Wisconsin Defenders United
LightNews LightNews
banner
widefendersunited.bsky.social
Wisconsin Defenders United
@widefendersunited.bsky.social
9 followers 10 following 2 posts
Wisconsin Defenders United (WIDU) is a wall-to-wall union representing the employees of the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office.

wisconsindefendersunited.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
widefendersunited.bsky.social
Help support our mission for fair and equitable treatment & sign our petition bringing to light issues concerning the discriminatory treatment of non-attorney staff by the agency here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/fo...
We are writing to bring to light a systemic pattern of discriminatory, unfair, and retributive treatment of multiple agency staff by the managers, supervisors, and leadership of the Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD). For too long, there has been a culture of unfair discipline, punishment, and bullying that has occurred behind closed doors. Often, the subjects of this unfair treatment have been non-attorney staff members who have felt that they have little recourse or ability to protect themselves. One integral function of our union is to provide support for our members in these situations. This has included union representation in disciplinary hearings per employee Weingarten Rights, i.e. the statutorily protected right for an employee to request a representative be alongside them for any meeting they reasonably believe could lead to discipline up to and including dismissal. We have seen and heard the egregious way these HR hearings have progressed. That experience has made clear that HR is not here to protect or help employees but to bully and entrap them. This is unacceptable. We have heard from our non-attorney members that they have been treated differently than their attorney counterparts, including unequal application of workplace rules/policies. Non-attorney staff are often treated with less respect and consideration than attorneys by supervisors, managers, and leadership. They are viewed as less valuable and more disposable than attorneys. We are all, however, part of a single team with a single mission: to zealously represent clients, protect constitutional rights, and advocate for an effective and fair criminal justice system. Our members have also cited specific instances of discrimination based upon employee disability, protected medical status, and gender identity. This discrimination has been experienced by attorneys and non-attorneys alike. Examples include ableism, intrusive and inappropriate questions about private medical information, denial o…
June 6, 2025 at 12:51 AM
widefendersunited.bsky.social
Join us in our fight!
A poster with a light blue background and black text that reads "Who are we? We are the union that represents employees of the Wisconsin State Public Defender" A poster with a light blue background and black text that reads "What do we do? We advocate for the rights, interests, and concerns of our members" A poster with a light blue background and black text that reads "What about Act 10? We still have the legal right to meet & confer, gather as a union, and represent our members" A poster with a light blue background and black text that reads "How do I join? Join by clicking the link in our bio or by going to https://wisconsindefendersunited.com"
May 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM