Labour pains

THE labour movement in America has seen better days. In the 1960s, about a third of American workers were union members. Today, with 'right-to-work' laws in place in 25 states, the figure hovers at 10%. In June, when the Supreme Court issues a decision in Friedrichs v California Teachers Association, the decline may well accelerate. Rebecca Friedrichs, a public-school teacher in California who left a union she disagreed with, is challenging a rule that says non-members must pay 'fair-share fees' to cover the costs of collective bargaining. It violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, she and nine other teachers say, to be forced to subsidise an organisation whose politics they reject. Since unions form an important part of the Democratic coalition, the ruling will resonate beyond the world of union members and their bosses.In 1977, in Abood v Detroit Board of Education, the court ruled that while unions could not charge non-members for political activities, states could allow unions to collect compulsory fees to support negotiations over workplace matters like wages and benefits. In...Continue reading
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