The Associated Press says a judge has struck down the state law championed by Gov. Scott Walker that that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public workers.
Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas ruled today that the law violates both the state and U.S. Constitution and is null and void, the AP reports.
It was not clear if the ruling means the law, in effect for more than a year now, is immediately suspended.
The ruling comes after a lawsuit brought by the Madison teachers union and a union for Milwaukee city employees.
The proposal, sold as a cost-savings measure in tough fiscal times but in reality an excuse to bust public-worker unions, was introduced shortly after Walker took office in February last year.
It resulted in a firestorm of opposition and led to huge protests at the state Capitol that lasted for weeks. All 14 Democratic state senators fled the state to Illinois for three weeks in an ultimately failed attempt to stop the law's passage from the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Anger over the law's passage produced more than 930,000 signatures calling for a recall election, which was held on June 5. Walker won and became the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall.
Walker responded in a series of tweets posted just moments after the verdict was announced:
"The people of Wisconsin clearly spoke on June 5th. Now, they are ready to move on. Sadly a liberal activist judge in Dane County ... wants to go backwards and take away the lawmaking responsibilities of the legislature and the governor. ... We are confident that the state will ultimately prevail in the appeals process."
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YES!
This is great news. I'm a State employee(wisconsin) so this especially good to hear.
This is AWESOME! I love the look on Gubbner SNOT WALKER'S face!
BBBBWWWWWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Just another example of the repuklicons trying to control by F.E.A.R.
FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL! Gubbner Snot is in the weeds!!!!
scottie-boy looks like he's about to throw up.
Naah. He always looks that way.
Ha ha ha! Common sense is starting to take hold!
suzette-3194003 I live in WI he can taste his puke in his mouth he is such a ass.
It all depends on what judge is presiding in the appeal. If it's a teabagger sympathiser then it's all over. We all know what pond scum they are.
John - I would at least give the appeals judge the benefit of the doubt. After all lokk at the supreme court striking down all the voter restricting laws that were enacted recently, by a court that is heavily conservative. They stuck to the law, not what side they came down on.
Robert, the last I checked they haven't ruled yet on the voter ID laws. I might be mistaken so let me know if you have something definite please.
Actually courts have struck down the recent laws in Florida, Ohio, and they are currently working on Pennsylvania. Injunctions at the least that will not be lifted until after November.
Nice to know justice CAN prevail at times. Thanks Robert. I noticed in Wis. the judges are split 50/50, 3 Dems and 3 teabaggers. This will be interesting.
Just because the courts struck those insane laws down, doesn't mean any Repubs COUNTING votes won't cheat.
I bet the kids in Chicago are excited the union wins, and the American people lose!
The kids win and the American people win. The Constitution wins over the will of a governor that tries to limit the freedoms and rights of all Americans. Thank God for the Constitution.
We lose when we honor the U.S. and state constitution? We lose when we recognize the American worker has rights in this country? Interesting take. Unpatriotic is the first word that comes to mind, all the rest are unprintable and would most likely offend. And since I'm in Chicago and have quite a bit of interaction with the school kids of Chicago, I can tell you they'd like to be back in school. They would like to ALL have buildings that have working HVAC systems, intact roofs, and walls/windows that aren't crumbling. Even the younger students can answer the question - should you get a grade (be judged) based on a test another student took? Not saying teachers shouldn't have standards and pass their own tests. They should. They should be tested not only on their knowledge, but also observed in the classroom. Observe how they interact with students, balance parent reports with all of this and voila, you have a good system to "grade" teachers.
Yo, Ho-lee-cow, How does this negatively impact "the American People?" The American People include those in the damn unions dude.
unions work for americans/people....
Thank you for explaining this to him Laura, cowcrap isn't the shapest knife in the drawer.
Nice 5 liberals, and me!
I love it.
@Ho-lee-Cow: So, you just have a burning desire to be a peon worker, with no benefits, in a right to work state? I bet you want to be like a WalMart worker who makes such low wages they have to be on SNAP benefits just to eat.
Get a clue. Your side lost. Get used to it, lots more of that coming.
Plooka32, he's brain damaged from licking the boot that kicks him. Apparently one too many times in ther head.
The unions need to go. they are politically corrupt and bleed the taxpayors.
Fox is missing one of their sheep
mary how do you figure the american people lost, the teachers had a contract and the mayor reneged on their raise last year, and they are the people that mold the future americans, especially in an inner city setting . maybe you would like to spend a day in a classroom with 30-40 kids who dont respect authority or care to learn and mayor/school board says it is the teachers fault.
Only 11% of the work force are in a union.
None of the talking heads on MSLSD are in a union.
Unions keep good workers from getting paid what they are worth, and keep bad workers on the pay roll.
