Public worker and teachers unions in Wisconsin have won a major legal victory with a ruling restoring collective bargaining rights lost under a 2011 state law. The law, called Act 10, had ended the ability for most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues. The ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost restores collective bargaining power to all public sector workers as it was prior to 2011. The decision will likely be appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The law, proposed by former Gov. Scott Walker, faced protests and legal challenges over the years. Critics of the law argue that it hurt schools and government agencies by taking away the ability to collectively bargain for pay and working conditions. Supporters claim it provided local governments with the tools to cut costs. The ruling, which could have significant implications, is expected to be a topic of debate in the upcoming election. The decision marks a significant win for public worker and teacher unions in Wisconsin.
Source
Photo credit www.wisn.com