Dear Conservatives,
While union lawyers in Wisconsin are trying to sidestep Foundation-won court precedents curtailing union-boss power over individual workers, the United States Supreme Court announced last month it will hear another key case brought by Foundation staff attorneys.
You see, back in 2005, California State Employee Association (CSEA) union bosses demanded a "special assessment" to raise money from every single state employee covered by a union monopoly bargaining contract for a union political fund.
Union bosses claimed they needed these "extra" millions to defeat ballot initiatives that would limit their monopoly power over government workers and stranglehold on California taxpayers -- demonstrating once again how forced dues corrupt the political process.
But, thanks to previous Right to Work Foundation victories at the Supreme Court, union bosses cannot compel independent workers to pay dues or fees that fund union politics.
In 1986, the Court unanimously ruled in Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson that government-sector union bosses must provide employees with an audited breakdown of the union's expenditures and an opportunity to challenge the union's calculations of any forced dues or fees.
CSEA union bosses simply ignored the law with regard to the "special assessment" and denied workers any chance to opt out.
Foundation staff attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of eight California government workers, including two former union members.
A federal district court ruled in 2007 against CSEA union bosses, requiring that they provide workers their rights under Hudson and refund any monies spent (plus interest) on union-boss politics to nonmembers who exercise their right to refrain from subsidizing the union's political fund.
A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel overturned that decision, effectively encouraging union bosses to seize forced dues for politics from unwilling workers.
Foundation attorneys petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit's ruling in March, and the Court announced in late June it will hear the case later this year.
Allowing the Ninth Circuit's ruling to stand would further undermine state employees' First Amendment rights.
A victory at the Supreme Court would provide additional protections to every government employee across the entire country.
The stakes are high!
Our strategic litigation program provides free legal aid to workers victimized by compulsory unionism and it depends on the voluntary support of concerned citizens like you.
As our attorneys make our 15th trip to the highest court in the land to defend individual workers against the abuses of forced unionism, let me once again say a heart-felt thank you for making this work possible.
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
P.S. The Foundation relies completely on voluntary contributions from its supporters to provide free legal aid.
Please chip in with a tax-deductible contribution of $10 or more today to support the Foundation's programs.
While union lawyers in Wisconsin are trying to sidestep Foundation-won court precedents curtailing union-boss power over individual workers, the United States Supreme Court announced last month it will hear another key case brought by Foundation staff attorneys.
You see, back in 2005, California State Employee Association (CSEA) union bosses demanded a "special assessment" to raise money from every single state employee covered by a union monopoly bargaining contract for a union political fund.
Union bosses claimed they needed these "extra" millions to defeat ballot initiatives that would limit their monopoly power over government workers and stranglehold on California taxpayers -- demonstrating once again how forced dues corrupt the political process.
But, thanks to previous Right to Work Foundation victories at the Supreme Court, union bosses cannot compel independent workers to pay dues or fees that fund union politics.
In 1986, the Court unanimously ruled in Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson that government-sector union bosses must provide employees with an audited breakdown of the union's expenditures and an opportunity to challenge the union's calculations of any forced dues or fees.
CSEA union bosses simply ignored the law with regard to the "special assessment" and denied workers any chance to opt out.
Foundation staff attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of eight California government workers, including two former union members.
A federal district court ruled in 2007 against CSEA union bosses, requiring that they provide workers their rights under Hudson and refund any monies spent (plus interest) on union-boss politics to nonmembers who exercise their right to refrain from subsidizing the union's political fund.
A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel overturned that decision, effectively encouraging union bosses to seize forced dues for politics from unwilling workers.
Foundation attorneys petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit's ruling in March, and the Court announced in late June it will hear the case later this year.
Allowing the Ninth Circuit's ruling to stand would further undermine state employees' First Amendment rights.
A victory at the Supreme Court would provide additional protections to every government employee across the entire country.
The stakes are high!
Our strategic litigation program provides free legal aid to workers victimized by compulsory unionism and it depends on the voluntary support of concerned citizens like you.
As our attorneys make our 15th trip to the highest court in the land to defend individual workers against the abuses of forced unionism, let me once again say a heart-felt thank you for making this work possible.
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
P.S. The Foundation relies completely on voluntary contributions from its supporters to provide free legal aid.
Please chip in with a tax-deductible contribution of $10 or more today to support the Foundation's programs.
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