Unions got you your overtime pay, weekends, sick leave, the minimum wage laws and serval other laws benefiting workers. It amazes me how stupid you teabaggers can get. Reaping the benefits unions gave you then criticizing then like a good 'lil sheep because your middle class hating party says so. Thats the height of ignorance.
ho-lee-cow #3.12~~Your last sentence, makes NO sense! Just talking points set forth by radical extremist, to make low information folks, such as yourself, feel that you are not deserving of a living wage and good benefits. You need to feel sorry for big corporation "persons" and contribute your livlihood to their welfare.
How about that for justice?
Yes! Yes! Yes! Justice and the Constitution upholding the law of the land over the will of a governor that wants to take away the freedoms and rights of the people,
so exactly what part of the law violated the US Constitution- have you even read the opinion- state court trial judges are not normally constitutional scholars-
Neither are you, I'm willing to bet.
ho le cow, I think the news is great. The teachers in Chicago have a right to protest, thru strike, if necessary, since no one listened before. The teachers, fire fighters, policemen, all workers in private and public sector have a right to fight for their rights.
I can't imagine any child anywhere would care if the teachers went on strike. Summer was just extended. So you add a few days on to the end. That is what they do in Colorado for snow days, etc.
I am a kindergarten teacher of 25 years. And a proud one at that. Scott Walker and his Koch bros have done nothing for our kids or teachers. The morale in each WI school is at its all time lowest. Hopefully, due to his legal issues, he will be out of office asap.
Republicans would like to make the teacher's union appear to be greedy and not caring about kids. They said the same thing in the early '60s when nurses (also a predominately female profession) fought to be paid a living wage. They don't say anything about predominately male professions.
they just simply dont want to have these pesky contracts that they agreed to and now have to honor...WTH...they agreed to it !!!
Exactly Mac.
Justice is finally done!
score one for the good guys
What did that dumass think was going to happen?
Very smart judge! The fact that collective bargaining was a hard fought for victory for our ancestors and has been the law of the land for quite some time, we must be ever vigilant to protect those laws that have improved the average person's life in these United States! Good Judge, but this is only the beginning. We must be victorious in the next round and the next and the final round at the US Supreme Court, because that is where this will end. Scott Walker is a menace to America!
Walker broke the unions at the request of the Koch Brothers. The unions were only a stepping block for the Kochs. Eventually, all would be employed by Koch Industries with benefits and wages set by the Kochs.
the unions used to be the thing you wanted to be a part of...fought hard for...and now are bad???you know what happens if you leave your wages and bennies to the corporate without rights...when you have a contract in anything...it should be upheld...
Teabaggers don't want the workers to have a say, period. But the no.1 reason they want to get rid of Unions is because no more Union money, no more Democratic party.
GOOD!! So nice to see there are still GOOD people who use the BRAIN God gave them and see though the *WAY TO FAR TO THE RIGHT* BS!!
"It was not clear if the ruling means the law is immediately suspended."
Tell me how can a law that is declared null and void continue in effect at all??
the ruling could be stayed pending appeal. haven't looked yet but the ruling should have an order attached saying what the Gov. should do.
If you are a Republican it is because you say so. No court decison is final til the Roberts court says it is.
Who says they're ever going to hear it?
I am still not convinced that Walker "actually" won on his own merits to avoid recall! The infamous "True the Vote" voter Intimidation group inserted themselves into the Walker's Recall Election. Reportedly, they have taken credit for Walker's supposed win to avoid recall.
Another Idiot Politician who thought he was bigger than the people he serves...Just got his A$$ handed to him by the Constitution...
It proves the system works - when illegal laws are passed - eventually its legality will be tested in court. It was - and this is the result. Now lets wait and see if the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will throuw out the illegal Voter ID law in that state.
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! Common sense may be returning to the halls of government! Let's keep the momentum going. Anyone who thinks that unions are some beast from the citizenry is an uneducated fool. Unions are made up of workers, and workers have far more rights when they join together than they do singly. In addition, society benefits from the productivity of workers who are treated fairly and even handedly. Big business or government do not try to bust unions to take care of the little guy or the small businessman; they bust unions to keep wages down, profits for themselves up, and we all pay the price in ways too numerous to mention.
that should have read ---some beast SEPARATE fro the citizenry---just above. Sorry for the fast typing.
The courts are trying to hold off our idiot Sec of State from purging the voter rolls. So far it's working. It seems he's going after Latinos, since we've gained a big Latino population in the last two years.
excellent that look on his face says it all......
best look ever.
Suspect that this is far from over. The GOP will be paid to keep chopping away, going through all of the courts, working harder to get this junk into other state's legislation. Workers rights have become a battle cry, in the US, for heaven's sake! Who would have ever believed that, in the twentyfirst century, power, corporations and greed would make it a priority to use a political party to destroy the voice of the worker - unions and voting.
