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Liberty Justice Center

Issue

Workers' Rights

No government worker can be required to pay money to a government union as a condition of working in public service.

Your Voice, Your Dollars

If you work for a public school district, city hall, a state agency, another government body – or any other kind of local, state, or federal government entity – you have the right to decide whether you want to join a union at your workplace. If you decide union membership isn’t for you, then you are not obligated to pay the union at your workplace any kind of dues or fees, and you have the U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME to back you up on that.

The Liberty Justice Center represented Mark Janus all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect his right to spend his money how he wants. The decision to join or financially support a union is an important and deeply personal one for anyone who takes a government job. Before deciding whether union membership is right for you, it is important to know what’s at stake and what rights you have.

Our Cases Fighting For Workers' Rights

Sachen v. Illinois State Board of Elections

Two Chicago Public School teachers and two parents are suing the Illinois State Board of Elections and state officials to ensure Illinois voters do not face an unconstitutional choice at the ballot box this November.
Filed April 21, 2022
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Brown v. AFSCME Council 5

The class action lawsuit Brown v. AFSCME seeks a refund of the union fees that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled were illegal to require.
Filed May 8, 2020
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Fellows v. MAPE

Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) collected fees for years from workers who did not want to join a union. The lawsuit against MAPE could recover as much as $5.8 million for state employees.
Filed May 8, 2020
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Presta v. Cook County Teachers Union

South Suburban College public safety officers filed a lawsuit after their employer and union refused to stop deducting money from their paychecks for union dues.
Filed May 5, 2020
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Ramon Baro v. Lake County Federation of Teachers

Chicago teacher sues union violating her rights.
Filed April 3, 2020
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Creed v. ASEA

Two Alaska state employees have filed a lawsuit against the state and ASEA after they were forced to pay union dues against their will.
Filed March 12, 2020
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Our Fight in the News

Chicago Magazine

State of the Unions

October 24, 2022
Bruce Rauner hated unions. But as a Republican governor with a Democratic legislature, he knew he couldn’t push through a statewide “right-to-work” law. Such legislation would have allowed employees in unionized workplaces to opt out of joining the union, costing it dues and bargaining power....
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The Epoch Times

‘Excessive Engagement in Politics’ Causing Mass Exodus From Nation’s Largest Labor Unions: Analysts – The Epoch Times

August 2, 2022
According to a survey of 3,000 potential union members conducted in 2021, "excessive engagement in politics is the number one obstacle" preventing them from joining a union...
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Cook County Record

Appeals panel says states can make lawyers join the bar based on ‘undermined’ law, but SCOTUS might say ‘no’ – Cook County Record

May 3, 2022
The appeals court said membership helps uphold standards in the legal profession. However, the court noted the U.S. Supreme Court, in light of its recent decisions, might rule against the state of Wisconsin if the case is presented to it....
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