The Supreme Court’s decision that public-sector unions cannot require union fees from government workers has unions understandably upset, but others are pleased.
On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court issued its long-awaited ruling in Janus vs. AFSCME.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court justices rules that public-sector workers could not be required to pay union “agency fees” as a condition of employment.
“The State’s extraction of agency fees from nonconsenting public-sector employees violates the First Amendment,” the Court’s majority ruled. “Forcing free and independent individuals to endorse ideas they find objectionable raises serious First Amendment concerns.”
Expectedly, labor unions and their allies on the Left are upset, calling the decision an “attack on working people.”
BREAKING: The Supreme Court just joined the corporate attack on working people, but we won't sit quietly. #janus Join us: https://t.co/jbdot5AHYV pic.twitter.com/IwcvFZJDFW
— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 27, 2018
We have never depended on any politician or judge to decide our fate, and we aren't about to start now. #Janus pic.twitter.com/hkBTNOk5vN
— Richard L. Trumka (@RichardTrumka) June 27, 2018
We're ready to continue the fight for workers' rights in our state. Let's build a stronger union together. https://t.co/ZMFMSsfPkx #1u #FreedomtoJoin
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) June 27, 2018
Although the Daily Kos, a Marxist website, called the Court’s decision “an attack on worker power and on unions as institutions that anchor a great deal of the progressive movement,” not all see the Court’s decision with hostility, however.
Mark Janus, the plaintiff in the case stated:
“I’m thrilled that the Supreme Court has restored not only my First Amendment rights, but the rights of millions of other government workers across the country. Across the country, so many of us have been forced to pay for political speech and policy positions with which we disagree, just so we can keep our jobs. This is a victory for all of us. The right to say ‘no’ to a union is just as important as the right to say ‘yes.’ Finally our rights have been restored.”
“This landmark case restores the First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of association to more than 5 million public school teachers, first responders and other government workers across the country,” stated the National Right-To-Work Legal Defense Foundation, the organization that represented Janus in the case.
The American Association of Educators issued a press release praising the ruling, stating that the decision was “a major victory for teacher freedom.”
“AAE’s members have been vocal about the indignity of forced unionism and we celebrate today’s ruling with them,” AAE’s Executive Vice President Colin Sharkey stated. “Teachers will now be able to teach without having to give part of their paycheck to a union they do not wish to support.”
Note to @AFLCIO:
Giving individuals the freedom to choose to support an organization (or not) is NOT and "attack on working people," it is an affirmation of individual rights–as opposed to collectivism. https://t.co/Q5f344VNlf
— The American Workplace (@WorkPlaceRpt) June 27, 2018
“The Supreme Court’s decision in Janus is a victory for the free speech of public employees everywhere, who will no longer be compelled to pay union dues should they choose not to,” stated Rick Manning, President of Americans for Limited Government. “Although this decision affected state and local public employees, the Trump administration should immediately remind federal employees of their liberty to opt out of union membership, providing them with the paperwork so that they can exercise their constitutional rights.”
Today the Supreme Court in #Janus gave every public sector worker in America back their First Amendment rights and freedom of association.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 27, 2018
Even President Donald Trump has weighed in on the SCOTUS decision:
Supreme Court rules in favor of non-union workers who are now, as an example, able to support a candidate of his or her choice without having those who control the Union deciding for them. Big loss for the coffers of the Democrats!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018
