A federal appeals court upheld the controversial Act 10 legislation, which limited public workers’ ability to collectively bargain, in a split decision Jan. 18, inciting a mix of validation and disappointment for Wisconsin state legislators.
The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said the legislation should be “upheld in its entirety,” reversing an earlier decision by a Madison judge, who declared portions of Act 10 allowing for withholding union dues and mandating yearly union voting for recertification unconstitutional.
Democratic legislators said the ruling would undo progress legislators had made on reinstating collective bargaining rights.
However, Republicans saw the ruling as a validation of their efforts in passing the legislation. According to Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, the ruling was a sign Republicans had been correct.
“Today’s decision by the Seventh Circuit confirms what I have stated from the beginning.” Van Hollen said in a statement. “Act 10 is constitutional.”
