Union “Dues for Dems” Facing Supreme Court Challenge

◼ Though not receiving nearly as much attention as other impending Supreme Court rulings, there is now a case before the court that may prove debilitating to the long-enjoyed election funds bounty given to the Democratic Party from its Big Labor supporters. - The Ulsterman Report

◼ Supreme Court Hears Union Fees Lawsuit

Supreme Court justices indicated Wednesday they are inclined to uphold a Washington state law restricting unions from using workers' fees for political activities.

The case involves a few thousand teachers and other education employees who are in the bargaining unit and thus represented by the more than 70,000-member Washington Education Association _ but who have chosen not to join the union.

Workers can't be forced to join or pay for the union's political activism, the court has ruled, but they can be charged a fee for labor negotiations that affect them....

The narrow issue before the justices is whether, as Washington law prescribed, employees must opt in, or affirmatively consent, to having some of their money used in election campaigns.