A key component of Rauner’s anti-union agenda is ruled unconstitutional. No right-to-work in Illinois. A win. | Fred Klonsky

A key component of Rauner’s anti-union agenda is ruled unconstitutional. No right-to-work in Illinois. A win. | Fred Klonsky:

A key component of Rauner’s anti-union agenda is ruled unconstitutional. No right-to-work in Illinois. A win.

A major win in court yesterday. From Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Since becoming Illinois Governor, Bruce Rauner has made local right-to-work laws and state no-union zones a cornerstone of his turnaround agenda.

Yesterday, Saturday, January 7th, Federal Judge Kennelly ruled that Lincolnshire’s attempt to establish a Rauner no-union right-to-work zone was unconstitutional.

A win.

In a decision issued on January 7th, United States District Judge Matthew Kennelly found that the local “right to work” law passed by the Village of Lincolnshire, Illinois in 2015 is pre-empted by federal law, and that only states and territories have the authority to such laws. Local 150 and three other plaintiffs were granted summary judgment, with the court ruling on the merits without need for a full trial.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) permits States and Territories the authority to regulate union security agreements via “right to work” laws. Arguing that local units of government have no authority to pass such laws, four unions filed a federal lawsuit against Lincolnshire in early 2016. The plaintiffs were the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Locals 150 and 399, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters and the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity.

Judge Kennelly concluded that the NLRA “does not permit local subdivisions to regulate union security agreements.” Additionally, Kennelly found that Lincolnshire has no authority under federal law to regulate 

A key component of Rauner’s anti-union agenda is ruled unconstitutional. No right-to-work in Illinois. A win. | Fred Klonsky: