Idaho Anti-Union Laws Rejected

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/blogs/Post?id=CityDesk&year=2012&month=01&day=04&basename=idaho-anti-union-laws-rejected&mode=print

Posted by George Prentice on Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Two controversial measures targeted at unions, passed by the 2011 Idaho Legislature, have been shot down by U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. The Associated Press reports today that Winmill rejected both laws, scoring a big win for Idaho building and construction unions.

The so-called Open Access to Work Act banned labor agreements that would have required contractors to use union workers as a condition for government construction jobs.

"The act skews those forces by robbing unions of the opportunity to even seek a project labor agreement on a public works project," wrote Winmill.

The so-called Fairness in Contract Act would have prohibited unions from including union dues when submitting competitive bids. According to the AP, Winmill said the Act was invalid because it would bar programs protected under the National Labor Relations Act.

Last year, the Idaho Attorney General's Office advised lawmakers that they would probably lose in court when unions challenged the laws' viability.

[gratuitous]

1. They were told they'd lose in the court, and they lost

I wonder if any of these stalwart defenders of freedom in the Idaho Legislature will offer to pay the people of the State of Idaho back for all the time spent by the Attorney General's office in trying to defend this indefensible measure? Or don't they acknowledge any personal responsibility for what they themselves did against the advice of they attorneys?

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Election day is our only recourse

after that there is No accountability ,look at what ShrubCo did.

[IDemo]

5. Don't hold your breath

I laugh out loud every time I read someone calling the Texas statehouse the nuttiest in the nation. They haven't experienced nuttiness until they've witnessed the Idaho Legislature.

Winmill will be called an activist judge (not for the first time, or the fourth) by the usual yayhoos. It'll be a pleasure to watch.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Kick

[Spazito]

4. That's good news!

I hope more and more anti-union legislation goes down in defeat.

[Stuart G]

6. Thanks For Posting, k and r..nt