* None of the proponents on the village board spoke in favor, yet they passed it anyway. Telling…

Lincolnshire has become the first town in the Chicago area to establish itself as a right-to-work zone, a move critics have assailed as anti-union. […]

To create the zone, the village board approved an ordinance preventing local employers from requiring workers to pay union dues with payroll deductions. […]

Trustee Mara Grujanac cast the lone dissenting vote after saying the policy didn’t belong in Lincolnshire. None of the five trustees who voted for the plan commented. […]

“This isn’t about unions,” said [Ted Dabrowski, vice president and spokesman for the Illinois Policy Institute], whose group created a model ordinance Lincolnshire officials used to draft their own. “It’s about individual freedoms. It’s also about the right to not join a union.”

The ordinance applies only to private employers.

* More…

Lincolnshire is not by any means a union town. With the exception of some of those working in the village’s corporate center and hotels, most of its 25,000 workers don’t belong to a union.

“It gives workers the choice to decide whether a union serves their interests. If it does they’re free to support it. But if it doesn’t they don’t have to have money coming out of their paycheck,” said Jacob Huebert, Illinois Policy Insitute.

The Illinois Policy Institute says these so-called right-to-work laws promote job growth. Their model is the one Lincolnshire used to draft their ordinance. Twenty five states including Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan already have right-to-work laws on their books. […]

(T)here is a question of legality surrounding and it will likely be challenged in federal court. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is among those who say that local municipalities are not able to legally approve right-to-work laws.

*** UPDATE *** From Oswego Willy in comments…

Of all the towns, cities, counties to pass this, also so cowardly with not a soul speaking for it…

… Susana Mendoza notes… Leslie Munger’s hometown passes RTW.

Gee, if I’m going to frame my opponent as a Bruce Rauner “Raunerite” and gin up Unions, including trade unions, wouldn’t a great way to do that is have your opponent’s hometown as the “test case” for RTW “zones”.

The next move by Mendoza?

That’s easy;

“Ask Lesile Munger about Right to Work passed in her hometown. Ask her if she approves?”

Geez Louise, the Labor Movement now has a question that has to be answered. Can’t skirt your hometown.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Munger campaign…

Comptroller Munger is focused on addressing the unprecedented challenges created by the ongoing budget impasse. She has not had the time to wade into Village Board matters in her hometown.

Still, it is fascinating that Clerk Mendoza would take up this argument. As a City of Chicago elected official, she might want to spend more time addressing the many challenges facing her hometown and constituents. To get the conversation started, we offer the questions below:

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza support Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget, which included more than $755 million in new fees and taxes on Chicago residents?

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza agree with the City Council and Mayor Emanuel passing the largest property tax increase in the city’s history?

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza side with the Chicago Teachers Union in its vote to strike?

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza support the Chicago Teachers Union in its effort to impose new taxes on banks and financial institutions to close a half-billion budget gap at Chicago Public Schools?

Should Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown step down given the ongoing FBI investigation into her dealings?

As Chicago City Clerk, Susana Mendoza is responsible for keeping City Council minutes and ensuring that city government is transparent in its dealings. Why didn’t she tell the public after the Council voted on a $5 million settlement with Laquan McDonald’s family?

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza believe Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez should resign?

Does Chicago City Clerk Mendoza support recently-introduced legislation that would allow Chicago to recall the Mayor?