Wisconsin Appeals Court Reinstates 2011 Law Eliminating Public Worker Collective Bargaining Rights

A Wisconsin appeals court ruled 2-1 on July 29, 2026, to reinstate Act 10, the landmark 2011 law that stripped collective bargaining rights from most public workers. The decision overturns a December 2024 ruling that found the law unconstitutional. Unions, represented by spokesperson Christina Brey, plan to appeal to the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court. Former Governor Scott Walker praised the ruling, while Democratic gubernatorial candidates vowed to repeal the law.

Appeals court reinstates Act 10

• ▪A Wisconsin appeals court ruled 2-1 on July 29, 2026, to overturn a December 2024 ruling that had struck down the 2011 anti-union law known as Act 10.
• ▪The Wisconsin appeals court ruled that the challenged provisions of Act 10 did not violate the equal protection guarantees of the Wisconsin Constitution.

Collective bargaining restrictions

• ▪Act 10 disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.
• ▪Act 10 effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation.

2011 Capitol protests

• ▪The passage of Act 10 in 2011 sparked weeks of protests that drew as many as 100,000 people to the Wisconsin state Capitol.
• ▪The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved Act 10 in 2011 despite massive protests.

Supreme Court legal trajectory

• ▪Seven unions and three union leaders filed the lawsuit in November 2023, three months after the Wisconsin Supreme Court switched to a liberal majority.
• ▪The lawsuit argued Act 10 is unconstitutional because it creates exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers.

Union responses to ruling

• ▪All five Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor in 2026 have vowed to repeal Act 10 if elected.
• ▪Christina Brey, a spokesperson for the plaintiff unions, stated that public service workers will continue fighting to regain full collective bargaining rights.

Scott Walker political legacy

• ▪Former Republican Governor Scott Walker championed Act 10 in 2011, which catapulted him onto the national political stage and spurred an unsuccessful recall attempt.
• ▪Scott Walker praised the July 29, 2026, appeals court ruling as a major win for Wisconsin taxpayers and elected officials.

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