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What I've Been Reading This Week: Janus v. AFSCME Edition


Early next week, the United States Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, one of the most closely watched cases before the Court this term.  I was actually talking with a colleague about this case yesterday and the importance it has for labor and unions long term.  For readers that might have forgotten about this case, the Court will consider whether workers that do not join a union can be forced to pay agency fees (a/k/a "fair share" fees) to cover the costs of having the union represent them.

While unions are legally required to represent all employees in a bargaining unit (including those employees that are not a part of a union), unions have long argued that these agency fees are vital.  Without these agency fees, unions have pointed out that employees would have no incentive to join a union (and pay union dues) but could instead remain non-union members and still enjoy the benefits of having the union represent them without having to pay anything.  Critics of these agency fees have countered that forcing non-union members to pay agency fees is a violation of the Constitution.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Janus v. AFSCME:  What Exactly is This Case About

For those needing a refresher about the background of Janus v. AFSCME and what exactly is in dispute, look no further.  Dave Jamieson over at The Huffington Post offers a concise background of the facts of the case and provides a few thoughts on what an adverse ruling for unions could mean for them.  Given that approximately only 10.7% of the U.S. workforce belongs to a union, a Supreme Court decision in favor of Janus could put unions in a further tenuous position.  For unions, a victory in this case could be pivotal for their continued long term survival.


Who Is Funding The Fight Against Agency Fees In Janus v. AFSCME?

The Economic Policy Institute published a report on Wednesday that identified who exactly is funding the fight against agency fees in the Janus v. AFSCME case and pinpointed several powerful foundations which appear to be leading the charge.  I highlight this report not just to show readers how much these groups are invested in the effort to weaken unions via these cases, but also in part because this report does a great job highlighting the relevant Supreme Court cases that came before Janus.  For those looking for a bit of background on how we got to this point, this article is a good place to start.

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