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The Great Divide: The legacy of Wisconsin's Act 10
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The Great Divide: The legacy of Wisconsin's Act 10

  • Feb 10, 2021
  • Feb 10, 2021 Updated Feb 12, 2025

A decade after the debate and protests over the anti-union law known as Act 10 convulsed the state, Wisconsin remains firmly divided on the law.

(5) updates to this series since Updated Feb 12, 2025

Act 10: The Great Divide preview

Act 10: The Great Divide preview

The Great Divide | 10 stories about Act 10

The Great Divide | 10 stories about Act 10

The most seismic political story of the last decade in Wisconsin began on Feb. 7, 2011, when Republican Gov. Scott Walker informed a gathering…

10 years later: Wisconsin's Act 10 has produced labor savings, but at a cost

10 years later: Wisconsin's Act 10 has produced labor savings, but at a cost

A decade after the controversial legislation became law, state and local governments have saved billions of dollars, but spending on key programs has lagged.

10 years later, workers still seek a seat at the table despite lack of collective bargaining

10 years later, workers still seek a seat at the table despite lack of collective bargaining

Between 2010 and 2017, four major public sector unions in Wisconsin saw significant decreases in their membership.

Looking back a decade later, 10 stories about Act 10

Looking back a decade later, 10 stories about Act 10

The most seismic political story of the last decade in Wisconsin began on Feb. 7, 2011, when Republican Gov. Scott Walker informed a gathering…

Relive the story of the historic Act 10 protests in 20 photos

Relive the story of the historic Act 10 protests in 20 photos

A selection of Wisconsin State Journal photographs from the historic protests of February and March 2011 at the state Capitol. The largest pro…

Front pages from historic protests against Act 10

Front pages from historic protests against Act 10

A collection of Wisconsin State Journal front pages during the historic Capitol protests of February and March 2011. Gov. Scott Walker's plan …

Video highlights of the fight over Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union legislation

Video highlights of the fight over Gov. Scott Walker's anti-union legislation

Video highlights of the fallout over the introduction and passage of what would become Wisconsin 2011 Act 10 in February and March, 2011. 

As featured on

Act 10 was dark time with mixed results

Act 10 was dark time with mixed results

STATE JOURNAL VIEW: Union restrictions brought savings and flexibility but divided state, hurt morale

Tony Evers proposes creating $500 caregiver tax credit

Tony Evers proposes creating $500 caregiver tax credit

The tax credit was included in budget proposals Evers announced that are targeted to help children and families.

State budget committee advances $540 million plan to cut taxes

State budget committee advances $540 million plan to cut taxes

The bill, if passed, would allow businesses that received federal PPP loans to deduct related purchases on their taxes.

Legislative committee authorizes audit of 2020 election administration

Legislative committee authorizes audit of 2020 election administration

The audit is expected to be completed by the fall of this year.

Tony Evers budget would allow counties, some cities additional sales tax

Tony Evers budget would allow counties, some cities additional sales tax

Gov. Evers will unveil his entire budget proposal on Tuesday.

Sen. Ron Johnson: 'This didn’t seem like an armed insurrection to me'

Sen. Ron Johnson: 'This didn’t seem like an armed insurrection to me'

Sen. Ron slammed the impeachment over the weekend as “vindictive and divisive,” and possibly a “diversionary operation” by Democrats to distract from security lapses at the U.S. Capitol.

Meriter nurses voting on 'major tentative agreement' with hospital, union says

Meriter nurses voting on 'major tentative agreement' with hospital, union says

An agreement would avoid a potential strike on Wednesday. 

Wisconsin legislators OK new contract for state troopers for past 2 years

Wisconsin legislators OK new contract for state troopers for past 2 years

The contract calls for a 2% across-the-board wage increase in each year, with lump sump payments equal to a 2% increase for all hours worked dating back to Jan. 5, 2020.

Assembly passes bills to expand gun rights, tackle rising drug use

Assembly passes bills to expand gun rights, tackle rising drug use

The Assembly meets for the first session of an election year, and Republicans are looking to signal their priorities to their base.

