Wisconsin Supreme Court Supports Anti-Union Legislation

Yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the ruling of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi, thereby reinstating the anti-union legislation passed illegally in March of 2011. The brave walk-out of 14 Democratic Wisconsin State Senators did not allow for a quorum to be present and no vote could be taken. Following weeks of the walk-out and protests in the State Capitol, the Republicans secretly redrafted the legislation to no longer include budgetary items, which would allow a vote without a quorum. However, Wisconsin laws requires a notice no less than a twenty-four hour prior to the convening of a government body. Even in extreme circumstances, a two hour notice must be provided. The Republican Senators of Wisconsin satisfied neither statute, and the law was deemed to have been illegally passed by Judge Sumi. It was created in blatant contempt of the law with the intent to strip unionized public worked of collective bargaining rights.

Tuesday's Wisconsin Supreme Court's overruling of this case represents a clear and partisan attack on worker’s rights. In a 4-3 vote along party lines, the Court ruled that the committee formed to draft revised legislation was not subject to any Open Meeting Laws, and therefore was not illegal...but the law clearly states otherwise. Any meeting of a government body, defined as,“state or local agency, board, commission, [or] committee...” must provide a notice of its meeting. These four Supreme Court Justices have backed the illegal Republican bill to disenfranchise workers. The people of Wisconsin deserve real justice, and it is the intention of 21st Century Democrats to keep fighting for the rights of every working person and family. A change must be made in Wisconsin and in any other state that looks to deny workers their rights.