Skip to main content

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more