By: Associated Press//October 15, 2013//
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A state appeals court has erased an order forcing the city of Green Bay and Brown County to honor their police’s existing health care plans.
Unions representing Green Bay police and Brown County deputies filed a lawsuit in 2011 seeking to clarify whether state law bars municipalities from negotiating police’s health care plans. A judge ruled such negotiations are prohibited but ordered the city and county to continue using their existing health plans until they implement new ones.
The 3rd District Court of Appeals nixed the order Tuesday, saying the unions didn’t show how they’d be harmed if the municipalities didn’t honor the plans.
The unions’ attorney called the decision unfortunate and it’s unclear what the municipalities might do now. City and county attorneys didn’t immediately return messages.