Research assistants at UW System campuses would form unions by signing authorization cards rather than using secret ballots under a provision in the new state budget.

This was a change wanted by the Teaching Assistants’ Association, a UW-Madison graduate workers union, said Peter Rickman, president of the group.

"The notion of free and fair elections with secret ballots is a myth," Rickman said.

The way it works for most state of Wisconsin employees is that at least 30 percent of the group in question must sign a petition to hold an election. If a majority of those casting secret ballots want to form a collective bargaining unit, one is formed.

Under the new method in place for research assistants — called a majority sign-up provision — a clear majority of the group must sign a sworn petition to the state that they would like to form a union. If that happens, the union is recognized in the workplace.

Rickman said that the traditional secret ballot method leaves individuals more susceptible to pressure from anti-labor factions.

Read the On Campus blog: www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/oncampus