Wisc Collective Bargaining Law Upheld

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the 2011 law that effectively ended collective bargaining

for most public workers, sparked massive protests and led to Republican Gov. Scott Walker's recall election.

The court upheld the law 5-2 Thursday under a challenge filed by the Madison teachers union and a union representing Milwaukee public workers. They had argued that the law violated workers' constitutional rights to free assembly and equal protection.

A federal appeals court twice upheld the law as constitutional.

The law prohibits public worker unions from collectively bargaining for anything beyond base wage increases based on inflation.

Walker introduced it shortly after taking office, and rose to national prominence as he defended it and won the 2012 recall election.