Center for American Progress

Attacks on Public-Sector Unions Harm States: How Act 10 Has Affected Education in Wisconsin
Article

Attacks on Public-Sector Unions Harm States: How Act 10 Has Affected Education in Wisconsin

Authors David Madland and Alex Rowell urge policymakers to heed Wisconsin’s warning—attacks on public-sector workers are harmful for states.

Six years ago, the state of Wisconsin passed the highly controversial 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which virtually eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public-sector workers, as well as slashed those workers’ benefits, among other changes. These attacks on public-sector workers are spreading throughout the country. Iowa recently passed an Act 10-inspired law with similar policies affecting public-sector workers and their unions. Other states and members of Congress are considering enacting such policies, and with its ruling on Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the U.S. Supreme Court may act to weaken public-sector unions and teachers’ ability to collectively bargain.

The above excerpt was originally published in CAP Action. Click here to view the full article.

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.

Authors

David Madland

Senior Fellow; Senior Adviser, American Worker Project

Alex Rowell

Policy Analyst