National Right to Work Foundation offers free legal aid to public sector employees ahead of court case that could end forced union fees

Washington, DC (October 24, 2017) – On September 28, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear Janus v. AFSCME, which challenges mandatory union fees for public employees as a violation of the First Amendment. If the High Court agrees with Janus and his Foundation staff attorneys, the ruling would create a precedent protecting every public employee from being forced to subsidize union activities, including teachers, police officers and firefighters who currently pay mandatory dues or fees.

Mark Janus, an Illinois civil servant childcare worker, filed the case with free legal aid from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and the Illinois-based Liberty Justice Center. Oral arguments in the case are expected to occur in January 2018 with a ruling most likely in June 2018. National Right to Work Foundation staff attorney William Messenger will argue for Janus at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fearing a ruling against forced union dues, union officials nationwide are already responding with schemes designed to limit the ability of workers to utilize a ruling that they can no longer be required to pay union dues or fees. In some instances union organizers are pushing workers to sign cards that authorize dues payments in perpetuity “irrespective of union membership” unless the worker revokes the authorization in a union-determined two week period.

Although Foundation staff attorneys question the legality of such cards, the special legal notice reminds workers that signing such a card could limit their legal options later. Workers should be very cautious about signing anything from a union, no matter the reason union officials give. In many documented instances, especially during coercive union card check campaigns, union organizers have solicited signatures under misleading or false pretenses.

The full notice can be found online at: https://www.nrtw.org/Janus-Legal-Notice

Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation released the following statement regarding the notice and offer of free legal aid.

“Unfortunately, there is a long history of union officials refusing to accept limits on their forced dues powers. Rather than respect the decisions of workers who do not want to subsidize union activities, invariably after Foundation-won legal precedents or enactment of state Right to Work laws, union officials attempt to block the very workers they claim to represent from exercising their rights.

“Given that a Foundation win in the Janus case could free 5.2 million teachers and other public employees from forced union payments, it is not surprising to see that Big Labor is already working overtime to prevent workers from escaping forced dues. In response, Foundation staff attorneys have issued a special legal notice, warning workers against signing any new dues authorizations that could later limit their options. Every worker should know they can turn to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation for free legal assistance and advice in their battle against Big Labor.”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.