Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Teacher Unions That Could Deal a Major Blow to Liberals

On Monday, the Supreme Court justices who handed victories to liberals in 2016 will hear a case that labor leaders warn could bankrupt public-sector unions and further curtail their political power.

The Guardian reports:

Rebecca Friedrichs, who has taught elementary school children for close to 30 years, mostly in the Savanna school district in Anaheim, California, is the lead plaintiff in a case she says is being brought against the “tyranny” of unions dues.

“We are required, as a condition of employment, to financially support teachers unions and their political agendas,” Friedrichs wrote in an editorial for the Orange County Register.

“Americans of all political preferences would rise up against such tyranny if their rights were squelched by corporations, yet teachers unions have been legally trampling the free-speech rights of teachers throughout our nation for decades through forced dues used to fund their one-sided political agendas.”

If her case is successful, it would sharply limit the power of public employee unions, which have charged “fair share” fees to non-union members when the union negotiates their contracts.

A win would cost unions millions of dollars in revenue, and be a heavy blow to a major backer of the Democrat party.

Altogether 10 California teachers are suing their union so that they do not have to pay any dues. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff in Friedrichs v California Teachers Association (CTA), California would essentially become the latest, and largest, “right to work” state for public sector employees – meaning union membership would not be a requirement.

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— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.