Union members rally against right-to-work bill
Wisconsin unions are taking legal action in an effort to prevent implementation of the state’s new right-to-work law, but Governor Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel say they are confident the law will be upheld. The move is the latest by unions, which have been strenuously opposed to right-to-work since a bill was introduced just two-and-a-half weeks ago, and comes just a day after the Republican governor signed the controversial measure in to law.
A lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction was filed Tuesday by Machinists Local Lodge 1061, United Steelworkers District 2 and the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. The unions claim the right-to-work law amounts to an unconstitutional taking of their property without just compensation, and argue that enforcing it would cause them irreparable harm. They are also asking that implementation of the law be blocked permanently. A hearing is scheduled for March 19 in Dane County Court.
“We are confident Wisconsin’s freedom-to-work law is constitutional and will be upheld as it has been in federal court,” said Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick. “It is my job as Attorney General to defend the laws enacted by the Wisconsin Legislature and signed into law,” said Schimel. “I am confident that 2015 Wisconsin Act 1 will be upheld, as have similar laws in other states.”