Union files suit to stop right to work law

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- A labor union is filing a federal lawsuit to prevent Indiana from becoming the 23rd state to enact a "right to work" law, union officials said.

The law, which would prevent workers who are not union members from paying union dues, was signed into law on Feb. 1 after a legislative battle that drew thousands of union protesters, The Indianapolis Star reported.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed the lawsuit Wednesday, naming as defendants Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, state Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Commissioner of the state Department of Labor Lori A. Torres.

"By allowing workers to opt out of paying dues, dues paying members would bear the entire cost of providing representation," the union said.

Zoeller issued a statement saying he intends to strongly defend the law.

James Sweeney, the president and business manager of Local 150 told the Star: "Indiana legislators picked a fight with the middle class when they introduced this law, and when workers are attacked, we fight back."