Rauner vetoes protection of union-employer agreement details

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation he says would restrict workers in deciding whether to join a union.

The Republican's veto message Friday said the legislation would economically damage local governments by "removing their freedom to determine the best interests" of workers and employers.

The plan would ensure that only the General Assembly could restrict so-called union security agreements. They are deals between employers and unions which set rules on the extent to which a union may compel an employee to join and whether the employer will collect fees on the union's behalf.

The veto comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an Illinois case over whether non-union members who enjoy union benefits should have to pay "fair-share" fees to support union operations.