A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Idaho's so-called "right-to-work" law.
The Times-News reports that U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge on Monday granted the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the law is not unconstitutional.
Idaho is one of 26 states with so-called "right-to-work" laws, which forbid requiring union membership as a condition of employment. The lawsuit argued that it's unconstitutional to require unions to spend money and time representing non-members, while also forbidding any fees.
The union that filed the lawsuit is based in Spokane but represents a locomotive plant in Boise with 400 workers. According to the lawsuit, just 32 percent of the workers at MotivePower are dues-paying union members, but the union still negotiates contracts for all 400 employees.