To: The Wisconsin State House, The Wisconsin State Senate, and Governor Tony Evers
Save Wisconsin Civil Service
Governor Walker and GOP leaders are out to make government work for them, and, in the process, they are removing all barriers to corruption in government. Recently, they moved to dismantle the non-partisan election oversight agency. They also sheltered dark money contributions to elections. They continue to bash progressive-era programs such as workers compensation, unemployment insurance, and civil service. We oppose this rule by inhumane, unbridled capital, and we will prevail.
Why is this important?
CLEAN, HONEST GOVERNMENT REQUIRES A STRONG CIVIL SERVICE!
......SB 285 Deals a Death Blow to Clean, Honest Civil Service!......
Wisconsin's nationally-recognized civil service system is on the chopping block because Republican leaders are using lies and deceptions to say the system is failing. It is NOT failing. Here are some of the lies and deceptions they are using:
LIE: Civil service law makes it too hard to hire and fire state employees. An agency had to conduct almost 800 interviews to fill 31 positions. It takes more than six months to hire someone.
TRUTH: Managers have all the tools they need. Nothing in current law specifies how many to interview or how long it should take to hire, and neither does the new bill. Wisconsin’s civil servants do good work. In the few cases where discipline is needed, the current system works.
LIE: SB 285 does not change merit hiring.
TRUTH: This bill takes a wrecking ball to merit hiring by eliminating objective civil service exams and using a subjective resume-based system that experts say is not the way to hire the best people, and is open to bias. This bill makes DOA and its Political Appointees far more central to all hiring decisions. As a result, underqualified cronies will fill public
agencies.
LIE: SB 285 does not remove Civil Service protections nor Just Cause, and does not make state employees at-will employees.
TRUTH: The loss of an objective method for layoffs will make it easier for politicians to get rid of state employees who give their professional opinions rather than twist the facts. This bill makes it easier to discipline or fire whistleblowers with no investigation, no progressive discipline, and no need to follow established “just cause” standard in many cases. The bill adds confusing wording that may require litigation to determine if state employees are made at-will. Limited Term and Project employees may keep their jobs while permanent employees in the same job class are laid off.
LIE: The new bill will make state agencies work better and deliver better services to the citizens.
TRUTH: This Administration is using swift, stealth attacks to install cronyism, and a patronage system to serve the politicians in power. Public Services will decline at taxpayer expense.
Contact your Wisconsin State legislator to ask them to oppose SB 285!
......SB 285 Deals a Death Blow to Clean, Honest Civil Service!......
Wisconsin's nationally-recognized civil service system is on the chopping block because Republican leaders are using lies and deceptions to say the system is failing. It is NOT failing. Here are some of the lies and deceptions they are using:
LIE: Civil service law makes it too hard to hire and fire state employees. An agency had to conduct almost 800 interviews to fill 31 positions. It takes more than six months to hire someone.
TRUTH: Managers have all the tools they need. Nothing in current law specifies how many to interview or how long it should take to hire, and neither does the new bill. Wisconsin’s civil servants do good work. In the few cases where discipline is needed, the current system works.
LIE: SB 285 does not change merit hiring.
TRUTH: This bill takes a wrecking ball to merit hiring by eliminating objective civil service exams and using a subjective resume-based system that experts say is not the way to hire the best people, and is open to bias. This bill makes DOA and its Political Appointees far more central to all hiring decisions. As a result, underqualified cronies will fill public
agencies.
LIE: SB 285 does not remove Civil Service protections nor Just Cause, and does not make state employees at-will employees.
TRUTH: The loss of an objective method for layoffs will make it easier for politicians to get rid of state employees who give their professional opinions rather than twist the facts. This bill makes it easier to discipline or fire whistleblowers with no investigation, no progressive discipline, and no need to follow established “just cause” standard in many cases. The bill adds confusing wording that may require litigation to determine if state employees are made at-will. Limited Term and Project employees may keep their jobs while permanent employees in the same job class are laid off.
LIE: The new bill will make state agencies work better and deliver better services to the citizens.
TRUTH: This Administration is using swift, stealth attacks to install cronyism, and a patronage system to serve the politicians in power. Public Services will decline at taxpayer expense.
Contact your Wisconsin State legislator to ask them to oppose SB 285!