Federal Judge Upholds Construction Workers’ Rights in Idaho
January 17, 2012 A federal judge threw out two anti-worker bills earlier this month that restricted the rights of Idaho construction unions and signatory contractors.The judge, B.Lynn Winmill, ruled that the legislation – the Open Access to Work Act and the Fairness in Contracting Act, both passed last year by the state legislature – violated federal labor law and the right of contractors and local officials to bargain freely. The Open Access to Work Act banned project labor agreements that required union workers as a condition to winning a government contract. Winmill wrote in his ruling that:
The Fairness in Contracting Act prohibited signatory contractors from using union contributions to subsidize wages, a common practice that helps them submit more competitive bids. The Republic newspaper reports:
The Idaho Building and Construction Trades Council filed suit against the state over the laws. The anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors announced it would appeal the decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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