Judge throws out Walker's union bargaining law (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Posted on: Sat, 09/15/2012 - 12:29 By: Tom Swiss

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's collective bargaining law has been a flashpoint in the efforts to either destroy or save unions. A new twist: large parts of the law have been struck down.

Judge throws out Walker's union bargaining law:

Gov. Scott Walker's law repealing most collective bargaining for local and school employees was struck down by a Dane County judge Friday, yet another dramatic twist in a year and a half saga that likely sets up another showdown in the Supreme Court.

The law remains largely in force for state workers, but for city, county and school workers the decision by Dane County Judge Juan Colas returns the law to its status before Walker signed the legislation in March 2011.

Last year, another Dane County judge blocked the law because it was passed in violation of Wisconsin open-meetings law -- but the state Supreme Court overruled that decision and restored the law. And a federal judge has overturned part of the law that required public unions to hold annual elections in order to retain their official status. That case is on appeal.