Labor

Supreme Court to hear arguments on forced union fees

Supreme Court to hear arguments on forced union fees

On Jan. 11, lawyers for the plaintiffs in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court that the First Amendment prohibits the government from forcing its employees to pay union fees.

Jim Andersen

Jim Andersen

AFSCME's demands would cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $3 billion over the course of the contract.

AFSCME: Rauner has declared impasse in contract negotiations

AFSCME: Rauner has declared impasse in contract negotiations

Without a strike fund, AFSCME – which represents 60,000 state workers in Illinois – has avoided a strike. But since the union announced that the governor has walked way from contract talks, a strike could be on the horizon.

Standing up to unions

Standing up to unions

If the unions really think it's so unfair that they have to represent everyone, then how about we change the law to "one or none" so that they only have to represent union supporters?

By John Tillman

A worker’s right to choose

A worker’s right to choose

Hundreds of thousands of Illinois workers are forced to pay union dues to keep their jobs. But close by, worker freedom reigns.

By Austin Berg

In Friedrichs case, First Amendment freedom must trump federalism

In Friedrichs case, First Amendment freedom must trump federalism

The states are the laboratories of democracy, but their experiments can’t violate citizens’ constitutional rights to free speech and freedom of association under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails

Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails

The Chicago Teachers Union cannot legally strike before completing several procedural steps, which would take four months following failed mediation with Chicago Public Schools; however, the union could flout the law and strike sooner in the hope of pressuring Chicago Public Schools to reach a deal quickly.

By Jeffrey Schwab