A Dane County judge will hear arguments this morning over whether to stay a decision overturning Wisconsin’s right-to-work law while the state Department of Justice appeals his ruling.
Judge William Foust ruled earlier this month that the law amounts to an unconstitutional taking of union property, since workers benefit from union representation without having to pay any dues or fees. The law makes it illegal for businesses to make union membership a condition of employment.
Proponents of the law argue workers should have the freedom to decide whether they want to join a union though. The DOJ has also noted that right-to-work laws in other states have stood up to legal challenges, when facing similar arguments. The state also maintains that throwing out the law while the case is on appeal could cause chaos for workers and employers statewide.