The Cain campaign just issued this statement about Herman Cain’s position on collective bargaining for government employees:
Mr. Cain was consistent in his Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel editorial board meeting yesterday and has always supported Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation to balance his state budget and give his state’s government the tools it needs during the ongoing economic crisis. In fact, Mr. Cain traveled to Madison earlier this year to voice his support for Governor Walker’s initiative to limit collective bargaining privileges in Wisconsin.
Contrary to what the editorial board members stated, federal employees can bargain collectively on some elements of their contracts. The editorial board members were wrong to correct Mr. Cain on this point. They are forbidden to go on strike. This was a provision within the legislation that allowed federal employees to form unions. We all remember President Ronald Reagan famously firing the air traffic controllers because they went on strike in violation of federal law. We need leadership like Reagan’s today in Washington – and this is why Mr. Cain is running for the office.
In the interview with the Journal-Sentinel, Cain indicated he supported collective bargaining powers for public employees if it did not lead to “collective hijacking,” namely onerous burdens on taxpayers.