Wisconsin anti-union law struck down in court

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s (R) legislation gutting collective bargaining rights for most employees was struck down in court Friday afternoon.

According to The Associated Press, Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas ruled the law null and void for violating both the state and federal constitution.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that despite Colas’ ruling, the law will remain in effect for state workers. City, county and school employees, however, return to collective bargaining conditions in place before the law went into effect in March 2011.

The ruling comes after a lawsuit brought by the Madison teachers union and a union for Milwaukee city employees. A spokesperson for state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said the state is planning to appeal the decision.

Walker introduced the law not long after becoming governor in February 2011, touching off a wave of protests in the state capitol not only by thousands of workers, but by lawmakers; the state’s 14 Democratic senators fled the state in an attempt to stop it.

It was also revealed that Walker told local billionaire Diane Hendricks he planned to “divide and conquer” unions. Walker would subsequently win a recall election held against him, earning him praise from Republican figures like Sarah Palin and current presidential nominee Mitt Romney.