Laws limiting Wisconsin unions struck down

Wisconsin laws curbing municipal employees' collective bargaining rights were declared unconstitutional by a state court judge on Friday.

Judge Juan B. Colas in Madison ruled the measures signed into law last year by Republican Gov. Scott Walker unduly burden the free-association and free speech rights of union members.

"Without any evidence or argument that the infringement serves to prevent an evil in the operation of the bargaining system created by the statutes, the court must find the infringement to be excessive," Colas wrote.

The legislation championed by Walker, a first-term governor, required annual recertification votes for union representation and made the payment of union dues voluntary. It exempted firefighters and police officers.

The laws, known as Act 10, touched off protests at the state capital and triggered a drive for a recall election this year in which Walker triumphed over his Democrat challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

"We believe the law is constitutional," Dana Brueck, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, said in an email. "We are reviewing the decision but we are planning to appeal."

Phil Neuenfeldt, president of Wisconsin's chapter of the AFL-CIO, applauded the court's ruling in an emailed statement.

"Walker's attempts to silence the union men and women of Wisconsin's public sector was an immoral, unjust and illegal power grab," Neuenfeldt said. "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."