Today, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear a challenge on collective bargaining rights. The case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, seeks to overturn the 35-year old Abood v. Detroit Board of Educationruling that allows public sector unions to collect fair share fees from non-members to cover the costs associated with representation.
Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson issued the following statement:
“It’s extremely frustrating that at a time when corporations and the super-rich have unprecedented power, the court would agree to take up a case that could further undercut working Americans.
The court is revisiting a previous decision that gave public sector workers the ability to bargain collectively to improve their working conditions and lives. Overturning Abood would make this harder by forcing dues-paying union members to pay for the representation costs of workers who choose not to pay fair share fees.
While we hope that the Court will not over turn their previous decision in Abood, an unfavorable ruling will not stop Minnesota's labor movement from growing. Workers across our state and nation continue to stand up for their rights; we will continue to stand with them and their organizing efforts.”