Catherwood LibraryILR School

The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments in a landmark case Monday that could decide the future of public sector unions across the country. The case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, involves a California teacher who claims her First Amendment rights are violated by having to pay union dues, even though she isn't a member of the union. If the Court rules for the plaintiff, it would mean the "fair share" fees public sector unions charge for both member and non-union employees in a workplace are unconstitutional, and in effect establish so called "right to work" rules for all public sector employees in the United States. With public and private sector union membership and influence in decline nationwide, the country's largest unions have rushed to support the CTA in the case, filing amicus briefs and providing financial support for its defense. Support for the plaintiff has centered around the argument that "fair share" rules hurt small business and represent government overreach.