Gov. Walker to sign bill Friday changing Wisconsin civil service

APPLETON — Gov. Scott Walker plans Friday to sign a Republican-backed bill to overhaul Wisconsin's civil service system.

Walker's office says the GOP governor is scheduled to sign the bill into law at Manpower Group in Appleton.

The bill eliminates job applicant exams, centralizes hiring decisions within the governor's administration, does away with bumping rights that have protected more experienced workers from losing their jobs and allows agencies to keep new hires on probation for up to two years.

The bill also defines just cause for termination and lists infractions that would result in immediate firing.

Democrats contend the bill will open the door to cronyism within state agencies. Walker has been outspoken in his support of the proposal.