WINNING THE WAR ON WAGES:

"Forced union dues are a critical cog in the corrupt bargain that is crushing taxpayers," Mr. Rauner said. "An employee who is forced to pay unfair share dues is being forced to fund political activity with which they disagree. That is a clear violation of First Amendment rights -- and something that, as governor, I am duty bound to correct."

Mr. Rauner, a former private equity manager who became the state's first Republican governor in more than a decade, is following other Republican governors in the Midwest who have aggressively taken on public sector unions in recent years.

Those include Mitch Daniels of Indiana, who ended collective bargaining by state workers by executive order; Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who led efforts to cut collective bargaining rights for most public employees; and Rick Snyder of Michigan, who signed legislation ending the requirement that all workers in unionized workplaces pay union dues.

Follow @brothersjudd