Fight Over Indiana Right-to-Work Moves to Court With New Union Lawsuit

Reports are surfacing this afternoon that the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 has filed a complaint in federal court challenging Indiana’s new right-to-work law on constitutional grounds, claiming the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by treating similar classes of workers differently. The Associated Press is reporting that the suit names Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Attorney General Greg Zoeller, and Labor Commissioner Lori Torres as defendants.

The U.S. Supreme Court has not been sympathetic to equal protection arguments in previous cases challenging state right-to-work laws, so it is not clear whether the suit will ultimately have any impact in preventing right-to-work from continuing in Indiana.

IndyStar – Union suing to block Indiana right-to-work law

NWI Times – Union suing to block Indiana right-to-work law

Update: A copy of the complaint can be downloaded here.