By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org

MADISON, Wis. – It didn’t take long for the teachers union in Madison to dust off its self-serving wish list and demand a round of old-fashioned contract negotiations.

Last week an obscure Wisconsin Circuit Court judge ruled that large sections of Act 10, the state law limiting collective bargaining privileges for public employee unions, are unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

Several constitutional experts have already predicted that the ruling will be overturned on appeal. That makes a great deal of sense, because the Wisconsin Supreme Court has a conservative lean, and can be expected to reinstate the law passed by Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican legislature.

That can happen none too soon. Wisconsin public school districts have collectively saved hundreds of millions of dollars in labor costs due to Act 10. That has allowed them to maintain most of their teachers and quality programming for students, even during the economic downturn.

But Madison Teachers Inc. (sounds like the name of a Mafia group, doesn’t it?) isn’t wasting this temporary window of opportunity. The union has already sent a letter to the Madison school board president, requesting a new round of collective bargaining for a new union contract, according to a news report posted by WEAU.com.

Luckily Madison Superintendent Jane Belmore is rejecting the union demand. She told the news service that she will not take any action based on the court ruling due to the uncertainty of the situation.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, who described the Circuit Court decision as “woefully legally deficient,” sought a court order yesterday that would put the ruling on hold until the appeals process is completed.

Several experts have predicted that the courts will grant Van Hollen’s request, allowing school districts to maintain the shield of Act 10 while the lawyers sort this mess out.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

With any luck, that means there will be no old fashioned collective bargaining in Madison any time soon.