Catherwood LibraryILR School

On Thursday the Supreme Court decided to revisit the debate about whether workers who object to paying union dues have the right to do so under free speech. A similar case last year yielded a 4-4 deadlock between the justices. The now Republican-controlled supreme court could inflict a great deal of economic hardship on public sector unions if they decide to undo a 40-year-old precedent that allows unions to collect fees from all employees covered under a public sector union—regardless of whether or not they support the union—in order to cover costs associated with contract negotiations. The constitutionality of this 1977 decision will be revisited in March when the high court hears a case involving Illinois state employee Mark Janus who claims that his first amendment rights were violated when he was forced to pay dues despite his objection to the union.