A local labor union alleged Monday Gov. Scott Walker is breaking the law by refusing to negotiate contracts.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local Council 24 filed unfair labor practice charges against Walker. The union claims Walker has not attempted to bargain or negotiate contracts with them since taking office.

“Instead of trying to find real solutions to the challenges facing the state, the governor is attempting to dictate terms,” Council 24 Director Marty Beil said in a statement. “This not only is ineffective, it’s against the law.”

Wisconsin statutes provide public employees with the right to bargain collectively. Interfering with or restraining employees from exercising these rights is an unfair labor practice, according to the charges AFSCME Local Council 24 filed against Walker.

The union’s collective bargaining authority would be limited if the governor’s budget repair bill were to go into effect, voiding the lawsuit.

Until the bill is passed, however, Walker is obligated to negotiate with the unions under the current law, said William Jones, associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin.

“The law provides employees with the opportunity to vote in order to designate a union to represent them,” Jones said. “If a majority of voters do this, it is against the law [for the governor] to not negotiate with them.”

Over the past two weeks during the rallies, Walker has said the unions do not want to negotiate with him, citing union-endorsed signs at the Capitol protesting making any concessions to the governor.

Several unions have still publicly announced they are willing to make compromises in order to keep their collective bargaining rights.

“I believe both Mary Bell [from the Wisconsin Education Association Council] and Marty Beil [from AFSCME] have announced they are willing to make concessions,” Wisconsin Professional Police Association spokesperson James Palmer said.

Those unions have told Walker they would give up retirement contributions and health insurance premium contributions, Palmer added.

Last December, 16 of the 19 state unions agreed to the contracts negotiated with former Gov. Jim Doyle, which contained furlough days, a freeze on wages and an increase in contributions toward pensions and health care premiums.

Walker’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

The court case for the suit has not been scheduled.