Wisconsin’s public unions face uncertain future

MADISON, Wis. — The largest public employee unions in Wisconsin face an uncertain future as they decide not to go through the process of keeping their official status.

The decisions not to hold the required vote under Gov. Scott Walker’s collective bargaining changes passed this year by the Legislature means the state will have no obligation to bargain with the unions.

But under the law, the only item that was still subject to bargaining was salary increases no greater than inflation.

Thursday was the deadline for unions to notify the state that they planned to move forward with the required recertification vote.

American Federation of Teachers union head Bryan Kennedy says the vote would have been cumbersome and expensive for local unions representing about 17,000 workers to execute.

Walker’s spokesman had no comment.