Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Century Foundation Fellow in NYTimes OpEd: Strong Unions Equals Strong Democracy
If the questions that came up during oral argument in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association on Monday are any guide, the ruling bloc of conservative justices appears ready to render a decision later this year that would significantly weaken public sector labor unions.
By stripping these unions of key financial resources — their fair share of fees provided by nonmembers — the court would upend a longstanding precedent. A decision in favor of the plaintiff would effectively slam the door on an era in which some conservatives joined liberals in recognizing that vibrant unions help make our democracy work. This is radicalism, not conservatism.
Public sector unions — representing teachers, firefighters and the like — are the remaining bright spot in America’s once-thriving trade union movement. In the case before the Supreme Court, Rebecca Friedrichs, a dissident teacher in Southern California, argues that she should be able to accept the higher wages and benefits the union negotiates, but not help pay for the costs. . .
Authored by Richard D. Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, who wrote, “Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race and Democracy.”