MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Voters in Dane County have overwhelmingly called for a return to collective bargaining between state and local governments and their union employees.

By a 2 to 1 margin Tuesday, voters approved an advisory referendum stating that employees should, “have the right to seek safe working conditions and fair pay through collective bargaining.”

Supporters of the referendum said it would send a strong message to whoever’s elected in the governor’s recall contest in June.

Dane County is the home of state government – and therefore, the home of tens of thousands of state workers. They took pay cuts after most of their bargaining privileges were eliminated last year, and they were ordered to pay more toward their pensions and health care.

Republican Governor Scott Walker said the measures were needed to get rid of a state deficit while avoiding employee layoffs.