Madison, WI (April 18, 2014) – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for the second time upheld Governor Scott Walker’s 2011 public-sector unionism reform measures, also known as “Act 10,” which included a Right to Work provision giving most Wisconsin public workers the right not to join or pay union fees as a condition of employment..

Patrick Semmens, Vice President of the National Right to Work Foundation, released the following statement in regards to the court’s decision:

“The court’s decision is a powerful victory for workers who do not want anything to do with an unwanted union in their workplace. The decision ensures that thousands of Wisconsin’s civil servants will continue to have the freedom to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union.

“Forced unionism is a government-granted special privilege given to union bosses and there is no question that government has the right to restrict or revoke those privileges. No worker should ever be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, which is why Wisconsin should guarantee that right for all Wisconsin workers, including private-sector employees and public safety workers, through a Right to Work law.”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.