Politics
Wisconsin Democratic Leaders Back Repeal of Act 10, But Timeline Remains Unclear
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and Assembly Speaker Greta Neubauer say they support restoring collective bargaining rights for public workers, aligning with Governor-elect David Crowley's pledge to undo the 2011 law.
MADISON, Wis. â Democratic leaders poised to take control of the Wisconsin State Capitol in January have signaled support for repealing Act 10, the 2011 law that stripped most public-sector workers of collective bargaining rights, but they caution that the path and timing for such a move are still being worked out.
The comments from incoming Senate Majority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and incoming Assembly Speaker Greta Neubauer came Tuesday, just days after Governor-elect David Crowley told UPFRONT that he supports reversing the law but would leave the details to lawmakers and would weigh the potential impact, including on taxes.
Crowley said he would convene a blue ribbon commission bringing together Democrats, Republicans, tax experts, local government officials, business leaders and labor unions to craft a long-term fix. "We know that there are going to be a lot of people who continue to attack our workers across the state of Wisconsin, but our job is to make sure that this is a place they can see a future that they can afford," Crowley said.
Hesselbein said she had not yet discussed the issue directly with Crowley. "That was the first time I heard him speak about it, so I haven't had a conversation with him yet to know exactly what he's thinking about," she said.
Neubauer was more definitive about her caucus's position. She said Assembly Democrats support "the restoration of rights for the people of Wisconsin, including collective bargaining." She added that discussions with Crowley and within the caucus would determine the right timeline, but vowed, "we will be pushing very hard to restore the rights of working people in Wisconsin."
Act 10, championed by then-Governor Scott Walker in 2011, sparked massive protests at the Capitol and remains one of the most consequential and divisive laws in recent state history. It limited most public employees' bargaining to base wages and required annual recertification votes for unions, among other provisions. Repealing it would mark a major shift in labor policy and could reshape the relationship between the state and its workforce.
The incoming Democratic leaders' comments suggest that while there is broad support for repeal among the new majority, the specifics â including how to address potential fiscal effects â are still being negotiated. Crowley's proposed commission signals an attempt to build a broader coalition and address concerns about costs before any legislative action.
With Democrats set to control the governorship and both chambers in January, the debate over Act 10 is expected to intensify. For union households and public workers across Wisconsin, the coming months will reveal whether the new leadership can deliver on a promise that has animated the party's base for more than a decade.