Sheriff can't fire food-service workers, state high court rules
Source: By Ryan J. Foley, The Associated Press (WI), June 14, 2007
A sheriff’s constitutional powers to run a jail do not include the right to hire and fire employees who feed inmates, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today. In a 4-3 decision (.pdf), the court said a public employees’ union can challenge Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken’s decision to lay off its workers and privatize food service at the jail.
….. The decision means the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union can file a complaint with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission over the matter.