By: Mia L. McIver, President, UC-AFT
On February 26th, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Janus v. AFSCME. The case, brought by an Illinois state employee who objects to paying for services he receives from his labor union, will likely result in defeat for working-class and middle-class Americans. At stake is not only the ability of public sector employees to fully exercise our collective bargaining rights, but also the quality of public higher education systems across the nation, and therefore the future of our democracy.
Plaintiff Mark Janus says he doesn’t want to support the costs of his union’s bargaining and representation. He would rather benefit from his union’s work without paying the fair share fees that enable it.
