The state of Wisconsin released a response Tuesday to the lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and other unions that challenged the newly implemented right-to-work law.
The lawsuit is disputing the controversial right-to-work law based on the unlawful taking of property without compensation.
Right-to-work prohibits unions from requiring non-union members to join or pay collective bargaining dues. However, because the unions continue to represent non-union members, they allege their services cost a large sum of the property provided by labor organizations.
The state of Wisconsin’s response pointed out 24 other states that enacted similar legislation and the legal challenges presented afterward, which were rejected in court. The response concludes the law does not require unions to provide specific services beyond collective bargaining agreements.
According to the response, the union is simply an “exclusive agent” and cannot require employers to bargain with individuals or smaller groups.
Wisconsin, being the 25th state to enact right-to-work legislation, is likely to prevail with no legal precedent overturning the law in other states, the response said. A hearing is set for Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court.
