The top court in U.S. state of Wisconsin has reinstated a controversial law cutting out most collective bargaining rights of state workers.

The 4-3 ruling Tuesday overturns an earlier decision by a lower court that state officials did not follow correct procedures in publishing the law. The Wisconsin Supreme Court said the judge had overstepped her authority in interpreting the legislature’s operating procedures.

The collective bargaining measure was pushed through the Wisconsin legislature by Republican lawmakers and signed by Governor Scott Walker after weeks of massive protests at the capitol and an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to block the vote by fleeing to another state.

Walker has argued the collective bargaining restrictions are a necessary part of his plan to close Wisconsin’s growing deficit.

Opponents of the law and others like it in other states accuse supporters of attempting to bust the unions for political gain.