In its decision in Dukes vs. Wal-Mart, the Supreme Court effectively dismantled much of this country's employment class action jurisprudence -- and shredded a core tool of collective action for workers. For a reminder of what was at stake in this case, here's a re-posting of my interview from this March with Columbia University's Dorian Warren.This conversation took place shortly after the court heard oral arguments in the case decided today.

"It's a targeting of workers' abilities to come together against big companies," says Columbia University professor Dorian Warren of the Walmart v. Dukes case. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides on whether a class-action lawsuit that pits female employees since 1998 against the corporate giant Wal-Mart will be permitted.

Plaintiffs say that the level of gender discrimination is so entrenched that is has become part of the corporate culture. A class-action lawsuit would ensure that workers have the resources and voice to take on an opponent as formidable as the world's largest retail chain. If the decision to block a class-action suit is made, workers will be left with individual lawsuits and few other options.

Also, more GOP maneuvering in Wisconsin: the state GOP, with Koch backing, have issued a FOIA request for the email address of several UW Madison professors. They would like to prove that state email addresses were used for illegal lobbying after professor William Cronon published a blog outlining the role of the conservative think-tank American Legislative Exchange Council in drafting legislation around the country.

This piece was originally posted on March 30, 2011.