1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	 proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article I, by adding a 
1.3 	section; establishing a freedom of employment.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
 1.6 	An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the 
1.7 	amendment is adopted, a section shall be added to article I, to read:

1.8 	Sec. 18. (a) No person shall be required as a condition of obtaining or continuing 
1.9 	employment to: (1) resign or refrain from membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or 
1.10 	voluntary financial support of a labor organization; (2) become or remain a member of a 
1.11 	labor organization; (3) pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or 
1.12 	amount, or provide anything else of value, to a labor organization; or (4) pay to any charity 
1.13 	or other third party an amount equivalent to, or a portion of, dues, fees, assessments, 
1.14 	or other charges required of members of a labor organization. An agreement, contract, 
1.15 	understanding, or practice between a labor organization and an employer that takes force 
1.16 	or is extended or renewed after adoption of this section and that violates this section 
1.17 	is unlawful and unenforceable.
1.18 	(b) No law, rule, order, or ordinance of the state of Minnesota or any of its 
1.19 	departments or political subdivisions shall require or allow for the withholding of any 
1.20 	amount from employee compensation for payment of dues, fees, assessments, or other 
1.21 	charges of any kind required of members of a labor organization.
1.22 	(c) A person who suffers an injury or a threatened injury under this section may 
1.23 	bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or both. In addition, a court shall 
1.24 	award a prevailing plaintiff costs and reasonable attorney fees. As used in this section, 
2.1 	"labor organization" means any agency, union, employee representation committee, or 
2.2 	organization of any kind that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with 
2.3 	employers concerning wages, rates of pay, hours of work, other conditions of employment, 
2.4 	or other forms of compensation.
2.5 	(d) If any part of this section is found to be in conflict with the United States 
2.6 	Constitution or federal law, the section shall be implemented to the maximum extent that 
2.7 	the United States Constitution and federal law permit. Any provision held invalid or 
2.8 	inoperative is severable from the remaining portions of this section.

2.9 	Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
 2.10 	The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2012 general 
2.11 	election. The question submitted must be:
2.12 	"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to guarantee all citizens the 
2.13 	individual freedom to decide to join or not join a labor union, and to pay or not pay dues 
2.14 	to a labor union?"

2.15		Yes 
........		
2.16		No ........"