California’s public-sector unions are so accustomed to getting their way in the state Capitol that it’s almost entertaining watching them respond to a coming U.S. Supreme Court decision that is likely to slash their political and economic power.
In the Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees case, the court is deciding whether public employees in non-right-to-work states such as California may opt out of paying dues even for collective-bargaining purposes. Since 1977, workers have been allowed to withhold dues for a union’s direct political activities, but not for anything related to negotiating their contracts. The case could spell the end to mandatory unionization in the public sector.
Anticipating a ruling that could go against them, unions are pushing a variety of bills designed to mute that decision. But there’s surprisingly little they can actually accomplish, writes Steven Greenhut.
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