Indiana union petitions state Supreme Court to rule Right to Work unconstitutional

As Right to Work battles continue to wage across the country, labor supporters in Indiana are looking at a decisive victory if the state Supreme Court rules in their favor.

Following the Sept. 5 ruling by Lake Superior Judge John Sedia that portions of the state’s 2012  Right to Work legislation was unconstitutional, the IUOE labor union’s Local 150 branch has submitted a 52-page written argument that urges the Indiana Supreme Court to uphold the lower court’s ruling.

With the announcement, Right to Work opponents everywhere have shown their support for the Indiana union.

In the written argument submitted earlier this month, the “NWI Times” reports the union claims that Judge Sedia’s ruling was correct and that the Supreme Court should restore their ability to charge “fair share” fees to nonmembers for their services.

“Provided unions could collect fair share fees, the statute would not force unions to perform their particular services-representational services-entirely for free,” said union attorney, Dale Pierson. “If unions are not forced to perform services for free, then the statute would no longer violate…the Indiana Constitution.”

The previous ruling that declared the Right to Work law unconstitutional is currently suspended while the decision is under appeal, however the high court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case later this year.

While labor supporters await the decision, Ohio Right to Work supporters are being proactive in their approach.

Opponents of the recent Ohio “Workplace Freedom” bills contend that the initiative’s true purpose is to kill unions and worker protections, ultimately leading to a weaker middle class.

By stripping workers of their rights and freedoms, business owners would be free to lower worker pay, reduce worker benefits and ignore worker rights.

Whether Republicans utilize “Paycheck Protection,” “Workplace Freedom,” or other Right to Work tactics, opponents have remained dedicated to ensuring the voting public knows the underlying nature behind the GOP’s divisive agenda.

For more information about Right to Work in Ohio, please visit www.protectohiosmiddleclass.org.