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Updated: Judge Issues An Injunction to Halt West Virginia Right to Work Law


Earlier this month, a judge in West Virginia issued an injunction which halted the implementation of right to work in the state.  Readers might remember that after West Virginia became the 20th right to work state this year, several labor unions filed suit to block the implementation of this law.  At this time, the law which went into effect on July 1, has been halted.

At the hearing, representatives of the unions argued against the right to work law and cited a projected loss of 20% of union workers, lower income rates, and an increase in fatal accidents as a direct result of the law.  On the other side, the argument was made that there was no evidence that these trends would carry over into West Virginia.  

In any event, the judge said representatives of the unions had done enough to prove the right to work law could harm workers.  Therefore, the judge found an injunction to be proper.  I think it goes without saying that this dispute is far from over.  This has been one of the more contentious right to work disputes in recent memory...something tells me that regardless of what happens here, this matter will be appealed.



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