A Wisconsin judge on Monday ruled that parts of Act 10 — the 2011 law that took away collective bargaining rights from most public service workers in the state — are unconstitutional.
The Dane County Circuit judge ruled that all public sector workers in Wisconsin must regain their full collective bargaining rights. The ruling hasn’t taken effect pending potential appeals.
The ruling came a year after Wisconsin public service workers filed a lawsuit claiming that Act 10 is unconstitutional because it violates the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. Act 10 created two categories of public service employees and took away collective bargaining rights from some of them.
The ruling is a step in the right direction and brings Wisconsin public service workers closer to their goal of regaining their full collective bargaining rights and the freedom to negotiate with their employers. Our communities are stronger when public service workers have a voice in their workplaces.
The plaintiffs include AFSCME Locals 47 and 1215 (both part of Council 32), SEIU Wisconsin, Abbotsford Education Association (WEAC/NEA), Beaver Dam Education Association (WEAC/NEA), Teaching Assistants Association (TAA/AFT Local 3220), and Teamsters Local 695.
"Today's decision is personal for me and my co-workers,” said Ben Gruber, president of AFSCME Local 1215 and a plaintiff in the lawsuit. “As a conservation warden, having full collective bargaining rights means we will again have a voice on the job to improve our workplace and make sure that Wisconsin is a safe place for everyone. We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we're ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again.”
Wisconsin union members are prepared to fight this case until the very end, and we will not stop until all of the state’s public service workers have the freedom to negotiate with their employers. We are educating and organizing for the day when all public service workers again have full collective bargaining rights.
