Judge overturns Illinois governor's order restricting union dues by nonmember state workers

A judge has issued an order requiring Illinois government agencies to immediately reinstate mandatory union dues for nonmembers.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner last month issued an executive order ending the dues, which nonmembers must pay to cover the cost of non-political union activities that benefit all employees.

Friday's order by St. Clair County Associate Judge Christopher Kolker requires the Rauner administration to "remit fair share fees ... pending the resolution of the case" and to transmit "the correct payroll information" regarding gross pay for affected employees to Illinois' comptroller. The order is based on an agreement between the administration and unions.

Unions have filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently overturn Rauner's order.

Illinois AFL-CIO president Michael T. Carrigan says he's pleased fair-share agreements will be honored while the lawsuit proceeds.