MADISON, wis. — A Wisconsin judge on Friday struck down nearly all of the state law championed by Gov. Scott Walker that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public workers.
Walker’s administration vowed to appeal, while unions, which have fought the law, declared victory. But what the ruling meant for existing public contracts was murky. Unions claimed the ruling meant they could negotiate again, but Walker could seek to keep the law in effect while the legal drama plays out.
The law, which made Walker a national conservative star, took away nearly all collective bargaining rights from most workers and has been in effect for more than a year.
Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas ruled that the law violates both the state and U.S. constitutions and is null and void. He said the law violated the constitutional rights of free speech and association.
The ruling applies to all local public workers affected by the law, including teachers and city and county government employees, but not those who work for the state. They were not a party to the lawsuit, which was brought by a Madison teachers union and a Milwaukee public workers union.
Walker issued a statement accusing the judge of being a “liberal activist” who wants to “take away the lawmaking responsibilities of the legislature and the governor.”
Wisconsin Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck said DOJ thinks the law is constitutional.
