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In several states in which legislation allows faculty to unionize, the 2010 elections swept in governors and legislators who have undertaken unprecedented efforts to severely restrict or rescind the right of public-sector employees, including faculty, to bargain collectively. The highest-profile example is Wisconsin, but legislation has been introduced in several other states as well. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rendered a 4-3 decision supporting the Wisconsin legislation, opponents of SB 5 in Ohio are gathering signatures for a repeal referendum in November, and initial legislative attacks have been withdrawn or rescinded in some other states, such as Connecticut and Florida. Thus, the struggle continues.
Gary Rhoades (grhoades@email.arizona.edu) served as general secretary of the American Association of University Professors from January 2009–June 2011 and is currently a professor of higher education at the University of Arizona.
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