From the Associated Press:Union members are asking a federal judge to block Indiana's new right-to-work law. International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 says a suit filed today in U.S. District Court in Hammond that the right-to-work law violates the federal and state constitutions. The suit names Gov. Mitch Daniels, Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Labor Commissioner Lori Torres. The union says in a news release that the law violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by treating similar classes of workers differently and violates Indiana's constitution by requiring the union to provide a service without compensation. The union also says the right-to-work law conflicts with federal law. Daniels signed the right-to-work legislation into law last month over the objections of Democrats and union members. It prohibits the collection of mandatory union representation fees.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
