Right-to-Work Law Blocked by Court in Idaho
The Idaho Legislature quickly overrode Gov. John V. Evans’ veto Thursday and enacted a right-to-work law banning union membership as a condition of employment, but labor leaders obtained a court order blocking its implementation.
The House voted 65 to 18 to enact the law within hours of Evans’ veto, and the Senate voted 28 to 14 to follow suit. A two-thirds majority was needed to override the veto.
The bill carried an emergency clause that would have put it into effect immediately, making Idaho the 21st state to enact a right-to-work law and the first to do so since the 1970s.
But District Judge George Hargraves, at the request of labor leaders, issued a temporary injunction to block the emergency clause.
Labor leaders convinced Hargraves that the emergency clause, if not blocked, would thwart the people’s right to a referendum on all laws passed by the Legislature.
The law bans businesses from entering into closed-shop agreements with unions.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
