Springfield, VA (July 3, 2014) – In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark Harris v. Quinn ruling, the National Right to Work Foundation, a charitable organization that provides free legal assistance to employees, has announced an offer of free legal aid to homecare and childcare providers across the country who are subject to forced unionization.

Harris, which was argued by Foundation staff attorneys for eight Illinois care providers, struck down a scheme pushed by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and current Illinois Governor Pat Quinn that forced providers to pay union dues. The Supreme Court ruled that forcing Illinois caregivers, whose charges receive a small state subsidy, to pay union dues violates their First Amendment rights.

Homecare and/or childcare unionization schemes have been established in at least 18 other states. Foundation staff attorneys are currently assisting homecare or childcare providers in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Michigan who wish to refrain from joining or financially supporting unwanted unions.

Foundation litigators believe that the Harris precedent can be used to challenge homecare and childcare unionization schemes nationwide. To that end, the National Right to Work Foundation has announced an offer of free legal assistance to caregivers who oppose compulsory union dues.

“After examining the Harris decision, our staff attorneys have concluded that the Supreme Court’s ruling can be used to challenge coercive homecare unionization schemes in states across the country,” said Ray LaJeunesse, Vice President and Legal Director of the National Right to Work Foundation.

“No personal caregiver should be forced to pay union dues, which is why we’re extending an offer of free legal assistance to homecare and childcare providers everywhere,” continued LaJeunesse. “We hope to leverage the Harris decision to end the specter of homecare unionization and protect providers’ First Amendment rights nationwide.”

Homecare and childcare providers subjected to forced unionization schemes can request free legal assistance from Foundation staff attorneys by visiting the Foundation’s website at www.nrtw.org or calling the Foundation’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-336-3600. Each request for assistance will be evaluated on its merits based on the facts and the characteristics of the specific unionization scheme, among other things.

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 more than 250 cases nationwide per year.