Collective Bargaining is NOT a Right

My friend Fred just sent me a link to an article that really burns my britches.

Madison, WI - The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO joins a broad coalition of worker right’s organizations today in filing a legal challenge to Gov. Walker’s Budget Repair Bill. The organizations include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 24, AFSCME Council 40, AFSCME Council 48, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the Wisconsin State Employees Union, The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union – Health Care Wisconsin (SEIU).
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The lawsuit charges that the Budget Repair Bill violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by stripping away basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity, which have been in place for the last half century.
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The lawsuit charges that the Budget Repair Bill violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by stripping away basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity, which have been in place for the last half century.

See, the unions are PISSED because one fundemental part of this bill is what they CLAIM Governor Walker is stripping from them...freedom. With this bill, people actually have a CHOICE as to whether or not they want to join the unions, and the powers that be don't like that very much. They much prefer that membership...and DUES...be mandatory.

Okay - so let's see what the Constitution has to say about that, shall we? Lemme get out my handy dandy pocket constitution - yes - I DO carry one. Okay - here we go...

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment XIV
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Now where, pray tell, does it mention "basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity?"

Anyone? Bueller?