POLITICS

Court throws out suit over Wisconsin 'right-to-work' law

Patrick Marley
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison – A federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit challenging a 2015 law that banned labor contracts requiring workers to pay union fees.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller is the latest setback for unions, which have challenged the state’s “right-to-work” law in state and federal courts.

Labor union members protest so-called "right to work" legislation in 2015 at the state Capitol in Madison.

Two locals of the International Union of Operating Engineers argued the law violated the National Labor Relations Act and unconstitutionally took something of value from the unions without compensation.

Stadtmueller disagreed, citing a 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that upheld Indiana’s “right-to-work” law.

Terry McGowan, president of one of the union locals, said the unions would appeal, putting the issue back before the 7th Circuit.

Separately, a Dane County judge struck down the law as unconstitutional in April, but the state appeals court put that ruling on hold in May as it considers the case. The state appeals court is expected to issue a final decision in that case in the coming months.