SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico is prohibiting local governments from enacting right-to-work ordinances that prevent employees from being required to join a union or pay union fees.
Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday signed legislation that asserts the state’s exclusive jurisdiction over union security agreements.
Ordinances have been approved by several counties in New Mexico that prevent employees from being required to join a union or pay related fees. Union leaders contend the local ordinances created confusion and undermined the labor groups.
Republican legislators and several Senate Democrats opposed the legislation from Reps. Daymon Ely of Corrales and Andrea Romero of Santa Fe.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining.
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