Supreme Court, Another Win For Free Speech: Unions Lose

[KingsGambit]

Oddly enough, the union steward at my workplace likes to wear a MAGA hat to work (I think they made him stop though), listens to Rush Limbaugh in the office, and complains that George W. Bush was a liberal... and he takes his steward job extremely seriously. I wonder what he personally makes of Trump's recent moves on federal unions.

[Terraceth]

Odds are he would have...

So, I'll repeat. On what do you base your assumption that Merrick Garland would have ruled differently?

[Starlight]

Supreme Court, Another Win For Free Speech: Unions Lose

Cool, now Americans can look forward to even lower wages. (Unions being the best method for increasing wages nationwide)

I was just reading about how over the last year the average wages of working-class Americans have gone down (they increased by a few cents which was lower than inflation). I guess working-class Americans can look forward to even lower effective wages in future. MAGA!

[seer]

Cool, now Americans can look forward to even lower wages. (Unions being the best method for increasing wages nationwide)

I was just reading about how over the last year the average wages of working-class Americans have gone down (they increased by a few cents which was lower than inflation). I guess working-class Americans can look forward to even lower effective wages in future. MAGA!

Star, I think you are mistaking me for someone who cares what you think...

[lilpixieofterror]

Cool, now Americans can look forward to even lower wages. (Unions being the best method for increasing wages nationwide)

I was just reading about how over the last year the average wages of working-class Americans have gone down (they increased by a few cents which was lower than inflation). I guess working-class Americans can look forward to even lower effective wages in future. MAGA!

Poor Starlight, his dreams of America becoming another Venezuela are quickly disappearing.

[Terraceth]

Oddly enough, the union steward at my workplace likes to wear a MAGA hat to work (I think they made him stop though), listens to Rush Limbaugh in the office, and complains that George W. Bush was a liberal... and he takes his steward job extremely seriously. I wonder what he personally makes of Trump's recent moves on federal unions.

Is his union private or public? This ruling applies only to public unions. (then again, was this situation--of requiring non-union members to pay union dues--a thing in private unions to begin with?)

[rogue06]

Cool, now Americans can look forward to even lower wages. (Unions being the best method for increasing wages nationwide)

I was just reading about how over the last year the average wages of working-class Americans have gone down (they increased by a few cents which was lower than inflation). I guess working-class Americans can look forward to even lower effective wages in future. MAGA!

In recent years many of the unions here have traded that in for being granted more control of the workers. There is a reason why memberships have been steadily falling

[seer]

So, I'll repeat. On what do you base your assumption that Merrick Garland would have ruled differently?

From what I have read he is left of center, I doubt very much that he would vote against unions.

[Starlight]

And, let's be clear: The unions don't give a flying flip anymore about "the workers", but about their own financial fortunes and political agendas.

And, lets be clear: CP makes universal pronouncements based on a very small number of experiences he and his friends have had, and has no actual nationwide data to back up his cow poop claims.

[Sparko]

Oddly enough, the union steward at my workplace likes to wear a MAGA hat to work (I think they made him stop though), listens to Rush Limbaugh in the office, and complains that George W. Bush was a liberal... and he takes his steward job extremely seriously. I wonder what he personally makes of Trump's recent moves on federal unions.

So does this help you at work? I recall you were having problems with the union previously right?

[Sparko]

And, lets be clear: CP makes universal pronouncements based on a very small number of experiences he and his friends have had, and has no actual nationwide data to back up his cow poop claims.

That is pretty ironic coming from you, our foreign self-proclaimed expert on all things American.

[RumTumTugger]

And, lets be clear: CP makes universal pronouncements based on a very small number of experiences he and his friends have had, and has no actual nationwide data to back up his cow poop claims.

Guys we need to start a Go fund me to get Starlight a Monitor, the Mirror he is still using isn't doing him any Good.

or he has finally stopped trying to pretend he is a reasonable, open minded Intellectual.

[Cow Poke]

And, lets be clear: CP makes universal pronouncements based on a very small number of experiences he and his friends have had, and has no actual nationwide data to back up his cow poop claims.

I actually live here, and have signed the FRONTS of paychecks, and have national experience with auto and gas compression companies in multiple states. So, let's be even clearer - Starlight is a dingdong.

[One Bad Pig]

Is his union private or public? This ruling applies only to public unions. (then again, was this situation--of requiring non-union members to pay union dues--a thing in private unions to begin with?)

Public

[Cow Poke]

My greatest concern with unions has always been my belief that school children suffer the most.

Here's a great article that shares and expands on that concern, and suggests there may be hope.

Bill Bennett, Karen Nussle: Supreme Court's Janus decision could change everything for our schools and kids

In 20 to 30 years, we may look back on this week as the turning point when everything changed for America’s teachers and their students. That’s because the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that individuals who disagree with a union’s political activity will no longer be forced to pay dues to the union

The 5-4 high court decision in the case of Janus v. AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) is a landmark victory for the First Amendment rights of 5 million public sector employees in 22 states. In addition, a great opportunity for serious school reform may be a consequence as well.

The Supreme Court ruling may mark a watershed moment when teachers begin to take their profession back, forever changing the trajectory of America’s public school system and the students it serves.

Mark Janus, a public-sector employee from Illinois, grew weary of being forced to pay for liberal union-directed activities with which he disagreed. The Supreme Court agreed with his position.

In the most dramatic part of the decision, it will no longer be assumed that public employees are members of a union unless they take action to opt out. Rather, the Supreme Court stated that employees will start their jobs as non-members of a union and must take an action if they want to join a union – they must opt in.

The court’s clear and affirmative consent requirement means that government employees will have the ultimate choice about whether to join – or not join – a labor union from the outset of their employment.

For decades, public school teachers and other administrative officials have faced the burden of – and pressure to conform to – unionized ideology. Many thoughtful policy innovations have been stifled by collective bargaining agreements.

And rather than focus on reforms that would benefit teachers and students in the classroom, too often teachers groups focused their energies on how their “agency fees” could be used to fund political activities.

Starting now, teachers no longer face burdensome financial obligations and the coercion of being forced to support policies with which they disagree. They now have the freedom to work in new ways to pioneer and innovate state and local policies that can positively affect our children, schools and communities.

Teachers will no longer have to verify that their approaches or policy ideas conform to the national union views, which are often out of touch with the climate and needs of our communities. Simply put, teachers can take the profession back and establish themselves as the local experts they have always been.

Parents and students can take this Supreme Court ruling in the Janus case as an occasion to work with local leaders to develop practices as a community around teacher professionalism, high quality curriculum, and school accountability measures.

Decisions can now be generated by local educators and members of the community, and not by national political groups focused on which politicians they favor.