Judge Blocks Enforcement Of Right-To-Work Law

A Dane County judge issued a ruling on Friday that blocks officials from enforcing Wisconsin’s right-to-work law.

Last week, Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust ruled that the right-to-work law, which bars unions from requiring non-members to pay union fees, violates the state constitution. He said it does so by taking unions’ property, in the form of benefits from collective bargaining, without compensation in the form of fees.

Attorney General Brad Schimel has said he will ask for a stay on the ruling while he works on an appeal, which would keep the law in place during the appeals process.

Schimel could take the case to the Court of Appeals, or try to take it to the state Supreme Court. He’s expressed optimism about the chances for the appeal.

Twenty-five other states have right-to-work laws in place. Wisconsin’s law passed the state Legislature last year.