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Seventh Circuit Hears Arguments in Right to Work Zone Case


Yesterday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on the legality of right to work zones in Illinois, specifically an effort by the village of Lincolnshire to implement a right to work zone in its town a few years ago.  That right to work zone was challenged by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and 399, the Chicagoland Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity after Lincolnshire passed the right to work zone ordinance in 2015.  After a Circuit Judge ruled in favor of the unions last year, the appeal was taken to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  While I would not say that yesterday’s arguments gave a nod, either way, as to which way the Court will rule, it would not surprise me to see the Circuit Judeg’s ruling upheld.  The question would then turn to whether the Supreme Court would take up an appeal at that point.

For readers that do not recall, right to work laws/ordinances prohibit union membership as a condition of employment and also bar non-union members from being required to pay ‘agency fees’/‘fair share fees’ to the union.  Critics of right to work laws have long argued that these laws allow non-union employees to have free representation in the collective bargaining process without having to pay for union representation.  Further, critics of these laws have argued it is an unlawful attempt to further weaken labor unions in the country (on the theory that if employees can reap the benefits of union representation, they would have no need to actually join a union...which would lead to further lowered union membership and union dues across the country).

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican, has long advocated for right to work zones in the state, given that a statewide right to work bill is likely a far ways off.  In en effort to circumvent Democrats in the state that could block a statewide bill, Governor Rauner and others, have seen right to work zones as one avenue to promote business in the state (and limit the influence of unions in the workplace).


For additional information:  https://www.google.com/amp/www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/appellate-court-hears-arguments-in-municipal-right-to-work-case/article_bd9ebb6e-a511-5f85-b280-3d36a2d87d13.amp.html

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