Local right-to-work laws challenged in federal court

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The national battle over compulsory labor union dues landed in a Kentucky federal courthouse on Tuesday as a handful of unions tried to convince a judge to throw out a series of local laws designed to end closed shops.

States have had the ability to outlaw mandatory union dues as a condition of employment for decades. But the question of whether local governments can do the same has not been fully decided.

An attorney for the labor unions said while the federal government has allowed states to pass laws banning mandatory union dues, it has not allowed local governments to do the same. An attorney for Hardin County argued that county governments are empowered by the state and can act on their behalf.

U.S. District Judge David Hale did not give a timeframe for making a decision.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.