Three State Workers Seek To Join Rauner Lawsuit Over Union Dues
From the Associated Press
Three Illinois state employees on Monday sought to join Gov. Bruce Rauner's lawsuit against labor unions, a legal maneuver aimed at trying to end mandatory union dues for nonmembers across the U.S., not just in Illinois.
All three workers' jobs are covered by collective bargaining agreements, but the employees opted not to join their union. In a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, they say the requirement they pay so-called "fair share" dues, which range from about $19 to $60 per month, violates their First Amendment right of free speech because they disagree with union policies.
"The First Amendment guarantees everyone the right to choose whose speech they support and what groups they associate with," said Jacob Huebert, an attorney for the employees. "State workers shouldn't have to sacrifice that right just to keep their jobs."
But in a separate case, a federal judge for the Southern District of Illinois ruled a lawsuit unions filed over Rauner's order ending the dues should be heard in state court, not federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Staci Yandle's ruling was seen as a victory for organized labor as they battle with Rauner and his supporters over where the matter should be decided — a question that could have an impact on unions nationwide.
Rauner issued an executive order last month ending the dues, which nonmembers are required to pay to cover the cost of non-political union activities that benefit all employees, such as collective bargaining. The order effectively keeps about $3.75 million each year from the unions' bank accounts.
The new Republican governor also sued more than two dozen public-employee unions, asking a federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois to declare the dues unconstitutional.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Associated Press
Three Illinois state employees on Monday sought to join Gov. Bruce Rauner's lawsuit against labor unions, a legal maneuver aimed at trying to end mandatory union dues for nonmembers across the U.S., not just in Illinois.
All three workers' jobs are covered by collective bargaining agreements, but the employees opted not to join their union. In a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, they say the requirement they pay so-called "fair share" dues, which range from about $19 to $60 per month, violates their First Amendment right of free speech because they disagree with union policies.
"The First Amendment guarantees everyone the right to choose whose speech they support and what groups they associate with," said Jacob Huebert, an attorney for the employees. "State workers shouldn't have to sacrifice that right just to keep their jobs."
But in a separate case, a federal judge for the Southern District of Illinois ruled a lawsuit unions filed over Rauner's order ending the dues should be heard in state court, not federal court. U.S. District Court Judge Staci Yandle's ruling was seen as a victory for organized labor as they battle with Rauner and his supporters over where the matter should be decided — a question that could have an impact on unions nationwide.
Rauner issued an executive order last month ending the dues, which nonmembers are required to pay to cover the cost of non-political union activities that benefit all employees, such as collective bargaining. The order effectively keeps about $3.75 million each year from the unions' bank accounts.
The new Republican governor also sued more than two dozen public-employee unions, asking a federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois to declare the dues unconstitutional.
Read more in our daily News Update...