Judge Strikes Down Chicago Suburb's Right-to-Work Ordinance

A federal judge has struck down a right-to-work law in Lincolnshire aimed at organized labor, ruling that federal law preempts the local ordinance.

The Pioneer Press reports that Judge Matthew Kennelly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois wrote in his ruling that only states have the power to enact laws that prohibit union security agreements.

So called "right-to-work" legislation allows people to work for a company in union-protected positions without having to join the union or pay the complete share of union dues.

In 2015, Lincolnshire approved its ordinance, which doesn't apply to public-sector jobs like firefighting or police service.

Kennelly ruled that the municipality lacked the authority to enact its law because the National Labor Relations Act exemption for states and territories didn't apply to Lincolnshire.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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