With the public employee union crisis taking place in Madison, Wis., members of the Eastern community are planning to come together to show support for those who are struggling to retain their collective bargaining rights.

Members of Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois will lead a rally and march on Wednesday at the north end of Booth Library to show support for Madison’s unions.

On Monday, the Wisconsin State Employees’ Union filed a complaint stating Gov. Scott Walker is engaging in unfair labor practices by refusing to negotiate with it, The Associated Press reported.

Walker’s proposal contains a number of provisions designed to fill the state’s $137 million deficit.The proposal will next go to the Senate; however, Democrats have been missing for a week, preventing a vote in that chamber, The AP reported.

In response to the vote, Republican Majority Leader Scott Suder issued this written statement to news services: “The vote we took wasn’t the easy thing to do, but it was the right thing to do,” Suder said.

History professor Jonathan Coit said one important goal of the rally at Eastern is to show solidarity for those in the public sector who are facing the repercussions of this proposal.

“We have to fight to have a public sector that creates an environment where everyone can share in prosperity,” Coit said. “Any opportunity we have to show our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin that we support them is a good thing.”

Political science professor Richard Wandling, the chairman of UPI’s committee for political and legislative action, agreed.

“We’re seeing a significant attack on workers rights for public service workers,” Wandling said.”It’s important to show support (for the unions).”

After remarks from speakers at the rally, the group will march along Sixth Street to the Charleston Courthouse Square.

English professor John Allison, the UPI/EIU chapter president, said the UPI does not intend any criticism to the members of the city governances or the justice system in Charleston by rallying at the courthouse.

Instead, he said the courthouse should be viewed as a symbol of fairness.

“We’ll be marching towards justice so to speak,” Allison said.

One of the biggest concerns of protestors is the threat to revoke collective bargaining rights from union members.

Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements, which regulate working conditions.

Members of the UPI can relay the importance of collective bargaining with the recent finalization of a two-year contract agreement between the union and the administration.

Although current unions share the same concern for their bargaining rights nationwide, Allison said the outcome of this proposal will have a great affect on the public instructors of the future.

“A lot of our students want to be public school teachers,” Allison said.

“If they lose their rights to real collective bargaining, they will likely experience a diminished life because they will have fewer resources. They will also have less and less of a voice in the objectives and methods of their teachings.”

Allison also expressed the importance of unions at public institutions.

“I know members of unions have different ideas of what is important, but overall, (unions) provide, within a context of economic reality, a good life for working people,” Allison said. “It’s not just a matter of money, but it’s also about due process and working conditions.”

Shelley Holmgren can be reached at 581-2812 or meholmgren@eiu.edu