Public officials enjoined from dissin' UAW

A state court in Kentucky has issued a permanent injunction barring local officials from interference in any unionization efforts that may take place in the county in the future. A mayor, another county official and the Boyle County Industrial Foundation wrote a letter encouraging employees of a company in bankruptcy to reject a United Auto Worker's [UAW] attempt to organize them. According to this news report, the culprits wrote a letter to employees claiming that unions might cause a company to be unprofitable, and employees might lose their jobs if the union made the company unprofitable. Thats pretty pedestrian stuff. Employers have defended similar comments in NLRB proceedings. The union argued the conduct violated the UAW and its supporters right to freedom of speech and association under the Kentucky Constitution. The court found the statements constituted a threat justifying an injunction. Wow! An ironic result. Hope there is a written opinion.