LJC In The News
The Lawyers Who Beat the Unions
(Wall Street Journal)—The Supreme Court closed its term this week with what Jacob Huebert calls “a perfect decision for worker freedom.” In a landmark First Amendment case, the justices ruled 5-4 Wednesday that the government may not authorize labor unions to exact fees from public employees who choose not to...
Janus Ruling Empowers Public Employees
(Seattle Times)—Now 5.5 million employees in 22 states have their First Amendment freedom of association rights restored — including employees right here in Washington. It’s easier to avoid a Goliath than it is to defy one. Child-support specialist Mark Janus chose the harder path. As an employee of the Illinois...
In a Blow to Public Sector Unions, Supreme Court Overturns 40-Year-Old Precedent
(CNBC)—The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Wednesday in Janus v. AFSCME that nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions. The case, one of the most hotly anticipated of the term, is the second in two days to hand a major victory to conservatives, following Tuesday’s...
Supreme Court’s Janus Decision is a Win for Government Workers (And All Americans)
(Fox News)—In its 5-4 ruling Wednesday in Janus vs. AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), the Supreme Court overturned decades-old precedent that allowed government unions to require public employees to pay union fees or risk being fired. Now millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other government...
Mark Janus on Supreme Court Ruling
(Fox Business)—Janus v. AFSCME plaintiff Mark Janus and attorney Jacob Huebert appeared on Fox Business News to discuss the Supreme Court ruling on public sector unions. Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com
...What the Janus Decision Means in New York, the Nation’s Most Unionized State
(Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)—The Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that unions cannot collect fees from non-members could have wide implications across New York, which has the nation’s most heavily unionized public sector. Unions in New York derided the groundbreaking decision by the closely divided Supreme Court as it may weaken their...
With Janus, California Public Employees Are Free From Union Shakedowns, Finally
(Sacramento Bee)—Just in time for Independence Day, the U.S. Supreme Court has delivered millions into greater liberty – and a day of reckoning for public-sector union leaders. The court struck down as unconstitutional the arrangement – heretofore enshrined in law in 22 states – that forced government workers to pay...
Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Union Fees for Government Employees
(The Daily Signal)—The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that nonunion government workers can’t be forced to pay dues or other fees to support a union, further diminishing the power of organized labor and setting up what right-to-work proponents called the “hard work” of protecting free speech rights for the nation’s...
Supreme Court Decision Puts Workers in Driver’s Seat
(Washington Examiner)—Jade Thompson is a Spanish teacher at Marietta High School in Ohio. What could you do with an extra $14,000? Buy a new car? Put a down payment on a home? Build your child’s college fund? I can think of many ways to spend this, but unfortunately, I had...
In Janus Ruling, Supreme Court Restores Free Speech Rights to Public Workers Like Me
(Fox News)—The Supreme Court ruled wisely Wednesday that requiring public employees to pay money to a union in order to be allowed to work violates the First Amendment rights of the employees. The 5-4 ruling means all public employees, regardless of where they live, will finally have a choice about...
Supreme Court’s Janus v AFSCME Ruling Will Force Unions To Be More Accountable
(USA Today)—Aaron Anthony Benner has been a Minnesota educator for 21 years. Unions can be great for workers. But supporting workers’ rights isn’t political, and it doesn’t make you anti-union. As a teacher in Minnesota, I didn’t have a choice about whether or not to pay the union that was...
How AFSCME’s Demands Invited the Janus Case
(The Chicago Tribune)—It’s fitting that Mark Janus, the plaintiff behind a highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week, works for Illinois government. The union he sued is particularly influential in politics and policy here — with perilous outcomes for taxpayers. The 200-page American Federation of State, County and Municipal...
Teacher Who Challenged Union Speaks Out About U.S. Supreme Court Case
(Capital Public Radio)—This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hand down a major decision in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, impacting teachers and other public employee unions. Rebecca Friedrichs is a teacher and was the lead plaintiff challenging the California Teachers Association’s “agency shop” arrangement, which requires non-union member teachers...
Group Sues to End Illinois Tax Breaks for Retaining Jobs
(The Chicago Tribune)—The legal arm of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute on Friday filed a lawsuit to end the state’s practice of awarding tax credits to businesses for retaining jobs. The Illinois Policy Institute is closely aligned with Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, who will be sworn in Monday. Rauner, a Republican...
Chicago’s Airbnb Home-Sharing Rules are ‘Draconian,’ Lawsuit Says
(The Chicago Tribune)—A group of homeowners is suing the city of Chicago, alleging the city’s new “draconian and unintelligible restrictions” on Airbnb and other home-sharing platforms are unconstitutional and punish responsible homeowners. This is the second lawsuit filed this month that takes aim at the city’s new home-sharing rules, which...