Wisconsin agrees to halt implementation of controversial union law

Wisconsin officials agreed to delay implementation of the state’s controversial union law Thursday, after a county judge ruled for a third time that it should stop.

Judge Maryann Sumi again clarified a previous ruling that the bill should not go into effect until her court can hear a lawsuit challenging it.

{mosads}”While I believe the budget-repair bill was legally published and is indeed law, given the most recent court action, we will suspend the implementation of it at this time,” Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The move is a reversal for the administration of GOP Gov. Scott Walker, which opposed the court order for more than two weeks and attempted to work around it to implement the law.

The law, passed earlier this month, curbs public employee unions’ rights to collectively bargain with the state and demand workers’ pay in part for their healthcare and pension benefits. 

The passage of the law, which gained national attention, was initially a major victory for Walker, who faced backlash from union leaders claiming the law is an “assault” on the labor movement.

Democrats have filed a lawsuit that accuses Republicans of violating the state’s open-meetings law while advancing the legislation. 

Sumi’s restraining order is in effect until Friday, when further testimony is scheduled. She then has the option of delaying the law’s implementation further with a preliminary injunction.