A deadlocked 4-4 U.S. Supreme Court left stand a ruling that allowed labor unions to continue to collect dues from government workers who object to paying union bargaining fees. Some workers based their objections on First Amendment grounds arguing that in paying the fees they are coerced into supporting union positions they oppose. (San Jose Mercury News, March 29, 2016, by Howard Mintz with contributions from Sharon Noguchi)
Union leaders said the move to eliminate agency fees was just another attempt by conservatives to restrict workers’ power. They said the First Amendment argument was a “ruse” since collective bargaining only concerns working conditions, salaries and benefits. (The New York Times, March 29, 2016, by Adam Liptak)