Union Lawsuit Claims Michigan Right-To-Work Law Is Unconstitutional

Several labor unions filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday saying a Michigan law banning compulsory union membership for private sector employees violates the U.S. Constitution. The right-to-work law, which takes effect in late March, contains provisions that go "well beyond" the limits of federal law, said Andrew Nickelhoff, an attorney for the Michigan AFL-CIO, one of the unions that filed the lawsuit.

For example, the Michigan law allows for a $500 civil fine and the possibility of criminal liability for violators, which is not done under the National Labor Relations Act, he said.