A judge in the midwestern US state of Wisconsin on Friday issued a temporary restraining order blocking a controversial law that would strip public workers of union bargaining rights. The restraining order granted by circuit court judge Maryann Sumi in response to a lawsuit brought by Democratic district attorney Ismael Ozanne could mean the state legislature in Wisconsin will have to vote again on the controversial bill, which was signed into law a week ago.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker had pushed hard for the law, arguing that it was necessary to get rid of collective bargaining rights to close the state's yawning budget deficit. The battle over the law saw weeks of huge protests at Wisconsin's state capitol in Madison.
Minority Democratic lawmakers fled Wisconsin for a neighbouring state to try to prevent a quorum needed in the state legislature to pass the law, which was originally tied to the state budget. But Republicans stripped all fiscal language from the law and passed it last week without the Democrats being present.
Critics of the law say it is aimed at undermining unions, which are a major source of financial and grassroots support for Democrats, in key swing states ahead of the 2012 presidential election. In addition to the lawsuit against the union-busting law, Democrats have launched a bid to recall Governor Scott Walker and a number of Republican lawmakers.
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