Wisconsin Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Unions’ Collective Bargaining Rights Lawsuit

The Wisconsin Supreme Court today granted the Petition for Review in Abbotsford Education Association v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, the case to restore collective bargaining rights to Wisconsin public service workers. 

Under the Court’s order, the union plaintiffs’ first brief in the case is due on December 11, 2026. The Court is expected to issue its decision before next summer.

The union plaintiffs released this statement:

“We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to hear our case. We remain confident in its merits and look forward to making our arguments before the Justices. We believe the Circuit Court’s ruling in our favor will be upheld.

“Wisconsin is better when all public service workers have a say in our workplaces, whether about class sizes in our schools, safety on the job, hours or any other number of areas.

“Today’s announcement brings public service workers across the state one step closer to regaining free, fair and full collective bargaining rights to negotiate with our employers. We won’t stop until we get there.”

But the case could also have significant consequences for taxpayers and local governments.

If broader bargaining rights are restored, school districts, municipalities and other public employers could face renewed negotiations over wages, benefits and working conditions. That could mean increased labor costs, additional pressure on local budgets and potentially higher property taxes or reductions in other services if those costs cannot be absorbed.

Supporters of the current restrictions have argued that limiting collective bargaining gives local governments greater flexibility to manage expenses and control taxpayer costs.