The attempt to unionize care workers in Minnesota was further complicated Tuesday by a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court agreed Tuesday to hear the appeal of an Illinois lawsuit over unionizing personal care attendants, a case known as Harris v. Quinn. In Minnesota, an attempt to unionize child care workers has been hung up by the Illinois case.

A Minnesota case, Parrish v. Dayton, which seeks to block the union election in Minnesota, failed in federal court and was appealed. On Sept. 19, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction ordering that the Minnesota election be delayed pending a decision by the Supreme Court on whether it would hear the Illinois case.

The cases deal with similar issues, and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, whose mission is to "eliminate coercive union power," is providing legal services in both suits.

Bill Messenger, an attorney for the foundation who has worked on the cases, said it is not known yet whether the injunction in the Minnesota case will be lengthened while the Supreme Court hears the Illinois case.