Thursday, September 28, 2017

Supreme Court to Decide on Power of Public Sector Unions

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Thursday to take up a case that could deal a crippling blow to unions representing millions of the nation's public employees.

The justices will decide whether state government workers who choose not to join a union must still pay a share of union dues to cover the cost of negotiating contracts.

At stake is the future power and financial health of public sector unions in the 22 states where they have a duty to bargain for both members and non-members alike.

The court deadlocked 4-4 last year on the same issue in a case brought by a group of California teachers opposed to paying the fee. But the addition of conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who came to the court in April, could mean a victory this time for the union's opponents.

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