturday mocked Walker’s comments, holding signs that read, “This union grandma is not the same as ISIS” and “We are mad… but we are peaceful.”

Phil Neuenfeldt, president of Wisconsin AFL-CIO said what the protesters are doing “is the heart and soul of democracy, not terrorism.”

Opponents of the bill call it an assault on labor and blue-collar workers, arguing it would restrict union revenue and further reduce the political power of organized labor.