Appeals court strikes down union poster rule

• Posters would have informed workers of their right to form a union
• The rule was adopted by the National Labor Relations Board
• The appeals court blocked implementation until it could decide the case

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has struck down a National Labor Relations Board rule that would have required millions of businesses to put up posters informing workers of their right to form a union.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia says the board went too far in trying to force employers to display the posters or face charges of committing an unfair labor practice.

The ruling is a victory for businesses groups. They sued to block the rule, calling the posters too one-sided in favor of unionization. And it's a blow to labor unions, who hoped the posters would help them boost falling membership.

The rule was supposed to take effect last year, but the appeals court had blocked that from happening until legal questions were resolved.