Indiana is poised to become the first right-to-work state in more than a decade, as the Republican-controlled state house passed a ban on collecting mandatory fees from workers.

The ban is yet another blow to organized labor in the heavily unionized midwest. The vote came Jan. 26 after weeks of protest by minority Democrats who refused to show up to debate the proposed bill. The measure passed 60-40.

The bill faces little opposition in Indiana's Republican-controlled Senate and could reach Gov. Mitch Daniels' desk shortly before the Feb. 5 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

"This announces, especially in the Rust Belt, that we are open for business here," Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said.

Daniels supports the measure and his signing of the bill would make Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state in the nation.