Supreme Court hears union-fees challenge

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court justices sparred Monday over over the right of public-sector workers to refuse to pay union fees, a case that threatens to undermine the financial footing of labor unions that represent government workers.

The justices heard arguments in a challenge to an Illinois law that allows unions representing government employees to collect fees from workers who choose not to join.

Amid colorful, occasionally angry comments from his colleagues, Justice Neil Gorsuch asked no questions during the hourlong session.

The court split 4-4 the last time it considered the issue in 2016 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Gorsuch joined the court in April and has yet to weigh in on union fees. Organized labor is a big supporter of Democratic candidates and interests. Unions strongly opposed Gorsuch’s nomination by President Donald Trump.

The unions say the outcome could affect more than 5 million government workers in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

In many respects, Monday’s arguments were a replay of what happened in 2016, when the court took up so-called fair share fees and appeared to be ready to overrule a 1997 high court decision that serves as their legal foundation. But Scalia’s death left the court tied, and a lower court ruling in favor of the fees remained in place.

“You’re basically arguing, do away with unions,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor told William Messenger, a lawyer with the National Right to Work Legal Foundation. The group is representing Illinois worker Mark Janus in his Supreme Court challenge.

On the other side, Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has voted against unions in past related cases, scoffed at labor’s argument that there is a difference between collective bargaining over government employees’ pay and benefits, and unions’ political activities, which nonmembers do not have to support.

If the unions lose, won’t they have less political influence? Kennedy asked David Frederick, representing the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Illinois affiliate. Yes, Frederick said.

“Isn’t that the end of this case?” Kennedy replied.

Janus says he has a constitutional right not to contribute anything to a union with which he disagrees. Janus and the conservative interests that back him contend that everything unions representing public employees do is political, including contract negotiations.

Janus and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican who has had a contentious relationship with the state’s unions since taking office in 2015, were both in the courtroom Monday. “I am confident that they will side with free speech for the people of our great nation,” Rauner said of the justices, after the arguments.

The Trump administration is supporting Janus in his effort to persuade the court to overturn its 1977 ruling allowing states to require fair share fees for government employees.

The unions argue that fair share fees pay for collective bargaining and other work the union does on behalf of all employees, not just its members. More than half of states already have right-towork laws banning mandatory fees, but most members of public-employee unions are concentrated in states that don’t, including California, New York, and Illinois.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said wealthy conservative business interests are behind the legal challenge. “They’re attacking us because they see a strong labor movement as a threat to their wealth and power,” Weingarten said.

Labor leaders fear that not only would workers who don’t belong to a union stop paying fees, but that some union members might decide to stop paying dues if they could in essence get the union’s representation for free.

A decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, 16-1466, is expected by late June.