Judge in Union Challenge Signed Petition to Recall Gov. Walker

(OurNationNews.com) -Unions in the public sector in the state of Wisconsin have sued the Badger state over a law that restricts collective bargaining rights for workers.

Six unions, led by the Abbotsford Education Association, which is part of the Service Employees International Union, argue in their lawsuit that the law, known as Act 1, violates the equal protection clause granted workers under Wisconsin’s constitution. The law split public sector workers into two groups – workers who belong to police or the fire department were categorized as “public safety” workers, while the rest were designated as “general” employees. The unions say that the classification allows one group to receive and negotiate for different benefits while excluding the other.

The progressive law firm Bredhoff & Kaiser, which is based in Washington, is representing the plaintiffs in the suit. Jacob Karabell, who represents the firm in the case, said that there is no rational reason for Act 10 to split up public sector workers in the way that it does. He further said that government employees classified under “general” workers essentially lose all their collective bargaining rights, which under the law would only now apply to “public safety” workers.

Furthermore, Karabell points to the fact that Act 10 classifies state motor vehicle inspectors as being under “public safety” employees but excludes police officers who work at the state capitol building and the University of Wisconsin, thus putting into question the rational basis for the law’s classification of public sector employees. He also said that the classification also primarily benefitted groups that endorsed the 2010 campaign of former Republican Wisconsin governor Scott Walker.

However, the issue has also been further complicated by the revelation that Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, who will be presiding over the case, signed a 2011 recall petition against Walker. Frost was appointed to the bench in 2020 by Tony Evers, the state’s current Democratic governor. The recall was sparked by anger over Act 10, and drew the required number of signatures needed to force a recall election. The 2012 recall election saw Walker keep his post, which he lost to Evers in 2018.