Right-to-work law was briefly discussed during Fleming County Fiscal Court on Tuesday (Jan. 13).
Right-to-work law prohibits unions from requiring union membership and dues as a condition of employment.
Kentucky does not currently have a statewide right-to-work law but legislators may consider one during the General Assembly session this year. Some counties and cities have enacted their own right-to-work law.
"That's the way I understand it," Fleming County Judge-Executive Larry Foxworthy said. "I don't really know as much about it as I would like to know, so I think discussing was a little premature, but we are looking into it to see what options may be before us."
Foxworthy said five counties in Kentucky have passed their own versions of right-to-work law. Those counties include Warren, Hardin, Fulton, Simpson and Todd.
Hardin County is the most recent to pass such a law, but it is already being challenged.
"This is an issue that will be going up to the courts," Foxworthy said. "They're going to discuss whether or not it is legal for counties to pass their own right-to-work law. I've heard that it is legal and I've heard that it isn't, so we'll have to see what the courts decide."
Also during fiscal court meeting, a concerned citizen, Donald Cristman, spoke in opposition of the law.
"I belonged to a wonderful union," he said. "We pay dues; sometimes more than we want. We don't need a law that says we're right-to-work. We should be helping a person to have better rights, that’s what a union does. I would hope this court would not do something that would hurt American labor."
Foxworthy said he is going to research the law and all the options and will hold a public meeting in order to get feedback from the citizens of Fleming County.
"We want to know what the public thinks about something like this," he said. "I'd like to have their feedback before we consider it."
Foxworthy said he is unsure when the meeting will be held, but will keep the public informed.
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