8-12-13 More Teachers being Fired Courtesy of Act 10

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — School districts appear to be firing more teachers in the three years since new collective bargaining laws did away with job protections granted by union contracts. 

An Oshkosh Northwestern Media report says no one tracks how many teachers are let go. But the state's teachers' union and school board association both report a noticeable increase in terminations and non-renewals of contracts. 

Union contracts used to require school boards to have proof of wrongdoing before firing a teacher, with an arbiter reviewing the case. But those job protections were dissolved under Act 10, the law that restricted collective bargaining for most public employees. 

Supporters of Act 10 say it prevents unions from blocking the firing of bad teachers. Opponents say it opens the door to discrimination and arbitrary firings.