The Big Sticking Point in Wisconsin is Not Collective Bargaining

It's the mandatory collection of union dues (from Mickey Kaus):

Why the WI Dems Can’t Compromise: In the Wisconsin union fight, it looks as if Gov. Walker has taken Chuck Lane’s advice, which is to give ground on collective bargaining (allowing the right to bargain for raises, for example, without limiting them to the CPI) while sticking with the elimination of the mandatory dues checkoff. The latter is what really terrifies unions, because it might dry up the political funds they use to elect candidates (who then give them raises, etc.). Arguably this political spending power is more important to the unions even than collective bargaining power–especially in states where unions don’t have the right to strike, they can get more by electing friendly pols than by traditional union negotiating tactics anyway. But that’s also why the pro-union Dems are unlikely to be given permission to agree to Walker’s compromise. …

There's more at the link.