Lower Court Holding
Decision of the Washington State Supreme Court
The Washington Educational Association (WEA) is theexclusive bargaining agent for approximately 70,000 Washington Stateeducational employees. Membership in WEA is voluntary. However, both membersand nonmembers must contribute to WEA for the costs related to collectivebargaining. Per statute, members pay dues to the union; nonmembers pay agencyshop fees, which are equivalent to member dues. A portionof members’ dues goes to support political and ideological causes, which areunrelated to the union’s collective bargaining activities on behalf of allemployees. These expenses are typically called nonchargeable expenses.Nonmembers who do not wish to support these nonchargeable activities may obtaina rebate of the portion of their…
