Supreme Court case could impact public unions

Philly.com ^ | 05/27/2014 | Nicandro Iannacci

[BuckeyeTexan]

A largely overlooked Supreme Court case has the potential to fundamentally alter the right of public employees to unionize — and a ruling could be handed down as early as this week.

That case, Harris v. Quinn, comes from the great state of Illinois, which recognizes a union for its home health care workers. One of those workers, Pamela Harris, is the lead plaintiff.

At issue are two critical questions. First, can the state actually recognize a union of such workers? And second, do these workers have a First Amendment right to refuse to pay their “fair share” of the cost for union representation?

Illinois began recognizing a union for its home health care aides 10 years ago, largely in an effort to reduce turnover and provide stability for an increasingly elderly and disabled population. While individuals are empowered to choose their own aides and organize their daily activity, the state sets the number of hours aides can work and the required qualifications for such a position, in addition to paying their wages.

Moreover, no one is required to be an official member of the union, but they are required to support the costs of collective bargaining on their behalf. The rule harkens back to Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1976), in which the Court held that public employees “may be compelled to support legitimate, non-ideological, union activities germane to collective-bargaining representation.”

[BuckeyeTexan]

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[Vaduz]

Don’t think the Supreme Court will kill a JFK bill they gave us Obamacare how can they be trusted?.

[Jim Noble]

The issue in my mind is not “do they have a right to unionize”, but rather, “do local and state executive authorities have the right to issue contracts that bind future legislatures to tax and spend”.

[Graewoulf]

Should The Federal and State Labor Relations Boards be abolished?

Should all Government Labor Unions be declared Un-Constitutional?

Should “Labor Day” be renamed “Capitalist Day?”

[Logical me]

Should The Federal and State Labor Relations Boards be abolished? Should all Government Labor Unions be declared Un-Constitutional?

Yes! Unions place the entire organization under the total control of the leadership. The leadership will and always have supported and donated to one particular party. That is conflict of interest.

[ansel12]

“”In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988, which permitted collective bargaining by federal employees. Widely seen as a gift to George Meany, the AFL-CIO head who helped Kennedy win the White House, the executive order was also a gift to government unions, both because it widened federal membership and because it signaled national approval of unions for state and local employees.””