Wis. teachers union asks people to come to Madison

The leader of Wisconsin's largest teachers union wants all state residents to join protests in Madison against bill that would strip most public workers of almost all their collective bargaining rights.

Wisconsin Education Association President Mary Bell did not explicitly call on teachers to skip classes during a news conference outside the state Capitol on Wednesday evening, but she did say that all Wisconsinites should look into their hearts and come to Madison on Thursday and Friday.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced a bill last week that would restrict public workers' collective bargaining rights to salaries only. The measure has prompted a massive protest at the state Capitol that has gone for the last two days. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)