Between 70 and 100 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh faculty, students and staff and community members gathered at Polk Library Mall Friday for a noon-hour rally in opposition to the elimination of bargaining rights for public state workers.

The brief rally was organized independent of the University, sponsored by College Democrats.

The rally followed another whirlwind 48 hours at Wisconsin’s Capitol. State Senate and State Assembly passage of a measure eliminating most collective bargaining rights for public workers on Wednesday and Thursday led to Friday’s signing of the bill by Governor Scott Walker.

The Governor’s Budget Repair Bill, minus the collective bargaining changes, and the proposed 2011 to 2013 biennial budget are still working through the state legislature.

Read more:

• Read Chancellor Richard Wells’ statement on the budget debate, relevant data and civility.
• UWO Faculty Senate’s budget repair bill statement.
• Senate of Academic Staff budget repair bill statement.
• View a Snapshots Gallery of a Feb. 17 campus rally.