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A school district in western Wisconsin is punishing teachers who called in sick to protest in Madison.

The Hudson Star-Observer of Hudson, Wis., reports that the Hudson Board of Education voted recently to mete out punishment to teachers who called in sick on Feb. 18 to protest’s Gov. Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill.

Madison protests (photo by Adrian Palomo)

According to the newspaper, suspensions ranged from one to 15 unpaid days of suspension. In addition, all of the teachers disciplined will receive letters of reprimand in their personnel files.

“The suspensions went up based on actions a teacher was believed to have taken,” the story says. “The longer suspensions were for teachers who encouraged colleagues to call in sick and who conducted or discussed union business or talked to the media on district property.”

At the time of the vote, the district could not say exactly how many teachers would be suspended.

The district cancelled classes on Feb. 18 after it couldn’t find enough substitutes to replace teachers protesting in Madison.

Milwaukee Public Schools were also closed on that day due to teacher absences. On the following Monday, schools were closed for Presidents’ Day; classes resumed per usual on Tuesday.

The Budget Repair Bill, now being fought in court, limits teachers’ unions and most other public employee unions in the state to bargaining on wages only (with increases capped at inflation), and makes it more difficult for unions to continue operating.

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