Judge strikes down Wisconsin law limiting union rights

[powergirl]

"A Wisconsin judge on Friday struck down the state law championed by Gov. Scott Walker that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

"It was not clear if the ruling means the law is immediately suspended. The law 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. Constitution and is null and void. The ruling comes after a lawsuit brought by the Madison teachers union and a union for Milwaukee city employees.

"Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said he was confident the decision will be overturned on appeal.

"We believe the law is constitutional," said Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck."


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81241.html?hp=bn

[DesertRat]

1. Great news! But so weird to happen at 5pm on a Friday.

[Grown2Hate]

2. Cross-eyed, vapid, soulless little WEASEL. N/T

[rurallib]

3. How is the John Doe investigation going for Scotty?

I thought we'd have an indictment by now.

[longship]

4. What???? "not clear"?????

The judge ruled that the "law violates both the state and U.S. Constitution (sic) and is null and void".

What is not clear about that?

Horrible reportage.

[abumbyanyothername]

5. There is such a thing as a stay.

The ruling could have been stayed pending appeal.

As much as I would love for collective bargaining to be a constitutionally guaranteed right, I am with the Walker team as to their evaluation of the prospects for success on appeal.

If collective bargaining were a constitutionally guaranteed right why do we have the NLRA?

[longship]

6. The article says nothing about a stay.

But it's not good reporting as it is. But the judge was fairly emphatic. I'll take him at his words that it meant he wouldn't then issue a stay, or the article would have reported it.

The law is dead, as of this opinion until an appeal court stays it, AFAIK.