Hart County could soon join several other Kentucky counties in passing a local law banning mandatory union membership. The Bowling Green Daily News reports Magistrate Gary Gardner says the court unanimously approved the first reading of the so-called "right-to-work" ordinance Dec. 1. The fiscal court will vote on a second reading Dec. 15.
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.