On June 30, 2014 the Supreme Court struck down Illinois’ scheme to force mothers like Pam Harris and Susie Watts to pay forced fees to the SEIU as a condition of caring for their own children in their own homes, as part of a Medicaid program to provide care for children with significant disabilities.
The U.S. Supreme Court announced October 1, 2013 that it will hear the National Right to Work Foundation’s 17th case before the Court: Harris v. Quinn.
The case stems from a legal challenge initiated by eight Illinois homecare providers with the help of National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys against executive orders issued by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and his disgraced (and now incarcerated) predecessor, Rod Blagojevich.
Quinn and Blagojevich issued executive orders aimed at forcing unwilling homecare providers into a union. Under the Governors’ decrees, personal care providers are considered «public employees» for the purposes of union organizing, a move that has since forced thousands of unwilling care providers into the SEIU’s forced dues-paying ranks.
In Harris, the Court must decide if forcing homecare providers to affiliate with a union and subsidize union activities violates their rights to free expression and association.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday, January 21, 2014.
Below, you’ll find links to relevant legal documents, Foundation news releases, and notable media coverage.
NEWS RELEASES:
Supreme Court to Review Illinois Homecare Provider Unionization Scheme
LEGAL DOCUMENTS:
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed 11/29/11
Brief of respondent SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, et al. in opposition filed 02/02/12
Reply of petitioners Pamela Harris, et al. filed 02/16/12
Brief of respondent Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois in opposition filed 04/30/2012
Reply of petitioners Pamela Harris, et al. filed 05/10/12
Amicus brief filed by CATO, NFIB, and Mackinac Center filed 11/27/13
Brief amici curiae of Albert Contreras, et al. filed on 11/27/13
Brief amici curiae of California Public School Teachers, et al. filed 11/27/13
Brief of respondent SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana filed 12/23/13
Brief of respondents AFSCME Council 31, and SEIU Local 73 filed on 12/23/13
Brief of respondent Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois filed on 12/23/13
Reply of petitioners Pamela Harris, et al. filed 01/14/14
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Washington Examiner: Meet the homemaker who could end Illinois’ push to unionize home health care
Fox Chicago Investigation
