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Wisconsin Judge Strikes Down Limits on Public Sector Unions
NYT - Gift LinkA Wisconsin judge on Monday struck down portions of a 2011 law that stripped most government workers in the state of collective bargaining rights and set off fierce demonstrations.
The ruling by Judge Jacob Frost of the Dane County Circuit Court is certain to be appealed. But his decision provided at least a temporary victory to labor unions and Democrats in Wisconsin, who turned out by the thousands to protest the law more than a decade ago and who have been trying ever since to take it off the books.
“Restoring union freedoms to Wisconsin workers will strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class, lift up the voices of workers and lead to better public services for our communities,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, the president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, in a statement.
Republicans passed the law, known as Act 10, shortly after winning control of state government in the 2010 elections, arguing that limits on public sector unions were necessary to balance the budget and attract business investments. They advanced the legislation despite large-scale protests at the State Capitol in Madison and an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to scuttle the vote by fleeing to Illinois.
The law, which was part of a wave of Republican-backed legislation nationally that curbed the power of unions, helped set off a contentious era of Wisconsin politics that has been defined by close elections, partisan recriminations and sharply clashing views over the future of the state and country.
The ruling by Judge Jacob Frost of the Dane County Circuit Court is certain to be appealed. But his decision provided at least a temporary victory to labor unions and Democrats in Wisconsin, who turned out by the thousands to protest the law more than a decade ago and who have been trying ever since to take it off the books.
“Restoring union freedoms to Wisconsin workers will strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class, lift up the voices of workers and lead to better public services for our communities,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, the president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, in a statement.
Republicans passed the law, known as Act 10, shortly after winning control of state government in the 2010 elections, arguing that limits on public sector unions were necessary to balance the budget and attract business investments. They advanced the legislation despite large-scale protests at the State Capitol in Madison and an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to scuttle the vote by fleeing to Illinois.
The law, which was part of a wave of Republican-backed legislation nationally that curbed the power of unions, helped set off a contentious era of Wisconsin politics that has been defined by close elections, partisan recriminations and sharply clashing views over the future of the state and country.