February 9, 2016
Last month the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Frederichs v. California Teachers Association, a case that could end forced fair share fees for all public employees across the country.
Rebecca Frederichs, a public school teacher in California, along with 10 other public school teachers who joined the suit, argued that forced union fees that go toward collective bargaining violate the First Amendment because how government entities (public employers) choose to allocate resources is inherently political.
If the Court decides favorably, unions will no longer be able to force public employees to pay a fair share fee as a condition of employment, a practice currently illegal in 25 states.
A ruling in favor of Frederichs will not end collective bargaining or unions, but allow educators, and all public sector employees, more freedom to opt out of union membership and forced financial support of unions completely, if they do not agree with the union’s collective bargaining, political endorsements, or organizational practices, to name just a few.
The Keystone Teachers Association is eager for a positive ruling from the High Court, which is expected sometime in June.
