MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin will no longer be obligated to bargain with its largest public employee unions after the weakened labor groups decided Thursday against seeking recertification votes in the state at the forefront of this year's fight over union rights.

The unions representing about 50,000 workers opted not to file notice of an intention to hold the complicated and expensive votes required by Republican Gov. Scott Walker's sweeping collective bargaining changes passed by lawmakers earlier this year. The unions still will be able to request informal talks with state agencies, but formal negotiations will go by the wayside.

Salary increases no greater than inflation was only item that even remained subject to bargaining under the state's new law, which took effect after months of divisive political wrangling and massive protests at the state Capitol. Unions lost the power to negotiate other issues like workplace safety standards, vacations and health care benefits — all of which had been subject to collective bargaining since Wisconsin became the first state to require it in 1959.