Wis. Judge: Officials in Contempt for Union Curbs

Source: Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. October 22, 2013 (AP)
By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press

A Madison judge on Monday found Wisconsin labor relations officials in contempt for enforcing parts of Gov. Scott Walker's contentious bargaining restrictions despite a ruling that they're unconstitutional, clearing the way for hundreds of school district and municipal worker unions to negotiate with their employers again.

Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas ruled last year the provisions were unconstitutional as they applied to two unions representing Madison teachers and Milwaukee public workers, creating confusion about whether the ruling applied to all school and municipal workers across the state.

Colas ruled Monday that his original decision wiped the provisions out of existence. He found the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission in contempt of court and issued an injunction barring it from enforcing the restrictions against any school district or municipal worker union.

"I think this conduct was nothing more than an attempt to elude the application of a judgment the commissioners knew full well applied," the judge said.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/wis-judge-officials-contempt-union-curbs-20641100