July 4, 2024
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Dane County judge struck down some parts of the Walker-era law that stripped certain public sector employees of their collective bargaining power.
Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, teacher and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said Act 10 denied her and fellow teachers their ability to talk about important conditions in their classrooms for nearly 15 years. That would be things like student safety and working hours for teachers.
Act 10 split public sector workers into groups. "General employees" like teachers or UW and Capitol Police, argued they weren't given the same protections as the state's "public safety workers" like municipal police, fire and state troopers.
Wirtz-Olsen says the ruling by Dane County Judge Jacob Frost is a victory for many public sector employees, but it's just a part of their larger goal.
"Educators like me across Wisconsin are ecstatic. This is another step forward in our push for free, fair and unrestricted collective bargaining rights," Wirtz-Olsen said. "Other public sector workers who joined with us are also celebrating."
The suit was filed by 10 parties including SEIU Wisconsin and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.
Republicans in the Legislature are critical of Frost's ruling. Senate Majority Leader, Devin LeMahieu, said Act 10 "has been found legal and constitutional against multiple state and federal court actions for close to 15 years. This is yet another example of courts legislating from the bench."
The plaintiffs will still need to file a letter to the court on the parts of Act 10 they want officially struck down under Frost's ruling. Defendants, including Republicans in the Legislature, will have a chance to respond.
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