Most of union law intact

 MADISON, Wis. – A federal judge upheld most of Wisconsin’s contentious law curbing collective bargaining rights on Friday, but he sided with unions by overturning two portions of the law that were costly and impeded on a major funding source for the groups.

 One banned public workers from allowing union dues to be automatically withdrawn from their paychecks, while the other required expensive annual elections where all members, not just those voting, would have to support staying organized. Still, the ruling keeps in place the majority of the law championed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

 A coalition of seven unions filed the lawsuit last summer, shortly after the Republican-controlled Legislature approved Walker’s plan following months of bitter debate and protests.

Associated Press