We mentioned on Jan 10th that Kentucky wasted no time passing right to work legislation. Missouri and New Hampshire are cuing up to follow Kentucky. Wisconsin has been fighting off challenges to its recently enacted right-to-work law, and in December one of the law’s provisions met a legal challenge it has yet to surmount. At issue was the more generous dues check off provision. Wisconsin’s law provides that an employee is permitted to revoke wage deduction authorization for union dues at any time after providing employer 30 days’ written notice. Federal regulations under the Labor Management Relations Act permits unions to bargain for dues checkoff authorizations that are irrevocable for one year. Judge William Conley of the Western District of Wisconsin found that the LMRA preempted the state law. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is considering appealing the ruling.
