Life after Act 10: Is There a Future for Collective Representation of Wisconsin Public Employees?

Abstract

In 2011, Wisconsin largely gutted the collective bargaining rights of most public employees in the state. Wisconsin Act 10 largely replaced collective employee voice with unilateral employer control over employees’ wage, hours and terms and conditions of employment. This article addresses the future of collective employee representation in Wisconsin in the wake of Act 10. It urges employers to continue to engage with their employees through the employees’ unions, demonstrating why such an approach better provides for the public interest than unilateral employer control. It looks to examples from other jurisdictions and presents a range of alternatives for Wisconsin public employers and unions to provide for meaningful employee voice.