AFL-CIO, Kenney Decry Supreme Court Ruling On Union Fees
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — Mayor Jim Kenney, other elected officials and the Philadelphia chapter of AFL-CIO held a rally in the city on Wednesday afternoon following the Supreme Court's ruling against unions.
The Supreme Court says government workers can't be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining, dealing a serious financial blow to organized labor. The decision has long been sought by conservatives who have pushed to loosen requirements that public employees pay some union fees to the unions representing them.
The justices are scrapping a 41-year-old decision that had allowed states to require that public employees pay some fees to unions that represent them, even if the workers choose not to join.
"Folks that are fair share now, they get all the benefit of representation the union has for the folks who pay dues," said President Patrick Eiding with the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO.
In the written majority opinion, Justice Alito says forcing nonmembers to pay dues violates their free speech rights since the money could subsidize campaigns of politicians those non-members don't support.
President Donald Trump is hailing a Supreme Court ruling on union fees, asserting that it amounts to a "Big loss for the coffers of the Democrats!"
Trump tweeted shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that government workers can't be compelled to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining. The ruling is considered a significant financial blow to organized labor.'
While Trump received the support of some union workers in his 2016 campaign, labor unions have largely sided with Democrats.
The 5-4 decision Wednesday fulfills a longtime wish of conservatives to get rid of the so-called fair share fees that non-members pay to unions in roughly two dozen states.
Mike Meehan, the chairman of the Philadelphia Republican Party believes union membership will remain strong and this decision will simply ensure union members are represented properly.
"If people are given the option to leave, if they're not satisfied with what their leadership has done, it's no different than a voter," said Meehan.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
