Free Speech Implodes Forced Union Fees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In another major victory for free speech, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today in Janus v. AFSCME that nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions. Those fees, approved by the court in the 1977 case Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, cover collective bargaining costs, such as contract negotiations for better wages, but are meant to exclude political advocacy. However, the unions were also using them to support political activity, and employees were forced to support ideologies that were against their sincerely held beliefs. Today, the Court reversed the Abood case and struck down forced union fees for public sector unions.