Reconsidering Abood v. Detroit Board of Education
The Court Looks at Public-Sector Union Fees
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2015, 7.2 million employees in the public sector belong to a union, with more than 700,000 additional government employees being represented by a union without belonging to the union. At least a significant portion of the latter employees is mandated to pay dues to a union pursuant to laws in more than 20 states authorizing “fair-share provisions” or “agency-shop agreements.” This arrangement entitles the union to levy a fee on employees who are not union members, but who are nevertheless represented by the union as a condition of employment. The primary…
