The U.S. Supreme Court is slated to make a decision by June that could change labor contracts for millions of Americans whose jobs require them to pay into public sector unions. Based on questions from a majority of the justices, the high court appears ready to deliver a blow to organized labor.
The case was brought by a group of California teachers who object to being forced to pay what is known as agency fees or service fees to unions. The teachers want the court to overturn a 1977 law that allows public unions to collect money from non-members to cover costs of collective bargaining, as long as the money does not go to political causes.
“Unions force me to fund collective bargaining efforts that are harmful to my students, and that’s offensive to me,” said plaintiff Rebecca Friedrichs. “When the unions protect teachers who have become abusive or who are no longer effective in the classroom at the expense of small children, I have a moral dilemma with that.”
Teacher and union member Reagan Duncan was among the protestors who rallied outside the Supreme Court Monday. She made the trip from Vista, California, where she teaches first grade.
“I’m here to advocate for our right to speak out for our kids," she said. “We advocate for better education for our students, a better learning environment for our kids.”
Attorney and San Diego State University management lecturer Dan Eaton said if the court agrees with the plaintiffs, much is at stake.
“There are some estimates that as many as 10 to 15 percent of those who are currently paying these agency fees, but who do not belong to the union, will simply say, 'We're not going to pay these agency fees any more,'" said Eaton. "What does that do? It gives the unions less money, and less money means less political power, and that could have a dramatic consequences at all levels of government."
