An employee who paid “fair share” union fees under protest is not entitled to damages to refund any of the money he paid the union, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has held. Janus v. Am. Fed’n of State, No. 19-1553 (Nov. 4, 2019). The Court explained fair share fees were
Right-To-Work
Labor Board Upholds Employers’ Right to Provide Truthful Information about Right to Work Laws
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has dismissed a complaint against a Wisconsin employer that published a document informing employees of their right to stop paying union dues under Wisconsin’s right to work law. Metalcraft of Mayville, 367 NLRB No. 116 (Apr. 17, 2019).
Continue Reading Labor Board Upholds Employers’ Right to Provide Truthful Information about Right to Work Laws
NLRA Preempts Municipality’s Right-to-Work Ordinance, Seventh Circuit Holds
While the National Labor Relations Act allows states to enact right-to-work laws, it does not authorize local municipalities to do so, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in Chicago, has held. I.U.O.E. Local 399 v. Village of Lincolnshire, No. 17-1300 & 17-1325 (7th Cir. Sept. 28, 2018).
This decision is…
Missourians Reject Right-to-Work
Missouri voters have rejected right-to-work. Senate Bill 19, which would have made Missouri the nation’s 28th right-to-work state, was passed by the Missouri legislature on February 2, 2017, and signed into law by then-Governor Eric Greitens. Labor organizations and their supporters gathered enough signatures to keep the law from going into effect until voters …
Kentucky Enacts Right-to-Work Law
By Howard M. Bloom, Suellen Oswald & Philip B. Rosen on
Kentucky has become the 27th state to adopt right-to-work legislation. For more on this development and FAQs about the new law, click here.
Federal Court Paves Way for Local ‘Right to Work’ Laws
Local governments may enact “right to work” laws, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Cincinnati, has held. United Auto Workers v. Hardin County, No. 16-5246 (Nov. 18, 2016). The Court ruled that such a law is not preempted by the National Labor Relations Act. This is the first federal appellate…
Virginia Voters to Decide on Right-to-Work Constitutional Amendment
By Patrick L. Egan & Philip B. Rosen on
Virginia voters will have the opportunity this fall to strengthen the state’s right-to-work laws by adding a constitutional amendment prohibiting mandatory union membership as a condition of employment in the Commonwealth. The amendment would buttress the state’s current right-to-work statute.
On February 24, 2016, Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) approved legislation placing a referendum before voters…
West Virginia Becomes 26th Right-to-Work State
By Howard M. Bloom & Philip B. Rosen on
More than half the states in the United States soon will be “right-to-work” states. Laws in these states give workers in union shops the option to not pay union dues.
On July 1, 2016, West Virginia will become the 26th state to prohibit companies, among other things, from requiring workers to pay union dues…
Michigan Adopts Right-to-Work Law
Posted in Right-To-Work
Despite angry protests at the state capitol, Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder signed a right-to-work statute into law on December 11. Michigan joins 23 other states in exercising the 65-year-old option under the Taft-Hartley amendments to the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit “union security” clauses (in general, clauses that require employees to pay dues to…