A judge in Dane County has ruled against key parts of Wisconsin’s controversial Act 10 law, which greatly reduced union rights for most public employees.
Judge Jacob Frost declared the law unconstitutional because it unfairly gave some public safety workers union protections while excluding others with similar jobs, like Capitol Police, University of Wisconsin Police, and state conservation wardens. He said there was no logical reason for this unequal treatment.
Act 10 was passed by Republican lawmakers in 2011 and signed by then-Governor Scott Walker. It created two categories of public employees: “general” and “public safety.” Frost ruled that these categories—and the protections for only some public safety workers—violated the Constitution.
The judge also rejected the idea that the law could continue without the flawed definition of “public safety employee,” saying it wasn’t up to the courts or state agencies to fix the law’s problems.
Mixed Reactions
The decision sparked strong reactions.
Supporters of the lawsuit, including public employee unions, celebrated. Jeff Mandell of the nonprofit law firm Law Forward called it a “historic decision” that restores workers’ rights to organize and negotiate for better working conditions.
Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat who has tried to repeal Act 10 since taking office, called the ruling “great news.” He said all workers deserve fair treatment and a voice in workplace decisions.
On the other side, Republican lawmakers and business groups criticized the ruling and pledged to appeal. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos argued that Act 10 had saved Wisconsin taxpayers over $16 billion and dismissed the lawsuit as baseless. Others, like Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevera, accused the judge of political bias, claiming the decision could harm local governments and schools financially.
Broader Impact
Union leaders say the ruling is a win for public workers like teachers, conservation wardens, and graduate student employees. They argue that losing collective bargaining rights has led to low wages, unfair working conditions, and staffing shortages in essential services like education and public safety.
However, the victory for unions could take time to fully take effect, as the ruling will likely face lengthy appeals. Advocates have vowed to continue the fight until all Wisconsin workers regain their rights to negotiate better wages and working conditions.