Hart County Could Join Right To Work Effort

Hart County could soon join several other Kentucky counties in passing a local law banning mandatory union membership.

According to Hart County District 1 Magistrate Gary Gardner, the court unanimously approved the first reading of the so-called right-to-work ordinance on December 1. The fiscal court will vote on a second reading December 15, and if passed again, the legislation will become law.

Gardner said he thinks the magistrates and Hart County Judge-Executive Terry Martin, who also voted, agree on the issue because they believe the county needs a right-to-work law. Kentucky is the only southern state that doesn’t have a right-to-work law, which prohibits companies from requiring employees to join a labor union.

In 2014, Warren County became the only local government in the country to pass such a law. Eleven other counties, including Simpson, Butler and Logan, soon followed.

Kentucky’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has blocked a right-to-work law at the state level. But Republicans will have a majority when the legislature convenes in January.