Anyone who has studied the labor movement, and the history of treatment of workers world wide, would have believd that, in the 21st century, power, corporations, and greed would make destruction of the voice of tye worker a priority. That is the human experience, and resisting it is the power of unions. The power structure will, indeed, keep trying. We do not have to sell our votes. Let them spend and spend and spend---and go to the ballot boxes and make sure they lose and lose and lose.
Evans Bo from NJ, Ed, GOP hasn't seen nothing yet. Gov. walker is powerless when it comes to our Constitutional Rights. My Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE is next to vanish from his seat.
Well, on June 5th, the MAJORITY of the people of Wisconsin went to the polls to let the MINORITY know that we won't tolerate their childish rebellious behavior. The democratic policy of this country is "majority rules". The Majority spoke out at the voting polls on June 5th and if necessary, the Majority will establish new laws regarding these unions. Government should be run by votes on a ballot and a majority of the citizens/voters....not by a union.
Said like a self-involved know-nothing, Scott. Teachers have to go to college to learn their skills. They pay the same tuition per year that all other professions pay in order to learn those skills. They also have to take a number of other courses periodically throughout their career to keep their certificate. Even with unions, teachers salaries are generally not commensurate with their responsibilities and education, compared to other professions. If people want to become wealthy in their lifetime, they certainly don't go into education. However, they do feel as if they deserve a living wage, and rightly so. It is not at all unusual for teachers to be unable to afford the living expenses of the areas in which they teach. So they have to live further away from their place of work in order to find affordable housing. Many teachers are forced to work second jobs, even though they work full time at their teaching jobs. This is in addition to working before and after school to grade papers, attend teacher conferences, etc. I'm sure the situation was similar for nurses and others who were in the unions that were denied the right of collective bargaining. It is really of no importance that they may have been in the minority. They still deserve a living wage commensurate with their education, experience, and responsibilities, as well as the cost of living in the community in which they teach. If you want teachers in a community, then it's like everything else --- you have to pay the price for their services.
I invite you to step into any classroom for a day. Pick a day. After observing, you get the opportunity to be the teacher!! Yes, the teacher for the entire day. :) IF you're still around after your work day, I'd be more than happy to discuss the day's events with you. I love my job. Email me and we can set-up what works best for you. Thank you and good luck.
We'll see if you get as much respect in the classroom as our "awesome" Governor gets from the majority of the Wisconsin people. The real, true, people, that is.
scott-2617521 #21~~The US congress is not run by the majority. Remember, sit on the hands, say NO, filibuster. On Nov 4th 2008, the majority voted for Obama, but, the minority, has been hell bent on espousing, their childish, rebellious, radical, racist, un-American, behavior, to the detriment of this once great nation.
What a great day for WI Justice finally done.Wonderful for all. I think many Americans don't understand what a Right to Work State is. It needs to be explained. One thing Americans would get their wages cut right off the bat.Right to work State is the loosing end for all Working Americans.
STOP referring to it as "Rights". Employee "Rights" would apply to all employees not just teachers, public workers, and other union employees. I to would have had great benefits and been able to stack off in my jobs duties without being afraid of losing said job. But since I DON'T - STOP referring to it as Employee Rights and call it what it really is, an Employee Benefit. Which by the way are not required, that's why they're called "Benefits" In the real world when the employee benefits cost the company to much money, the company changes the benefit plan. It's time for a CHANGE!!!
Tina Gamache Dondajeski #23~~Excuse me, but I do not believe you retain the mentality to comprehend what this is all about, so I will not even try to explain it to you. You just feel free, to return all or part of your wages and benefits to your employer, since you do not want to cost your employer too much. Go ahead, tell your employer, it is time for a change.
Well, this savvy Judge declared it illegal. NOW! Can he declare Walker illegal, or perhaps mentally unfit to do his job? (Sarcasm intended.) The working people of the United States built this country, and the Uber Rich want to kill the working class. Once employee protections are done away with and no one is left with real money to buy anything, how long can the Uber Rich hold onto all that "richness"?
One thing that I have noticed before the law was even passed and doesn't get reported: All the Unions had agreed to pay into the pension fund and pay more for health insurance (at least I never heard it). At least that is what I heard from union reps when I was down in Madison protesting. I'm not covered under the law, but I do believe it was done for political reasons and I thought at the time it was unconstitutional. Now I hope Scotty loses in the appeals process!
Ok when the STATE runs out of money, Lay them off. But I fell the court of appeals will over turn Colas incompetent decision.
The state was not even in dire financial problems when Scott decided to enact this legislation. As was clear in two taped conversations with at least two major contributors to the republican party, he was trying to eradicate unions because they, as a group were the biggest contributors to the democratic campaign funds. In one of the tapes with a major republican financier, he used the words, "Divide and conquer". He was trying to divide the unions into smaller groups in order to get the salaries down for both the public employees as well as employees of private companies that were also unionized.