MADISON (WKOW) -- Lawmakers and union members are reacting to Friday's ruling by Dane County Judge Juan Colas that strikes down the state's collective bargaining law.
Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona):
"The action of the Dane County Circuit Court today reaffirms the importance of
maintaining rights for the working men and women of Wisconsin.
Restoring the rights of workers
to collectively bargain is a key part of building back Wisconsin's economy.
Because of Governor Walker and Legislative Republicans, tens of thousands of
workers could no longer negotiate over the hours they work, the safety
conditions they labor under, or the health insurance and retirement benefits
they and their families depend on.
This ruling is a positive step
forward to restoring rights that were abruptly stripped away and opens the door
to allow workers and employers to negotiate agreements that are mutually
beneficial."
Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend):
"The decision reached today by
Dane County Judge Colas is further evidence of the
complete abandonment of the rule of law in this state and country.
Hopefully, the state's Supreme Court will take swift action and Act 10 will be
restored.
The idea that a judge would find a pretext to say that it is against
the law for government employees to pay for part of their pension and some of
their healthcare benefits, to make it easier for a school district to remove a
bad teacher, for a school district to impose a dress code on
teachers, or for a city or
county to promote employees based on seniority rather than merit is absurd.
Some judges today are rendering decisions one would expect from a
banana republic dictatorship or newly independent country in which respect for
the law has not been established. I am sure all counties, municipalities and
school districts want to know where they stand.
Therefore, it is extremely important the Supreme Court
take up this case immediately.
I also hope this serves as a clarion call to policymakers that we
must no longer allow our education system to be a breeding ground for left-wing
extremism. It should be a
particular embarrassment that Judge Colas is a product
of the UW Law School, so is
Judge Sumi who earlier tried to overturn Act 10. Rather than wasting money on current
diversity bureaucrats, we must
guarantee intellectual diversity at the University of Wisconsin in general and
the Law School in particular, so that some of their graduates have a respect for
the separation of powers and the rule of law.
I strongly encourage the state Supreme
Court to take immediate action to overturn this
ruling."
Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
"As we have said from day one, Scott Walker's attempt to silence the union men
and women of Wisconsin's public sector was an immoral, unjust and illegal power
grab. Now, a court has ruled that the essential provisions of Act 10, Scott Walker's
draconian attack on public worker's right to collectively bargain, is
unconstitutional."
