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WI Supreme Court Rejects Collective Bargaining
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is crediting Act 10 in a ruling that UW Health doesn’t have to negotiate with its nurse’s union.
A unanimous court on Friday ruled that Act 10’s limits on public sector collective bargaining apply to the university health system.
"The changes brought about by Act 10 are conclusive on this point," Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote in the court’s opinion. "The legislature ended mandatory collective bargaining for the Authority under the Peace Act."
UW Health’s nurses union, UW Nurses United of SEIU Wisconsin, took the case to the state supreme court after lower courts ruled essentially the same thing.
The nurses argued that UW Health is essentially independent, and not covered by the same rules as the UW itself.
The court rejected that argument.
"Taken together, the effect of the legislature’s changes in Act 10 are no mystery," Hagedorn wrote.
The nurse's union has been without a contract since 2014, but earlier this year agreed to extend that deal 'til 2027.
Union leaders on Friday said just because UW Health isn't required to bargain on a new contract, that doesn't mean the hospital can't.
"Our fight to restore collective bargaining rights doesn’t end in the courtroom. We will continue to explore all possible pathways to restoring our full collective bargaining rights, including seeking voluntary recognition and passing legislation, to ensure that all of us, no matter who we are or where we work, have a seat at the table and a voice in our workplace," the union said in a statement. "UW nurses are proud to be at the forefront of a resurgent national movement of working people who are organizing across race, place, and industry for Unions For All, no exceptions. We are fiercely determined and confident that we will win concrete positive change to ensure the highest standards for jobs and patient care for Wisconsin."
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