Court upholds Wisconsin limits on collective bargaining

A federal appeals court Friday upheld a controversial Wisconsin law that limits public workers’ collective bargaining rights.

The law is constitutional, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined. That overturned a lower court’s ruling from last fall that the law was unconstitutional for government and education employees.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker pushed for the law’s passage last year. The plan drew thousands of protestors to the state Capitol in Madison and caused Senate Democrats to flee the state to delay a vote on the measure.

Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, said the ruling was “great news for the taxpayers of Wisconsin.”

“Act 10 established important reforms on how government is run by providing the tools and flexibility for managing local budgets,” Harsdorf, referring to the law’s official title, said in a statement.

A group of unions challenged the law’s constitutionality in 2011 and the case has made its way through courts since then.

“For nearly two years, those opposing Act 10 have tried every angle to have it struck down and invalidated. Today’s decision by the 7th Circuit confirms what I have stated from the beginning. Act 10 is constitutional,” Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said.

“While there are no guarantees, it is my hope that this decision will pave the way for resolving any remaining challenges in a manner that supports the legislative decisions made by our elected officials.”

Tags: collective bargaining, news, updates, wisconsin, union, unions