Image of nurses' hands at computer keyboard

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) signed anti-union legislation Wednesday that will turn the manufacturing-heavy Indiana into a right-to-work state.

Right-to-work legislation bans unions from requiring members from paying union dues, a move pro-labor critics of the legislation characterize as “union-busting.” Indiana is the 23rd state to pass such legislation, but the first to do it since Oklahoma passed similar legislation 10 years ago. Opponents of the law fear Daniels’ move will inspire other states to do the same.

The right-to-work legislation is good news for long-term care providers that have been hit by a series of pro-union appointments and decisions at the federal level recent months, the most recent being President Obama’s appointment of two pro-labor appointments to the National Labor Relations board. Long-term care has increasingly been a target for unionization.