威斯康星州上诉法院周三推翻了Dane县巡回法官雅各布·弗罗斯特在2024年12月做出的裁决[1]。该裁决曾推翻2011年通过的《第10法案》(Act 10)，这是由共和党人主导推行的反工会法案[1]。这一最新的司法决定对州内工会组织和公职人员构成重大打击。
《第10法案》的出台曾在威斯康星州引发强烈反弹，数周的抗议活动最高吸引了10万人聚集于州议会大厦[1]。该法案有效剥夺了大多数公职人员就加薪等事项进行集体谈判的能力，并强制他们为健康保险和退休福利承担更多费用[1]。根据威斯康星政策论坛2022年的分析，该州自2000年以来工会成员比例下降幅度在全国最大[1]。
工会组织预期将向威斯康星州最高法院提起上诉[1]。该州最高法院目前由自由派法官占多数，比例为4比3，待克里斯·泰勒下周加入后将变为5比2[1]。与此同时，民主党州长候选人已承诺若当选将废除《第10法案》，民主党初选定于8月11日举行[1]。
A Wisconsin appeals court on Wednesday reversed a December 2024 decision that had struck down Act 10, a 2011 anti-union law that had severely curtailed collective bargaining rights for most public employees [1]. The reversal represents a significant setback for labor unions and public sector workers in the state [1].
The original ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost had challenged Act 10, which was enacted by Republicans in 2011 and sparked weeks of protests that drew as many as 100,000 people to the state capitol [1]. The law effectively eliminated the ability of most public employees to collectively bargain over issues such as pay increases and forced them to contribute more toward health insurance and retirement benefits [1]. Unions are expected to appeal the latest decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled by a 4-3 liberal majority and will expand to 5-2 after Chris Taylor joins next week [1].
According to a 2022 analysis by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Wisconsin has experienced the largest percentage drop in union membership among states since 2000 [1]. Democratic gubernatorial candidates have pledged to repeal Act 10 if elected, with the primary election scheduled for August 11 [1].