A group of labor unions is challenging Lincolnshire's right-to-work ordinance in federal court. 

Three AFL-CIO affiliates are among the four trade unions that filed suit against Lincolnshire and village officials last week. The unions are seeking to block the right-to-work ordinance, arguing that it runs afoul of the National Labor Relations Act and Labor Management Relations Act. 

Lincolnshire's ordinance, approved in December, covers private companies in the village. Workers, under the measure, can opt out of automatic payroll deductions for union dues.

Critics say right-to-work policies are designed to control and weaken labor unions, which rely on membership dues for activities such as funding lengthy contract negotiations, supporting political candidates and representing workers in unfair termination cases.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed the idea of letting local Illinois communities enact their own right-to-work policies as part of his so-called "turnaround agenda." Rauner and other proponents contend that right-to-work zones would help boost job creation and the state's economy.

Lincolnshire formally endorsed Rauner's turnaround agenda in May.