Federal officials seek public help to replace 'derogatory' geographic feature names in Wisconsin

Federal officials seek public help to replace 'derogatory' geographic feature names in Wisconsin

Each of the features' names contain the word "squaw," a word U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland declared derogatory in November.

WEA Trust to stop offering health insurance in Wisconsin, lay off 110 employees

WEA Trust to stop offering health insurance in Wisconsin, lay off 110 employees

The company will lay off 110 employees, it said in a statement, and offer each employee a severance package and at least 60 days' notice. 

Collective bargaining ban in Wisconsin under attack by unions after Supreme Court majority flips

Collective bargaining ban in Wisconsin under attack by unions after Supreme Court majority flips

The lawsuit is the latest attempt to end the state's near-total ban on collective bargaining for most public employees, the first since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in August.

Dane County judge hears latest lawsuit challenging Act 10 collective bargaining limits

Dane County judge hears latest lawsuit challenging Act 10 collective bargaining limits

The latest Act 10 lawsuit is the first to come after the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to a liberal majority last year.

Name of Dane County judge overseeing Act 10 lawsuit appears on Scott Walker recall petition

Name of Dane County judge overseeing Act 10 lawsuit appears on Scott Walker recall petition

Asked Wednesday if Judge Jacob Frost should recuse himself from the case given his apparent signature on the recall petition, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said, "I don't think so."

What to know about Wednesday's Act 10 ruling

What to know about Wednesday's Act 10 ruling

A Dane County judge's decision allows a lawsuit seeking to overturn major components of Act to proceed — with a final ruling likely to be made by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Dane County judge restores collective bargaining rights previously restricted under Act 10

Dane County judge restores collective bargaining rights previously restricted under Act 10

“This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement.

Act 10 has been overturned. What happens next?

Act 10 has been overturned. What happens next?

Since the ruling has already been appealed, perhaps the one overriding question is: What will the Wisconsin Supreme Court do, and when?

Judge extends pause on Act 10 ruling, citing 'utter chaos' if later reversed

Judge extends pause on Act 10 ruling, citing 'utter chaos' if later reversed

The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority.

Lawmakers call for Act 10 lawsuit recusals by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices

Lawmakers call for Act 10 lawsuit recusals by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices

The case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority.

UW nurses urge Wisconsin Supreme Court to recognize union

UW nurses urge Wisconsin Supreme Court to recognize union

But several justices appeared to question SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin's argument that the law still applies to UW Hospital in light of Act 10.

Janet Protasiewicz rejects call to remove herself from Act 10 lawsuit

Janet Protasiewicz rejects call to remove herself from Act 10 lawsuit

The move means the case will be taken up by a 4-2 liberal majority if it reaches the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which appears all but certain.

Watch now: Driver survives 70-foot plunge off Wisconsin interchange

Watch now: Driver survives 70-foot plunge off Wisconsin interchange

A driver survived when his pickup truck plunged about 70 feet off a slippery interchange exit ramp. A Wisconsin Department of Transportation camera captured the Milwaukee-area crash.

Polar vortex shift has Wisconsin shivering, with no end in sight to bitter cold

Polar vortex shift has Wisconsin shivering, with no end in sight to bitter cold

Highs at best around 10 and lows below zero are expected to continue for southern Wisconsin for at least the next week, according to forecasters.

UW Hospital, nurses' union disagree on hospital's status under state labor law

UW Hospital, nurses' union disagree on hospital's status under state labor law

Legal briefs provide new details of arguments before the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, which is expected to rule this month.

Dane County judge strikes down part of Act 10

Dane County judge strikes down part of Act 10

The Legislature never articulated a rational basis for letting some public safety employees continue to collectively bargaining while prohibiting it among others, Judge Jacob Frost ruled late Wednesday.

Former Wisconsin state senators Tim Cullen, George Petak, have died

Former Wisconsin state senators Tim Cullen, George Petak, have died

Cullen, 80, was a champion for nonpartisan maps in Wisconsin. Petak, 75, became the first legislator in state history to be recalled from office.

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